Federal Election 2019: Labor matches $15m for Crows’ CBD move

An Adelaide Crows push to move from West Lakes to North Adelaide has now been backed by both major political parties.

• Rucci: Plan B for Adelaide Crows city move
• Coalition pledges $15m for Crows HQ move to North Adelaide

The Adelaide Crows look destined for the Parklands regardless of who wins Saturday’s election, with Labor matching the Coalition’s funding for the move.

A month and a half, and seven rounds of football, since the Coalition made its pledge Labor have confirmed it will match a $15 million funding commitment.

The funding will help the AFL club move its headquarters to the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

“Sport plays an important role in our communities and that is why Labor has consistently supported community sport facilities and programs,” a Labor Party spokesman said in a statement.

The Coalition, which made the pledge on the day of AFLW Grand Final in March, said an all-new modern aquatic centre and fitness facility would service the broader Adelaide community.

Crows’ chief executive Andrew Fagan at the time said the funding pledge would make it possible for the club to create a $60 million training and administration building at the aquatic centre site.

It is understood the club welcomed Labor’s announcement and is proceeding to secure additional finance and planning approvals for the project.

Labor Senator Don Farrell

Former Adelaide lord mayor Martin Haese

Certainly former Adelaide lord mayor Martin Haese’s declaration on social media to take up the fight to protect the parklands from further development, tells of the sensitivities the Crows — and their political mates in Canberra — are up against.

His public position has prompted Labor Senator Don Farrell to hit out at Mr Haese, saying the proposal would transform a “neglected and underutilised” part of the parklands into a “welcoming, vibrant” community precinct.

“They need to get out more and see that there’s no reason you can’t have an AFL club training alongside grassroots teams and local residents using the parklands to enjoy active, healthy lifestyles,” Senator Farrell said.

“I’ve seen what clubs are achieving in other states in terms of modern, high-quality, community accessible facilities that balance their high-performance and administrative needs with green, open space and upgraded modern facilities for the benefit local, grassroots teams.”

Adelaide City Council is expected to hold a special meeting on June 4 to consider some “guiding principles” for the Crows development.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor last month warned there was still very little detail on the plan and the project would have to “offer very significant benefits” before it was supported.