Work on Glenunga’s multi-million dollar sports hub can now start with final sign-off given
AFTER six years of twists and turns, work on a multi-million dollar sports hub in Adelaide’s leafy east is finally set to begin.
AFTER six years of twists and turns, multiple plan re-writes and often heated debate, work on Glenunga’s multi-million dollar sports hub is about to begin.
Plans for the $5.3 million project were approved this month, all but clearing the way for work to start as soon as September, Burnside Council says.
The council will now select a builder for the project to replace the Glenunga Reserve clubrooms, build a community plaza and add extra car parks.
TELL US BELOW: What will this redevelopment mean to your, or your club?
Glenunga Sports and Social Club chairman David Mitchell was pleased the redevelopment had been approved.
“It’s been five or six years of left-hand turns and right-hand turns and now finally it’s going ahead,” Mr Mitchell said.
“We’re going to have 12 months of significant disruptions because they’re knocking down the facilities ... but we’re looking forward to getting the new changerooms.”
Glenunga Football Club president Robbie Miller hoped the new hub would attract more players to the Rams.
“I’m definitely excited its about to start,” Mr Miller said.
He expected the sports bar would bring more people to the reserve and generate more revenue — which is divided between clubs depending on who is using the two ovals.
“But we’re not too sure how (the revenue) is going to be managed by the council — I doubt we’ll know until it’s finished,” he said.
Eastern Districts Little Athletics president Peter Woon was excited the club would have extra storage space for equipment.
He said the club was on the verge of having to limit members because there was nowhere to store new high jump mats, hurdles and javelins.
“Although we’ve never turned anyone away, we were considering it with certain age groups,” Mr Woon said.
But he hoped the development would allow the 320-member club to attract new members.
Under the project, the clubrooms will be demolished and replaced with a 1000sq m building.
The new building will include changerooms, a bar, kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas and offices.
It will also have a public plaza that will have a covered barbecue area and another new carpark with 15 spaces will also be built off Conyngham St.
Five large gum trees will be axed because three were found to have “structural defects” and the other two would “prevent development”, the council says.
The council has set aside $3.8 million for the project from its 2014/15 budget, with the total cost spread across three financial years.
The plans were first raised in 2008 after a council audit found the buildings were dilapidated.
A proposed cafe and gym were scrapped from the original $8.4 million plan.
On average, more than 1000 people use reserve each week, including Eastern District Little Athletics, Glenunga Football Club, Glenunga Cricket Club, Old Ignatians Soccer Club and the Glenunga International High School.
The clubs will use temporary changerooms during the redevelopment.
TELL US BELOW: What will this redevelopment mean to your, or your club?