AFL news: Crows release alternate Thebarton Oval home base plan after residents’ concerns

Adelaide initially had an MCG-sized secondary oval earmarked for Kings Reverse – but concerns from residents have forced a re-think. Here’s the latest Thebarton Oval master plan.

Adelaide is closing in on finalising its final master plan to make Thebarton Oval its new headquarters.

The finalisation of the master plan to make Thebarton Oval their new home, which is expected to happen in the next month, comes as the Crows tabled the results of public consultation to the Master Plan Advisory Group on Wednesday night.

The Crows also tabled an arborist report at the meeting of the MAG, which revealed that around 50 trees will be removed from Kings Reserve under the club’s revised plans for a second oval.

Adelaide’s initial plans for Thebarton Oval had a MCG-sized secondary training oval earmarked for Kings Reverse.

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new base at Thebarton Oval – Aerial CREDIT: City Collective

After residents voiced concerns about the amount of tree canopy that was to be lost under the original plan, the Crows have produced an alternative plan featuring a smaller secondary training oval for Kings Reserve.

This also retains the skate park.

The arborist report said that under the Crows initial plans of a MCG-sized oval for Kings Reserve, 73 trees would need to be removed.

The loss of and impact on existing trees was found to be one of the reasons for concerns of the Crows’ draft master plan in the club’s public consultation results.

Other reasons of concerns included;

Public access to Kings Reserve, the size and location of the second oval, traffic impact, car parking, light spill, lease terms and anti-social behaviour.

Adelaide Crows artist impressions of their new base at Thebarton Oval – Hill CREDIT: City Collective

Reasons of support included:

•Community benefit, revitalisation of existing amenity, investment and economic benefit, benefit to local businesses and trade, active sport benefit and retention of heritage.

•The survey had over 15,000 unique visitors to its website, 786 individual feedback items, 483 surveys completed and 71 drop-in session participants.

•From the survey 67 per cent identified that public access to Thebarton Oval was important to them.

Earlier this year Crows chairman John Olsen revealed the cost of the project had blown out from $85m, and was now “heading towards” the $100m mark.

The Crows have Federal Government funding for the project and are hoping to get the State Government to come on board and provide funding for it as well.

Originally published as AFL news: Crows release alternate Thebarton Oval home base plan after residents’ concerns