Proposed $5m redevelopment of Jubilee Reserve, in West Lakes Shore, ‘threatens future of junior soccer association’

A proposed Adelaide sports precinct upgrade could sideline hundreds of junior soccer players and derail one of Adelaide’s biggest community carnivals, insiders say.

The future of nearly 400 junior soccer players and one of Adelaide’s biggest community carnivals is in doubt, as concerns mount over the proposed $5m redevelopment of a western suburbs sporting precinct.

Jubilee Reserve, in West Lakes Shore, would undergo a major transformation in an effort to “secure a home” for the Adelaide Jaguars Women’s Soccer Club under the proposal.

While the upgrade would include the development of a “full-sized” senior soccer pitch and additional pitches, North West Junior Soccer Association chairperson Lou Tramontin told The Advertiser he had been informed “a third of the oval” used by the association could be lost.

“That’s going to have a detrimental effect on our program,” Mr Tramontin said.

Ruby Webber 12, Lara Hoffmann, 19, and Angelique Juric 9, at the Jaguars Club at West Lakes. Picture: Ben Clark

“We’ve got 3600 kids playing at the moment – if we lose three fields, our calculations are that we’ll potentially have around 400 kids miss out on playing because we won’t be able to service them.

“It will have an impact on lots of different clubs. We’re probably one of the biggest, but you’ve got the football club across the road that have juniors, seniors and women's because they use the facility for games … and then you’ve got baseball and softball too.”

A parent, whose children are part of the association, has since launched a petition imploring council to think of the “long-term impacts”.

Mr Tramontin added the annual soccer carnival hosted by the association would no longer be able to go ahead, which could result in the loss of 30 young referees.

Jubilee reserve could undergo a major transformation. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“We combine the two venues that we operate out of and bring them together as one, and we can’t afford to lose a single field,” he said. “On that day, we attract somewhere in the vicinity of 12,000 to potentially 15,000 visitors over the course of the day.

“We’ve got food vans and food trucks available, show rides … It’s just a massive event that I can tell you won’t go ahead.”

The proposed redevelopment, spearheaded by a $5m commitment from Federal MP Mark Butler, would include new and upgraded sports lighting, female-friendly changerooms, improved clubroom spaces and other facilities to “support match games and enhance inclusivity, accessibility and site amenity”.

The pledge, announced in June, comes after “years of lobbying” from the Adelaide Jaguars.

Charles Sturt Council CEO Paul Sutton said the proposal was on community consultation and no decision had been made.

“An engagement approach has been created to ensure all key users of Jubilee Reserve including NWJSA, and all site user stakeholder groups, can actively participate in the consultation and masterplan design process,” Mr Sutton said.

“No decisions on the future of the site have been made at this stage. We look forward to hearing from our community as part of the formal consultation process.”