Sport clubs’ grand plan to lure federal money for Glenelg Oval overhaul

GLENELG’S sports clubs have come together to hatch a grand plan to lure millions in federal money to the Bay ahead of this year’s election.

GLENELG’S sports clubs have come together to hatch a grand plan to lure millions in federal money to the Bay ahead of this year’s election.

They want to make the upgraded Glenelg Oval even better, by adding floodlights strong enough to host day-night cricket, as well as a multipurpose indoor centre and new tennis courts.

The local cricket, football and tennis clubs and Glenelg Primary are pushing the plan, with the financial support of Holdfast Bay Council and the tacit support of the SA Cricket Association.

The SACA is not contributing any money even though it is potentially the biggest beneficiary of the development as it pushes to wrest the domestic one-day cricket tournament from the eastern states.

An improved, floodlit, Glenelg Oval, combined with the rebuilt Adelaide Oval and soon to be improved Adelaide Oval No 2, would aid the SACA in bringing the Matador Cup to SA – and Glenelg.

“The plan is to have a concept that would include as many sports as we can,” Glenelg District Cricket Club spokesman Alan Scholz said of the multi-club plan.

“We would love indoor cricket nets and we’re trying to get netball and volleyball to join us.”

A committee with representatives from local clubs and the council was framing a funding bid to be put to the Commonwealth Government in an election year.

Mr Scholz said the committee envisaged the redevelopment being similar to the $23 million revamp of an oval complex in Port Augusta, which opened last year for football, soccer, netball and tennis.

He said the lights needed for cricket to be televised would cost $3m alone, and the proposed indoor centre had the potential to be “the focus in the southern area”.

Glenelg Primary would have access to the indoor centre, which would be built over the ground’s carpark.

Mr Scholz said neighbours would be invited to have their say on the plans when they were ready, which he hoped would be mid-2016.

But the committee’s timeline is tight, as the election is due in November.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Stephen Patterson said the Glenelg Oval revamp would be great for the district.

“It’s great to see the clubs really driving this,” he said.

SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw said it was a “fantastic initiative by the committee”.

“The potential to play more Women’s National Cricket League fixtures is a possibility along with (state second XI) matches,” he said.

The council will soon engage consultants to draw up the plans.

What do you think of the plans? Leave your comment below.