Call for stop to soccer hub development at Adelaide Shores in West Beach

RESIDENTS and councillors are calling for a halt to a soccer hub development at Adelaide Shores until a solution to traffic and car parking issues is found.

RESIDENTS and councillors are calling for a halt to a soccer hub development at Adelaide Shores until a solution to traffic and car parking issues is found.

Residents are frustrated a 100-space carpark at the new West Beach soccer complex was yet to be completed, despite games being played at the ground since February.

Airport Ward Councillor Garth Palmer said the second stage of the soccer complex, which will include five new grass pitches, should not go ahead until parking concerns are addressed.

“When the project was initially agreed to, the requirement was that they provide some parking space, but they haven’t done it,” he said.

“I’m saying put a halt to any additional playing fields at this stage until such time as the parking is finalised.”

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Council staff issued 79 parking tickets, totalling $6715, during a game in February between West Adelaide and Adelaide City, which attracted 3000 fans.

The game marked the opening of the $2.2 million first stage of the soccer hub, which features a synthetic pitch, clubrooms and lighting.

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Cr Palmer said he hoped to meet with residents once a draft traffic and parking plan was released for public consultation, which he expected within the next month.

Resident Leon Williams, who has lived on West Beach Rd for 13 years, created a Facebook page called ‘West Beach Road – Exposed’, after the development led to increased traffic.

Mr Williams said residents wanted a service road built alongside an upgraded West Beach Rd to separate traffic from their homes.

“That would just shield us so we can get out whenever we want and not have to worry about getting cleaned up,” he said.

“On busy summers days and when sport’s on you can’t get out there now, so unless we have a service road it’s just going to get worse.”

An Adelaide Shores spokeswoman said a carpark to the east of the football complex had not yet been built because council works to provide an access point from West Beach Rd were still being completed, along with a council plan for upgrading the streetscape.

“There are plans for additional car parking spaces in line with the Development Approval for the Football Centre,” the spokeswoman said.

What do you think of the soccer development at Adelaide Shores? Leave your comment below.