New Adelaide Aquatic Centre could be built on site of former Franklin St bus depot
A multimillion-dollar swimming complex capable of hosting national or international events could be built on the site of a former bus depot in the city.
SA News
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A new Adelaide Aquatic Centre costing up to $55 million could be built on the site of the former Franklin St bus depot, in the city.
The option is part of a staff report which will be presented to Adelaide City Council elected members at a workshop next week.
It was suggested by councillors Franz Knoll and Greg Mackie after alternative sites were sought for the city’s main swimming complex.
The existing aquatic centre on the northern parklands is outdated and needs to be refurbished or replaced.
It was being targeted by the Adelaide Crows as a potential new club headquarters before the pandemic began earlier this year. Today, Adelaide Crows chairman John Olsen said a move to the North Adelaide site was still being considered.
The council has decided to investigate building a new aquatic centre, with Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor writing to Premier Steven Marshall in August seeking funding support.
The council also is seeking financial help from the Federal Government, with an estimated construction cost of between $45m to $55m plus $6m for demolition.
In the report to be presented on Tuesday, property and commercial director Tom McCreedy says the vacant Franklin St bus depot and the existing site at Denise Norton Park, North Adelaide, were the two potential locations.
“There is general consensus amongst council members that the existing facility is at the end of its useful life and the best option moving forward is to construct a new facility while continuing to operate the existing facility,” it says.
“There is general agreement that any new facility should be capable of one million plus visitations and potentially capable of expanding to host national and or international events.”
Mr McCreedy says the Franklin St site did not offer the free parking available at North
Adelaide and could be too small for a complex with a potential footprint of 6850sq m.
However, its proximity to the Central Market and other retail outlets could encourage local spending while there would be no physical impact on the parklands.
By contrast, Denise Norton Park could accommodate free parking while also providing the opportunity to relocate the aquatic centre closer to O’Connell St.
The Franklin St option was raised by Mr Knoll and Mr Mackie during consultation by staff about alternative sites to six locations proposed by consultants engaged last year.
Only six of the 11 elected members provided feedback.
Mr McCreedy said the existing aquatic centre was a “very large and inefficient facility”, with a “very small” gymnasium.
The minimum requirements for a new centre would include a 25m pool, large warm water pool, learn to swim facilities, leisure pools, spa, sauna and steam room, gymnasium, creche and cafe.