Fencing proposed for Jubilee Reserve upgrade causes controversy as clubs fear exclusion, council vows to consult
Two fences are at the centre of fears a proposed revamp of an Adelaide oval will vastly reduce kids’ access – but the local council insists nothing’s been decided.
Football SA has hosed down talk a controversial $6.5m West Lakes oval upgrade – which clubs fear puts kids’ sport at risk – will need two new fences at specific heights to win federal funding.
In April, Federal MP Mark Butler made a $5m election promise for a permanent home for the Adelaide Jaguars Women’s Soccer Club at Jubilee Reserve, with $1.5m from Charles Sturt Council.
A 1.2m spectator and 1.8m perimeter fencing is part of the proposal, with a council staff member telling last month’s meeting he believed without that, an application for federal grant funding would be rejected by Canberra.
Sporting clubs have railed against the proposal, some saying fencing would hurt their program.
“The fencing and the ancillary infrastructure reduces the number of pitches we will have access to, and reduces the flexibility and available green space for us and all the other users,” North West Junior Soccer Association chair Lou Tramontin said.
A Football SA spokesperson said minimum fencing requirements for Women’s National Premier League matches was a one-metre fence and a perimeter fence that includes gated entry – the latter could be temporary.
“As many clubs use council-owned venues, perimeter and pitch fencing is typically open to the public outside of match days. Some clubs therefore erect temporary perimeter fencing on match days to meet the gated-entry requirement,” the spokesperson said.
Asked it council would be eligible for grant funding if the application didn’t meet Football SA’s competition requirements, Mr Butler said “election commitments were delivered in line with Commonwealth grants rules and practices”.
The reserve is used by thousands of young soccer players, the Jaguars, and multiple other sporting clubs, which fear they will be pushed out.
Proposed upgrades include a full-sized senior pitch, additional pitches, new changerooms and better lighting.
Clubs say they were blindsided by the pre-election announcement and are concerned council document include costings and a timeline.
The documents obtained under Freedom of Information also show council’s chief executive Paul Sutton and Mayor Angela Evans supported Mr Butler’s election pledge in January despite a staff member describing the Jaguars’ wishlist for the site as “gobsmacking” and looking “more like a takeover”.
Mr Sutton said support was “conceptual” to secure the federal funding and would be offered to other clubs in the same circumstances.
He emphasised council had made no decisions on the redevelopment, including whether to apply for the federal grant.
Asked why council didn’t consult other clubs before senior figures provided support for Mr Butler’s election pledge, Mr Sutton said their advocacy process to the federal government was separate to community consultation.
He said council has since conducted seven workshops with site user groups to understand their wishlists, with an architect to then create a design.
“We’re trying to say, how can we provide better facilities for women’s soccer but at the same time optimise the site so everyone’s needs are best accommodated,” he said.
“That’s likely to mean everyone will have to have a bit of compromise, and that will include the Jaguars in terms of their wishlist.”
Jaguars chairperson Bronny Brooks said Football SA requirements were only a guideline and plenty of venues didn’t have all the criteria – although there were some non-negotiable features like the 1m fence.
She said proposed pitches were the same as what the Jags currently share with NWJSA.
“How the pitches align might be different but that is not exclusionary,” she said.
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