Crows headquarters: First pictures revealed as government addresses Brompton review

The Brompton Gasworks review should be publicly released immediately, the SA Liberals say, as the Adelaide Crows reveal the inside of their “state-of-the-art” Thebarton facility.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis says a review into the Crows’ Brompton snub will charge ahead as the club unveils a first look at its new Thebarton headquarters.

On Wednesday, the Adelaide Football Club revealed it had signed off on its new headquarters at Thebarton Oval, which include a “world-class” facility for the team – and the community.

The Thebarton site was confirmed after the Crows’ bid for the former Brompton Gasworks site was shut down by the Liberals last year, an independent review into which was opened when the Malinauskas government took power.

Mr Koutsantonis, who lives in Torrensville, said Wednesday’s announcement by the Crows would have no impact on the review and its findings would be made publicly available when completed.

He said it was “open space,” not the football club, that was at the heart of the review.

“One of the biggest concerns that we had about the Brompton site wasn’t just the Crows, it was about open space. We deserve somewhere to take our children to kick a footy, we deserve somewhere with a playground and open green space,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Crows chairman John Olsen said the move to Thebarton became more appealing as new plans for the South Road tunnels ensured Kings Reserve would be available from the outset, rather than be used as storage for seven to 10 years, allowing the Crows to create a second oval.

On Thursday morning, Liberal Planning spokeswoman Michelle Lensink called for the Brompton Gasworks review to be made public.

The review which began in May would be finished in six weeks, Ms Lensink said.

“He (The Premier) promised to launch a review to see if the Crows had been unfairly rejected during the decision-making process and in the meantime the Adelaide Football Club has picked a homebase elsewhere,” Ms Lensink said,

“That means Labor’s Brompton Gasworks review is a complete waste of taxpayer funds and time because the Crows are never moving to that site.”

According to Adelaide’s plans, Kings Reserve would be home to the Crows’ AFLW side and have dimensions similar to the MCG, while its men’s team will train on Thebarton’s main ground, set to be the size of Adelaide Oval.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis, May 2022. Picture: Matt Turner

Adelaide Chairman John Olsen making the announcement at Crows headquarters, West Lakes. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

However, Mr Koutsantonis said parts of Kings Reserve would still be used as a lay-off area for the South Road construction.

Exactly how much, he said, remained unclear.

“We think that their works will not impact on our section of Kings Reserve and the Thebarton Community Centre that we need, which includes the Torrensville Bowling Club, for our lay-off areas,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“What the Crows’ actual plans are with the council is a matter for them, but we think we can work within the scope of what they’ve given us.”

The transport minister also brushed off suggestions that taxpayer dollars would be contributed to the project.

“This is a City of West Torrens piece of infrastructure,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“In terms of how much we assist them, the Crows are one of the wealthiest clubs in the AFL, I’m not quite sure how much taxpayer’s money they need.

“The question for the council and the Crows is how they integrate into our project works, we’ll work collaboratively with the Crows to make sure that it’s all seamless.”

“I’ve had reassurance from John Olsen that the padlocks on the gates will come down and it will be open to the public as open space.”

He said the state government was working with the Crows to alleviate concerns from local residents over traffic management, particularly amid plans for the ground to be used as the AFLW side’s home oval.

Mr Olsen hoped the club would be settled in its new home by 2025.

“Aside from being a state-of-the-art headquarters for all players, coaches and staff, it will be our AFLW team’s home ground, having dedicated facilities for both athletes and spectators,” Mr Olsen said.

Housing developments have been encroaching the Crows’ current base at West Lakes since the SA Football Commission sold the precinct to developers in 2014 and the club eyed more space after adding an AFLW side in 2017.

The Crows had planned to redevelop the aquatic centre in North Adelaide, before putting that on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, Adelaide City Council blocked the Crows from developing in the parklands.

What you’ll find at the new Crows HQ:

■ Hydrotherapy, rehabilitation and medical amenities and publicly accessible allied health services like physiotherapy

■ An indoor artificial grass training field nearly double the size of what is currently at West Lakes

■ A new council community hub replacing the existing building which will be demolished as part of the South Road works

■ A museum and cafe

■ A skateboard park, playground and soccer pitch-sized turfed area

■ Increased community green space which is fully open to the local community, sitting beside the two AFL competition-sized ovals

See the pictures:

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new base at Thebarton Oval, featuring ample open space. Picture: City Collective

A view from above (artist impression) of the Adelaide Crows new base at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

A view from above (artist impression) of the Adelaide Crows new base at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new base at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new entrance at Thebarton. Picture: City Collectiv