A $7m soccer complex at O’Halloran Hill has been given the green light by Marion Council

A $7 million soccer complex – including three new pitches – will be built in Adelaide’s south despite nearly being shelved due to dodgy soil.

• Dodgy soil forces Marion Council to scrap $5m soccer complex
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A $7 million soccer complex at O’Halloran Hill will go ahead after nearly being scrapped due to dodgy soil.

Marion Council has decided to build three soccer pitches and a clubroom on Majors Rd as originally planned.

Earlier this year, the council revealed the soil at the O’Halloran Hill site was prone to cracking and said it would not be “financially viable” to build on it.

Instead it decided to look at building extra soccer pitches at the Cove Sports and Community Club in Hallett Cove and relocating the existing football and cricket clubs to nearby Capella Reserve.

However, a feasibility study has determined that the Hallett Cove site is not big enough to build the extra pitches and it will now spend an extra $2 million to construct three natural grass pitches – instead of two artificial pitches – at O’Halloran Hill.

The council said natural turf would perform better on the poor soil than artificial.

Mayor Kris Hanna said there was growing demand for soccer pitches in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

“Players, families and supporters will have a new home to come together, train, and socialise,” Mr Hanna said.

“Designs will allow room to build an additional pitch should council need to respond to increasing demand in the future.

“Soccer fans will be cheering,”

Marion Council is providing $4.5 million of funding and the State Government through Football SA is contributing $2.5 million.

The Cove Football Club (Cove FC), which currently plays at the Cove Sports and Community Club, will be invited to lease the new facility.

Work is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed in 2021.