Storm-damaged Glenelg Oval HY Sparks grandstand to be demolished and replaced with a grass mound and shelter
A GRANDSTAND at a major suburban ground that was badly damaged in a storm is to be razed. It won’t be rebuilt, instead fans will get seats on a grass mound.
- Massive storm smashes Adelaide and South Australia
- Storm damage makes it unsafe to use grandstand and changerooms
- Holdfast Bay Council moves to ask locals about a $20m overhaul plan for Glenelg Oval
A GLENELG Oval grandstand badly damaged in a storm will be demolished and replaced with seats on a grass mound.
Holdfast Bay Council, which owns the oval, last week unanimously voted to spend up to $461,000 on the project.
Other options considered were spending $600,000 on a new grandstand or $2.8 million on an indoor training centre.
The roof of the 500-seat HY Sparks stand blew off during a storm on December 28, causing structural damage to the rest of the 80-year-old building.
Glenelg Football Club has not allowed players to use the changerooms or the gym inside the grandstand since it was damaged.
Cr Mikki Bouchee told last Tuesday’s meeting it would be “inappropriate for (the) council to go ahead with a huge spend” for an indoor training centre when the draft Glenelg Oval masterplan — endorsed by councillors in December — was yet to go out to consultation.
As well as the indoor training centre, the masterplan includes a new indoor sports centre, a tennis clubroom and resurfacing eight tennis courts. Consultation on the plans was stalled because of a staff member’s resignation.
“The stand has stood for a long time but there’s an end date for all structures,” Cr Bouchee said.
The cheaper option includes terraced seating and a shelter on the mound.
The council’s official priority is a $15 million upgrade of Brighton Oval, which focuses on building three new clubrooms.
Tigers president Nick Chigwidden said the club was in the hands of the council as to what it wanted to do with the grandstand but it was important “to provide a great facility for people to come watch us play football”.
The HY Sparks Stand was mainly used by opposition supporters because Glenelg members tend to sit in the neighbouring Edward Rix Stand.
The club is building new temporary changerooms under its function centre ahead of the first SANFL game on April 7. They are likely to be used until the masterplan is funded.
Councillors also last week voted to rescind a clause in its lease with the club which reserves 40 seats in the Edward Rix Stand for elected members and staff.
Instead, the council will get 40 tickets to each home game.
Cr John Smedley said this was “just a small gesture” to help the club in “difficult trading circumstances” by opening up more seats for members.
The council is still in negotiations with its insurer over how much it will pay towards the cost of demolishing the grandstand.
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