Overwhelming support for SANFL’s $27m dream return to Football Park

The votes are in from the community about the SANFL’s $27m return to Football Park as a council considers a make-or-break report.

Community consultation over a proposed development to relocate the SANFL back to Football Park has come back with an overwhelming majority of ratepayers in support.

A total of 1820 survey responses were received by Charles Sturt Council, with just 232 signatures of those objecting a proposal that council grant the league a long-term lease of the land.

Ninety per cent supported the SANFL’s plans to build a new $22.6m administration and training centre, which would be used for state junior, First Nations and multicultural programs.

However, the results dropped when considering respondents from the WEST Development – which is right beside Footy Park – with 49 per cent supporting it.

The SANFL is seeking a long-term lease of Football Park in the event that Adelaide relocate their home grounds to Thebarton. Picture: City of Charles Sturt

The SANFL is seeking a long-term lease of Football Park in the event that Adelaide relocate their home grounds to Thebarton. Picture: City of Charles Sturt

“Having a community oval that allows our talented athletes a shared space to develop as players is important to our state, whilst giving the community residents a great area to exercise and socialise with other members,” one person said.

“The facility will be upgraded to a very high standard by the SANFL, it will benefit the community greatly. The SANFL has an impeccable and very proud history in SA – It would be a wonderful, honest and positively inclusive tenant,” another wrote.

If granted a lease, the league plan to build a new home on privately held land adjoining the Mosaic Hotel as part of a $27m redevelopment of the precinct.

If granted a lease, the SANFL plan to build a new $22.6m administration and training centre to use Football Park for state junior, First Nations and multicultural programs. Picture: City of Charles Sturt

It comes after West Torrens Council’s recent decision to grant a long-term lease of Thebarton Oval – which the SANFL will occupy until 2031 – to the Adelaide Crows, effectively meaning the SANFL need to find a new home.

Charles Sturt Council will now meet on Tuesday to discuss the results of the community consultation process.

If approved, Football Park would be vested to the council by the developers within four months of the decision being made, council documents reveal.

The developers are required to vest the oval to council to satisfy its obligation to provide open space. The land would then become community land – requiring council to consult the public before granting the long-term lease.