Bulldozers move in at West Lakes as development kicks off

WORK has finally started on demolishing Football Park, with workers preparing for a “safe and smooth” knockdown of the old stadium

• New $50m aged-care plan for old AAMI Stadium unveiled
• Construction of $1 billion Football Park housing development starts
• Thousands of seats from old AAMI Stadium sold
• Video: First stage of $1bn WEST development at West Lakes

WORK has finally started on demolishing Football Park, with workers preparing for a “safe and smooth” knockdown of the old stadium.

Preparation began this week, with safety huts and perimeter fencing erected around the oval.

Heavy machinery is expected to be on site within the next three weeks.

Developers Commercial & General have contracted McMahon Services for the demolition, which is scheduled to start mid-June.

Commercial & General communities manager Chris Menz said demolition workers would begin dismantling the stadium in the northeast corner of the site and work in stages.

“You expect it to be smash and grab but it’s a meticulous process and they have to take structures down so it’s done safely and smoothly,” Mr Menz said.

“We’re starting there because it’s the easiest and we’re making way for Uniting SA’s health and aged facility.”

The developers aim for the section to be demolished by July.

Construction of Uniting SA’s five-storey, 120-bed aged care facility is expected to start early next year.

The proposed $50 million aged care home to be built by Uniting Care SA on the AAMI stadium site.

The next section of the stadium to be demolished will be the southern side, with the northern grandstand last on the list.

“The northern grandstand is a significant piece of infrastructure so that will take time (to be demolished),” Mr Menz said.

“There will be times where things collapse and fall over, which will be done in a controlled way. We picked this method of demolition to limit noise, dust and interference and we’re working hard so it has limited impact on the surrounding area.”

It will take about eight months to completely demolish the 60,000 sqm stadium.

About 100,000 tonnes of concrete and rubble will be removed from the site.

Football Park under construction in January, 1974.

The demolition is part of Commercial & General’s $1 billion WEST housing and retail development. The company bought the site from the SANFL in 2014 for $71 million.

“We’ve already opened six stages of WEST since commencing work in late 2015 and we’re delighted to be moving ahead with the next step,” Mr Menz said.

The stadium is making way for the Charles Sturt Council’s library, a childcare centre, Uniting SA’s aged care facility and a shopping strip.

The Adelaide Football Club’s training ground will be unaffected.