Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor tests support for $45-55m pool plan

The plug may have been pulled on the Crows’ plans for the parklands aquatic centre but now the council’s got designs on making a big splash of its own.

The current Adelaide Adelaide City Council-owned Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Picture: Colin James

A new regional aquatic centre costing between $45m and $55m is being planned for Adelaide’s northern parklands.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor has hosted a meeting at the Adelaide Town Hall to obtain the support of three neighbouring councils to seek state and federal funding for the project.

Prospect Mayor David O’Loughlin, Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans and Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan were briefed on survey results showing residents from their council areas were the biggest users of the ageing Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

Adelaide City Council is undertaking a $90,000 feasibility study into the construction of a replacement facility following a decision by the Adelaide Crows to abandon plans to take over the aquatic centre as a new base for the club.

The council began seeking external funding for the project last year, with Ms Verschoor writing to Premier Steven Marshall while submissions also were lodged with Infrastructure Australia.

Concept designs are being developed by council staff and consultants for a new complex on either the existing site or nearby Denise Norton Park.

Adelaide Lord Mayor, Sandy Verschoor. Picture: Dean Martin

It will feature indoor pools suitable for lap swimming, club training, school carnivals and swimming lessons. Other features are likely to include outdoor pools, water slides, a gymnasium, creche, cafe, spa, sauna and steam room. The plans are expected to be released for community consultation within the next six months.

Mr O’Loughlin said the four mayors had agreed it was better to join forces to lobby for funding rather than Adelaide City Council doing it alone.

“The main users of the aquatic centre are from Port Adelaide Enfield, Charles Sturt, City of Prospect and the City of Adelaide, in that order, so it needs to be a first class regional facility,” he said.

“All three of us encouraged the City of Adelaide to make sure there is a 50m indoor pool suitable for school carnivals and year-round training.

“We want to see a final design which they want funding for before asking our councils to send a letter of support.”

Mr O’Loughlin said he had suggested the new complex could be modelled on the Cockburn Recreation Centre in Perth, which has indoor and outdoor facilities.

Ms Verschoor said her council accepted it had a responsibility to provide a new aquatic centre for regional use.

“Council is currently undertaking a feasibility study after which we will make a decision about the best way to proceed,” she said.

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