Permanent fence proposal for Unley Oval divides the community

The local council is exploring the idea of installing a permanent fence with public access openings around popular Unley Oval – but the plan has divided the community.

A proposed permanent perimeter fence around a suburban oval facility in an inner-southern suburb has divided the community.

The Unley City Council is exploring installing a permanent fence around Unley Oval and is seeking community feedback.

The investigation will consider extending the fence from the oval’s grandstand on Trimmer Tce, along Frederick St, to the lawn tennis facilities on Langham Tce.

Supporters of a fence believe it would compliment the facility and maximise its potential usage while opponents believe a fence would be a step towards limiting public access and be aesthetically unpleasing.

Unley Oval is a popular public space with shelters, barbecues and playgrounds making it an idea community recreation hub, while the lawned areas are popular with dog walkers.

Fans during a Carlton Blues AFL training session at Unley Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A view of Unley Oval. Picture: Facebook.

However, it is also home to SANFL club Sturt, which plays its home games at the oval and has been the traditional home ground of the Double Blues since its inception in 1901.

In 1987 the club moved home games to the Adelaide Oval and the oval was turned into a public park removing the boundary fence. But in 1998, Sturt moved back to Unley.

Now, the Sturt Football Club spends $30,000 a year to erect temporary fences around the venue on game day and Double Blues’ chief executive Sue Dewing has said the football club has spent $1 million since 1998 on fencing.

The club has been loud in its support of the Unley council developing a concept design and exploring costings for a venue fence.

Sturt v Glenelg at Unley Oval. Picture: Cory Sutton

Tom Lewis with coach, Martin Mattner, chief executive Sue Dewing, and James Battersby at Unley Oval, in front of the Sturt Football Club’s $5 million dollar grandstand, in 2023. Picture: Matt Loxton

However, locals such as Friends of Unley Oval member Julie Mitchell have been strong online in their opposition to a fence.

“(Unley Oval) is a beautiful and much appreciated open green space and venue for football and cricket and we are very fortunate to have this community-owned asset,” she said.

“It accommodates the needs of the community who use this space for exercising, running their dogs, special events with friends and family and those of the Sturt Football Club who are thriving in this environment.”

“Why fence it in when it works perfectly well just as it is?”

It is not a new debate – in 2012 the then Sturt chief executive Matt Benson said Unley Oval needed permanent fencing as the club was battling financially and needed to reduce Sturt’s game day costs.

The Unley council, at its June meeting, endorsed a staged investigation of a perimeter fence, involving the community in a co-design approach, including measuring the level of support, identifying community concerns and any benefits to the broader community.

City of Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson said passions ran high on the issue on both sides of the fence debate.

“For some, it’s passionately a huge issue … I suspect the vast majority – if it’s a nice fit, and it’s open and the oval’s open – they won’t mind either way but some don’t want a fence at all,” he said.

“It’s a lovely oval, I just hope we maintain a lovely open oval regardless of whether we have a fence or not.”

Mr Hewitson would not be drawn on whether he personally thought the oval should have a fence.

“I like driving past and its open and unique in that way, however if council resolves by a majority to investigate a fence let’s have a look at it and see what it is,” he said.

“(Would a fence) frame the oval and add to the aesthetic and how much will it cost and who pays? – we don’t know these until we’ve done the homework.

“I’m determined the community can have their say and delighted they are.”

An online survey will be live until July 29 as the council collects community feedback, and drop-in sessions at Unley Oval will be held on Wednesday July 24, 10am – 12 noon,

Thursday July 25, 4.30-6.30pm and Sunday July 28, 10am – 12 noon.