Work starts on SANFL’s new $25 million talent and community facility at West Lakes as artist impressions revealed
The SANFL’s state-of-the-art talent and community facility is a big step closer to reality after construction on the $25.3 million complex began. See the pictures.
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The SANFL’s new, state-of-the-art, talent and community facility is a big step closer to reality after construction on the $25.3 million complex began on Melbourne Cup day.
Described as an SA football “development game-changer’’ by SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler, the complex - the first of its kind for Australian football - is being built adjacent to Football Park at West Lakes on land owned by the league.
It will become the high-performance training venue for the SANFL’s elite male and female under-16s and under-18s players, as well as First Nations and multicultural talent academies, as the Adelaide Crows prepare to move to Thebarton Oval.
A sod turning ceremony was held on Tuesday to mark construction beginning, with the complex expected to be completed by November next year.
“The construction of the $25 million talent and community precinct at West Lakes is a
monumental step forward for the SANFL and our commitment to developing the best young
male and female athletes in our state,” Chandler said.
“This significant project, which has been over five years in the making, gives our most
talented young players the best opportunity to succeed and to realise the dream of playing
Australian football at the highest levels.
“Not only will it be a state-of-the-art facility that supports young South Australians, but also a
place for broader community connection, enjoyment and improved health and wellbeing.
“We are thrilled to finally see this exciting project for the future of football in South Australia
come to life over the next 12 months.”
The facility, co-funded by the SANFL, the SA and Federal Governments and the AFL, will be used by about 300 footballers each year, and include:
UNISEX player changerooms, gymnasium, rehabilitation suites, coaching and education facilities.
A MULTI-PURPOSE community function centre.
ALLIED Health practice rooms accessible by the community.
NEW administration offices for the SANFL’s talent department.
LANDSCAPING and plaza works to support community and sporting events.
The SANFL will invest more than $14 million on the project, with a further $11 million coming from State and Federal funding and $250,000 from the AFL.
The SANFL this year secured a non-exclusive license from the City of Charles Sturt for use
of the adjoining Football Park oval, to be used for state under-age talent training and trial
matches, with community access available at all other times.
SA Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing Katrine Hildyard said the facility
was a shining example of the State Government’s commitment to investing in sport for the
community and brightest football prospects.
“Community facilities like this are powerful in improving people’s physical, mental and
emotional health and wellbeing, in bringing people together and in creating a really strong
sense of community,” she said.
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