Adelaide Crows deny they have plans to change zoning status of land at Thebarton redevelopment

The Adelaide Crows have hosed down local concerns they will try to rezone the land at its $100 million Thebarton redevelopment and turn it into a more commercial operation.

The Adelaide Crows say they have no desire to change the zoning status of the land at their proposed $100 million Thebarton Oval redevelopment, after residents raised concerns based on a previously unknown clause in the football club’s contract with West Torrens Council.

Emma Dawes, a member of the 5031 Community Facilities and Greenspaces Action Group, said the clause had been “buried” in a 300-page document that will be considered at a special meeting of the West Torrens Council Thursday night.

Dr Dawes said while Adelaide had already negotiated a “42 plus 42’’ year lease of the Thebarton site, the clause suggested the Crows’ could push for a 99-year tenancy, with the potential, 10 years after completion of the development, “to consider entering into steps to revoke the community land status of the precinct’’.

“Now, that’s hugely concerning because if you take away the community protections of the land, it basically opens that land up for whatever use the Crows choose to have it for and it may be a stepping stone to commercialisation,’’ she said.

The clause reads, in part, that 10 years, that West Torrens Council “enter into good faith negotiations with AFC to consider entering into steps to revoke the community land status of the Precinct’’.

However, a spokesperson for the Crows said this was not on their agenda.

“The club has no intention of seeking land to be rezoned and is open to removing the reference which stems from very early conversations in and around lease tenure,’’ the spokesperson said.

Vision of the Adelaide Football Club’s proposed new training, administration and community precinct at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

Vision of the Adelaide Football Club’s proposed new training, administration and community precinct at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

A state government spokesperson also said its $15 million contribution to the project was “predicated on both Thebarton Oval and Kings Reserve being kept open for community use outside of the club’s requirements’’

Last month, Adelaide said it had come to an end to its decade-long quest for a new home after a “critical last step” of securing state government money for Thebarton Oval.

The $100m Thebarton Oval redevelopment proposal is to include world-class training and administration headquarters, two ovals and hospitality spaces.

The $15m state funding matches an earlier federal allocation and is pitched as creating a permanent home ground for the Crows’ AFLW side and opening up the Oval to the community.

The precinct will be open to the public outside designated match and training times. The Crows will post public opening times on their website as part of the funding deal.

The Crows had considered at least four sites, including the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in 2020 and Brompton Gasworks in 2022, before plans for the former SANFL ground at Thebarton Oval was unveiled in August last year.

But nearby residents protested against a loss of open space at Kings Reserve, adjacent to Thebarton Oval, forcing the Crows to compromise in April on plans for a MCG-sized training ground and replace that with a Marvel Stadium-sized ground from 2031, when land is available at the eastern edge after the nearby South Rd tunnels are completed.

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