Walkerville Council presses ahead with plans for $9.5m sports hub on oval, but clubs aren’t happy
Walkerville sporting clubs say their council has not listened to fears about a $9.5m oval revamp – and now their clubrooms face the wrecking ball.
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Walkerville Council will push ahead with a $9.5m sports hub – which has been three decades in the making – despite anger from local clubs unhappy about the design and lack of a new grandstand.
The council last week approved concept plans for the Walkerville Oval hub and now proceeds to compiling detailed designs for its assessment panel.
Plans for the two-storey facility include change rooms, a large event space, offices, storage, doctor’s rooms, as well as a kitchen and kiosk.
However, members of Walkerville Sports Club told The Advertiser they had problems with the design, that it did not have a clubroom “feel” and lacked input in consultation.
Walkerville Sports Club president Mark Webber said a grandstand should have been included in the design because it was loved by spectators.
“To remove that outdoor undercover seating and not provide any other outdoor stepped undercover seating, seems to be an anomaly,” Mr Webber said.
“They told us to not bring up a grandstand because it wasn’t going to happen.”
A council report said the redevelopment was first mooted in the mid-1990s.
Plans for the site were started in 2011, only to be shelved in 2015 because council could not secure funds.
Walkerville Sports Club – which includes softball, cricket and junior and senior football sides – use the complex.
Walkerville Junior Football Club president Matt Hobby said the unisex change rooms were a win for the club, but the function space was “a white elephant”.
“They also haven't put in any measures around coaches boxes … fencing, lighting and an electric scoreboard,” Mr Hobby said.
Walkerville Football Club Ryan Young was concerned the design did not include an exclusive memorabilia room.
Walkerville Mayor Elizabeth Fricker said the design accommodated all user groups.
“There has been questions about whether there is enough undercover viewing area because we will not be having a grandstand,” Ms Fricker said.
“But we have changed things around with the plans to make sure … we tick all their boxes.”
Should the plan secure development approval by the end of April, the council would start work in July.
The proposed finish date is January 2024.
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