Marion Tennis Club stunned by council decision to move ahead with basketball stadium expansion

A sporting club in Adelaide’s south with a 90-year history has been left dumbfounded by a council decision to demolish its courts. Now the Marion Mayor has explained why.

Marion Tennis Club is set to be demolished to make way for a larger Marion Basketball Stadium. Picture: Matt Turner

An Adelaide tennis club is fighting for its life after a council announced without warning it would demolish its courts for a new basketball stadium.

The Marion Tennis Club had been left blindsided and “devastated” by Marion Council’s confidential agreement to build a new five-court basketball centre “encapsulating the site” currently leased by the 90-year-old club.

Club spokesman Kym Morgan said he and other members wouldn’t “just lie down and die”.

“This is a proud club. We’re going to fight, we have an anger and determination to fight,” he said.

“To be informed that a decision was made without any prior warning is both appalling and hurtful.

“I don’t know what their thought process was because they didn’t consult us. If they talked to us and said ‘hey, we’re planning to kill your club’, then we could’ve helped them and explained the full extent of the use of the courts, along with other factors.

“Honestly, they thought they could punch up a small and helpless target. It’s disgraceful. It is disgraceful what they’ve done.”

Marion Tennis Club members Liz Hearn, Nigel Dally, Tony Davey, Pat Carey, Kym Morgan Lakshay Madankumar and Korbyn Hearn (front). Picture: Matt Turner

Marion Council said the existing 50-year-old centre on Norfolk Rd was no longer functional, and South Adelaide Basketball Club’s 2200-strong membership was forecast to hit more than 6000 players in 10 years.

Announcing the plan last Wednesday, it said it had communicated with the tennis club and Tennis SA, and had received $6m in federal funding.

However, club president Nigel Dally received a phone call from the council saying a behind-closed-doors vote to bulldoze their club and expand the basketball club’s facilities had already been made, Mr Morgan said.

“We’re not against basketball but prior to the phone call we had absolutely no inkling that this was in the works,” he told FIVEaa this morning.

Mr Morgan said both clubs could fit on the 100,000sq m, of which the tennis club needs just 3 per cent.

Marion Basketball Stadium is no longer functional, the council said.

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the club “was not informed” of the proposal before the vote because of a confidentiality order, and was consulted when the order was lifted.

“Council is committed to working with the Marion Tennis Club,” Mr Hanna said. “Following an initial meeting on March 13, subsequent meetings were organised to continue to work through a solution for the club and its members. Full public consultation will occur when initial concept designs for a new stadium become available.

“The overarching principle is maximising public spaces for the good of the community. If we proceed with plans for a desperately needed five-court basketball stadium, that would be inconsistent with the Marion Tennis Club remaining on that site. We understand their shock and disappointment when first consulted about the plan.”

Mr Hanna was asked on FIVEaa Monday morning why there was an emphasis on improving basketball facilities and not tennis.

“You’re doing nothing for tennis in the meantime,” morning announcer Matthew Pantelis said, accusing the council of “bully” tactics.

“Well, that’s the conversation we want to have with the tennis club,” replied Mr Hanna.

“You’ve already made the decision though, haven’t you? I mean, behind closed doors? It’s done.” Mr Pantelis said.

“Well … that’s right. But now we want to talk to the Marion Tennis Club about what their members want,” Mr Hanna said.

“So the conversation comes after the decision? That just seems … well, obscene really,” Mr Pantelis said.

Mr Hanna said the project’s cost was being kept confidential ahead of tender processes.