Adelaide Crows pledge to boost access to Thebarton Oval, amid controversial council proposal

The Adelaide Crows’ chairman has addressed residents’ concerns surrounding the club’s proposed move to Thebarton, including increasing access to the oval.

Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen is vowing to throw open Thebarton Oval’s chain mesh fences for public space – a move Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis is declaring key to winning local backing for $80m headquarters.

In comments to The Advertiser, Mr Olsen tried to defuse residents’ concerns about the AFL club’s proposed new home ground robbing them of access to an adjacent park, Kings Reserve.

A residents’ group meeting on Wednesday night heard repeated calls for more extensive consultation by West Torrens Council, particularly about any leases with the Crows and commitments to open space access.

Mr Koutsantonis, whose West Torrens electorate includes Thebarton Oval, said residents likely would welcome access to the closed-off area.

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new base at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

Mr Olsen said the Crows wanted to deliver a sports and community hub that ensured “local residents have access to what will be a new and improved precinct”.

“The AFL players don’t actually use the oval as often as many people think and they do so during school and office hours. Given we have three teams needing to train, we will require access about 20 per cent of the time throughout the year,” he told The Advertiser.

“However, it is important to note that our activities will be spread across two ovals and, in effect, local residents will have more access to green space under our plan because Thebarton Oval is currently not publicly available. It is locked up behind a chain mesh fence and we will change that to open access.”

Mr Olsen said about $45m of the $80m-plus project cost would be spent on “infrastructure that benefits the community”.

“I’d venture to suggest the local council would not in the forward estimates have anywhere near $40 to $45 million to upgrade and provide that area for open and full access to the local community,” he said.

Mr Olsen insisted no lease agreement had been signed with the council during an initial consultation phase – part of a process instituted by the council.

He said the club would listen to community feedback, which would be incorporated into the site masterplan, which then would go to consultation via the council.

Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen says the public won’t completely lose access to Kings Reserve in proposed move to Thebarton. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Koutsantonis said the Crows’ proposal was causing significant local debate and people were “looking for some clarity”.

“What does it actually mean for them? Does it mean we can finally get access to Thebarton Oval? … If the Crows are proposing to tear down those fences and make that open space, as well as using it for training, I think that’s something the western suburbs might welcome but we need to see those details now,” he said.

“From what I’ve seen of their other proposals at Bowden, that’s exactly what the Crows are talking about. So it seems to me to be something that locals may support – they just want to see the details.”

Mr Koutsantonis said questions about community consultation were a matter for West Torrens Council and the potential lease process.

“But, ultimately, if it means more public space, that’s a good thing. If it means less, that would be a bad thing,” he said.

On ABC Radio Adelaide on Friday morning, Mr Koutsantonis added the decision should be made after the new council is elected.

“It would be inflammatory for an agreement to be signed during caretaker period,” he said.

Western suburbs residents have clashed with the local mayor over plans to build the Adelaide Crows' new headquarters at Thebarton Oval. Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfFYTVQ#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/vX9MJDOXMV

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 6, 2022

Residents left Wednesday night’s meeting “bitterly disappointed” with West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon’s response.

Residents’ group spokesman Paul Boylan said the meeting did not shed any light on what agreements had been reached with the Crows, excluding the SANFL’s intention to relinquish their lease for Thebarton Oval.

“It is not clear what agreements the Council will be entering into with the Crows at the end of Phase 1, following the ‘Your Say survey’,” he said.

“We also still don’t know why there was urgency to complete phase one … and the delayed caretaker period.”

The residents’ group has since “overwhelmingly endorsed” the council to not enter a binding agreement with the Crows in the absence of clear concrete guarantees on public access, tree preservation, traffic management and ongoing stewardship of Thebarton Oval and Kings Reserve, in addition to further public consultation.

A screenshot of a memo sent to Adelaide Crow's members on Wednesday, with a comment addressing the 'Your Say' survey. Picture: Supplied

The mayor confirmed the report with the results of the online ‘Your Say’ survey would be considered by the council at an open meeting and copies of the report would be made available.

The analysis of the survey results raised additional questions for the residents’ group including the weight of the community’s perspective over Crows’ members living in areas outside of the local area.

Mr Boylan said the process the council was using to gauge “community appetite” was flawed.

“I don’t understand why someone who lives elsewhere is having a say on what the usage of our land is going to be,” he said.

“The council should find better ways of communicating at all levels noting the community’s

diversity and differing interests.”

Slide the line left and right to compare the two plans. Compare the two plans according to locals campaigning against the Crows development: