Modbury Vista soccer club happy for supermarket to be built at Wynn Vale reserve

A NORTHEAST Adelaide reserve is expected to be ripped up and replaced with synthetic pitches if the local council rejects a German retail giant’s $13.8m offer for the land, with the reserve’s tenant, Modbury Vista Soccer Club, happy for the land to be sold.

Modbury VIsta Soccer Club’s junior members Luke, Claire, Daniel, Leigh and Jay are happy for the club to be moved to Golden Grove where Tea Tree Gully Council recently bought land. Picture:AAP/Matt Loxton.

• Kaufland eyes off Wynn Vale reserve
• Hands off our reserve, says community

RICHARDSON Reserve is expected to be ripped up and replaced with synthetic pitches if Tea Tree Gully Council rejects a German retail giant’s $13.8m offer for the land.

In a letter to all elected members on June 8, Detlef Georg, chairman of the reserve’s tenant, Modbury Vista Soccer Club, said the club fully supported the 3.4 hectare sale to Kaufland.

The club could be moved to a 10ha site at Golden Grove for a six-pitch development if the sale goes ahead.

An alternative would be the installation of two synthetic pitches at Richardson.

The council is preparing a report on a range of issues – the total cost of a new soccer centre at Golden Grove; timelines for construction at both sites; and the impact on the council of funding a Golden Grove hub without the sale of Richardson Reserve.

Several residents pleaded with elected members at a meeting last Tuesday not to sell the land, with one brought to tears.

Football Federation SA chief executive officer Michael Carter said the league had been “master planning” with the council over two synthetic pitches at Richardson and new clubrooms, but it was not the best option available.

“The site would likely be redeveloped with synthetic surfaces if the sale does not go ahead,” he said. “This may reduce the amount of open space for local residents.”

Mr Georg said a full upgrade at Richardson could cost about $6m. “These pitches would be fenced and access restricted,” he said.

“It’s not council’s preferred option to redevelop the site.”

With 700 members and 48 teams, the club had no room for expansion and the current pitches were “substandard”.

“As a result we have had to turn new families away,” he said. “Unfortunately there is a limit to how much wear and tear our playing surfaces can suffer.”

A move to Golden Grove would create a “community hub”. Kaufland’s offer provided an “exciting opportunity” to grow without being a burden on ratepayers.

While nearly 400 people have signed an online petition opposing the sale, Mr Georg said the community had only “limited” access to Richardson Reserve, a new supermarket would create jobs and the project would actually reduce traffic. “I understand the residents’ concerns but I think they’re presenting a one-sided argument,” he said.

Community consultation will run until June 25. People can record views at haveyoursay.cttg.sa.gov.au/richardson