Former Adelaide Aquatic Centre site to become new community oval designed for soccer and cricket

New renders reveal Adelaide City Council’s redevelopment plans for the former Adelaide Aquatic Centre site. See the pictures.

The former Adelaide Aquatic Centre site will be home to a new soccer and cricket ground after a $14m transformation to be completed by the end of the year. Picture: Adelaide City Council

New renders reveal the former Adelaide Aquatic Centre site will be home to a new soccer and cricket ground after a $14m transformation is completed by the end of the year.

Details of the ageing swim centre’s demolition and construction of a new community oval have been revealed in meeting documents of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority, Kadaltilla.

Adelaide City Council had allocated up to $20m in its 2024-25 budget for the North Adelaide works, which will come in $6m under budget due to a $14m fixed price contract.

The Kadaltilla report detailed the community oval had been designed for soccer and cricket usage, following consultation with lease holder Blackfriars Priory School.

Adelaide City Council allocated up to $20m in its 2024-25 budget for the works, which will come in $6m under budget. Picture: Adelaide City Council

The community oval had been designed for soccer and cricket usage, following consultation with lease holder Blackfriars Priory School. Picture: Adelaide City Council

Due to the repositioning of the new $135m swim centre, the ability to reinstate two ovals to replace the two lost in Denise Norton Park was not possible, the report said.

“However, lighting of the new community oval will extend the ability for training and matches year-round,” the report stated.

As part of the design, there would be replacement planting of advanced trees along Barton Terrace West and a central open space retained for recreation and informal community use.

Work continues at the new aquatic centre in North Adelaide. Picture: Russell Millard

YMCA Aquatic was announced as the new operator of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Picture: Russell Millard

The report also noted structural works and the roof of the new swim centre were nearing completion and pool tiling and the internal fit-out for the administration zone underway.

YMCA Aquatic was last month announced as the new operator of Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

When finished, the new centre will include a 50m indoor pool, 25m outdoor pool, rehabilitation pool, learn-to-swim pool, diving platforms, spa and outdoor splash pad.

Kadaltilla is expected to note the report as part of its meeting on Thursday afternoon, which also included details of the finalisation of a 42-year lease agreement between the council and state government for the aquatic centre redevelopment.

Originally published as Former Adelaide Aquatic Centre site to become new community oval designed for soccer and cricket