State’s planning authority to consider $100m data centre for old beach volleyball site, as Volleyball SA eyes new home

New artist impressions have been released of a $7m plan to transform part of the city’s parklands into the new home of beach volleyball.

Artist impressions of proposed beach volleyball courts at Bonython Park. Picture: Volleyball SA

New artist impressions reveal a $7m plan to transform part of Bonython Park into the home of beach volleyball, after its former site on Pirie St was sold earlier this year.

Volleyball SA has created a masterplan for the western parkland after it was identified as the best location for the courts due to its visibility, accessibility and carparking.

The $7m plan and business case, which is reliant on state government funding, is being considered by the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and sports minister.

“We are doing whatever we can to make this happen ... we keep pushing,” Volleyball SA chief executive Karla Della Pietra said.

“It will be a multi-sport inclusive venue, for a lot of different sports and activities in general.

“There would be a cafe and we’re hoping to have a double-storey facility of some sort to have mezzanine viewing of the courts.”

Artist impressions of proposed beach volleyball courts at Bonython Park. Picture: Volleyball SA

The plan has an emphasis on the courts blending into the natural habitat and open space.

The location, currently used as carparking, was given the blessing of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority in 2021, which had to approve the proposal.

Ms Della Pietra said the new $3.2bn Women’s and Children’s Hospital, which has been proposed adjacent Bonython Park, would not affect its facility.

“We’ve tried to use it to our advantage and offer nurses and healthcare workers a place to retreat or get active. At the moment no issues have arisen at all from that announcement,” she said.

The old Adelaide City Council-owned City Beach Volleyball court on Pirie St. Picture: Colin James

Adelaide City Council sold the old volleyball courts at 211 Pirie St site for an undisclosed amount in February.

The site looks set to be transformed into a $100m NextDC data centre, under an application to be considered by the State Commission Assessment Panel on Wednesday.

The ASX-listed Brisbane-based technology company plans to build the six-storey centre, named A1 Adelaide, to tap into the growing South Australian industry.

NextDC's proposed $100m data centre on Pirie St. Picture: Supplied

The centre will play a critical role in further strengthening the state’s sovereign and hi-tech capabilities, according to a company statement earlier this year.

The building will stand 34m-tall and is considered “appropriate and comparable” in scale to surrounding buildings, while its appearance is “visually cohesive”, a planning report stated.

SCAP is recommended to grant planning consent to the application as it is not seriously at variance with the planning and design code.

The former Liberal government worked closely with NextDC to establish its first office in SA, which will create 150 jobs.

NextDC's proposed $100m data centre on Pirie St. Picture: Supplied