Premier Peter Malinauskas promises $80m revamp of Netball SA complex at Mile End

With problems mounting such as power failures and a leaking roof, a rundown sporting facility is getting a major multimillion dollar overhaul.

The rundown Netball SA stadium will be bulldozed and replaced with an $80m multi-sport facility, following a long campaign by players of the popular sport.

The redevelopment will transform the problem-plagued venue at Mile End into a complex capable of hosting other indoor sports, like volleyball.

Work is expected to begin in the second half of next year.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the plans on Saturday night as the Adelaide Thunderbirds began their Super Netball season against the Queensland Firebirds at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

An artist impression of the outdoor netball courts at Mile End that will upgraded with better shelter, improved lighting and new playing surfaces Picture: Supplied

Mr Malinauskas conceded the Mile End stadium was “simply not fit for purpose” and promised the upgrade would deliver “a proper facility”.

“More girls in SA play netball than any other ball sport,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“This is an investment in the future which will provide new impetus for healthy, community-based participation.”

Mr Malinauskas said the new stadium “will also help facilitate more national and international events” in Adelaide.

The planned redevelopment will be done in two stages, starting with the outdoor facilities in mid to late 2025.

All 26 netball courts will be upgraded with better shelter, improved lighting and new playing surfaces.

Later, the current indoor stadium, opened in 2001, will be replaced with a new building featuring a flexible 3000 seat show court.

It is expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028.

At least 35,000 South Australians regularly play netball and about 500,000 people attend the Netball SA complex each year.

But it has been beset by problems in recent years, including a power failure in March last year that forced the abandonment of a match between the Thunderbirds and Sydney Swifts at half time.

A month later a Premier League game was called off after the roof began leaking.

At the time Netball SA said it “continually had to increase the stadium maintenance plan due to the ageing nature of the facility”.

The organisation has been lobbying for years for a major government commitment to upgrading the venue.

Responding to Mr Malinauskas’ $80m announcement, Netball SA chief executive Bronwyn Klei said players were “thrilled” with the investment in grassroots sport and the promise of “a first-class facility”.

“The stadium is the home to netball and this redevelopment will secure the future for

all of netball in South Australia,” she said.

Sport Minister Katrine Hildyard said the redevelopment would support “future generations of

athletes, from those attending their very first netball clinic to seasoned athletes competing in country champs to those aspiring to compete at the highest level”.

Volleyball SA chief executive Karla Della Pietra said the redevelopment “will give our sport the opportunity for further growth”.

“Volleyball’s membership in South Australia has increased exponentially, and providing more

places to play is crucial to sustaining the sport’s popularity,” she said.