$5.4m upgrade to The Paul Murray Recreation Centre

After years of campaigning, a popular southern sporting complex is on the verge of a transformation for the ages but it could also force the club to shut down.

A popular southern suburbs sporting club has released the first images of it’s long awaited makeover, setting itself up for generations to come.

The Hub Gymnastics Club in Happy Valley have been working to create what has ultimately become a destination club for budding and aspiring gymnasts to achieve their goals.

For head coach Emma Murray, she said it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s getting very exciting,” she said.

The Paul Murray Recreation Centre upgrade. Pics: City Collective

“We’re at detail design stage and we’ve done pretty well from a costing perspective.”

The Paul Murray Recreation Centre, named after Ms Murray’s late father, caters for around 700 members across all age groups and genders and employs 50 staff.

But in recent years, the club has been inundated with more and more keen gymnasts tracking down south, trying to get into the club and it was clear the Candy Road precinct needed to expand.

The multimillion-dollar upgrades will see the centre grow from 1140 to approximately 2000 square-metres to provide a high quality, safe and accessible public facility for gymnastics, to meet growing participation needs across Southern Adelaide.

Construction of a new larger multipurpose community room is set to satisfy aerobics gymnastics specifications and cater for a 50s plus activity group.

Concept of inside the The Paul Murray Recreation Centre upgrade. Pics: City Collective

Current facilities such as the kitchen, reception and extending the car park will also get an upgrade.

However, while the upgrades will be a welcomed new home for Hub Gymnastics, Ms Murray said the club still needed to secure a space in the interim, saying rent could cost them up to $150,000.

“We’re essentially homeless and we can’t afford to shut down,” Ms Murray said.

“We’re on the hunt to find a space that accommodates what we need and we really want to still be able to keep our doors open, wherever that may be.”

Funding of the $5.454 million project comprises all levels of government with the state government’s Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing committing $3 million, while the federal government has committed $443,000 from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and $1 million from the Investing in our Communities program, in addition to City of Onkaparinga’s $1.011 million funding contribution.

City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were said it was “incredibly important” for the council to maintain and invest in such a community-minded space.

“The Paul Murray Recreation Centre upgrade is a sign of a club, families and all levels of government working together,” Ms Were said.

“The premier multi-generational facility will meet booming participation in gymnastics in the south while strengthening the pathways for young athletes to realise their dreams.”