Adelaide City Council identifies the first of its 55 sports buildings in the parklands for redevelopment

Adelaide City Council has listed which of the outdated and unsafe buildings in the parklands it wants to redevelop first. See the priority list.

Mercedes Old Collegiate soccer players Hannah George, Madeleine Price and Ellie Teitzel at their derelict clubrooms in Park 21. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Two outdated and unsafe sports buildings in the Adelaide parklands are earmarked for redeveloped to cater for the growth and participation in sport, particularly among women.

Adelaide City Council has identified Park 21W and Park 27B to be prioritised for upgrades, after a review earlier this year on the future use of its 55 community buildings.

The review found buildings had sewage leaks, unsafe lighting, inadequate female changerooms and were labelled “disgusting” and an “embarrassment” by sports groups and users.

The council has previously voted to commit 1.5 per cent of rates revenue – just over $2m a year – to help upgrade the parklands buildings.

A list of priorities and a 10-year investment program for the buildings will be discussed by the council’s City Community Services and Culture Committee on Tuesday night.

The report proposes the Park 21W building be replaced next financial year at a cost of $5.26m, of which $2.5m would be partner funded.

The building in Park 21W will be replaced with a new facility. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The new building would include four unisex changerooms, a kitchen, common area, public toilets, umpire facilities and first aid room.

The park supports AFL, cricket, soccer, ultimate frisbee, netball and school sports, with the building leased to the Adelaide Community Sport and Recreation Association.

During community consultation on the parklands building policy, an ultimate frisbee player responded she felt “unsafe in the poorly lit and isolating club rooms”.

The building was identified as having structural issues in 2010 and has also limited the growth of the association for many years, according to the report.

The council intends to double the size of the building in Park 27B to 430 sqm to include two unisex changerooms, a kitchen, common room, public toilets, storage and an umpire room.

This building in Park 27B will be demolished and rebuilt. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The project slated for next financial year would cost $3.8m, which included $1.2m of partner funding and money received from the state government to improve the facilities.

The park supports junior boys and girls soccer and the building is leased by the West Adelaide Soccer Club.

The Park 27A building proposed for demolition and returned to parklands. Picture: Adelaide City Council

The council has proposed demolishing the Park 27A building, which was leased 20 years ago by the Equestrian Federation, and return the 75sq m to parklands.