Adelaide Crows have until 2026 – possibly longer – to bring their Adelaide Aquatic Centre vision to life
The COVID-19 pandemic looks set to put the Adelaide Crows’ plans for the Aquatic Centre on the backburner for now, but the club has six years to complete its visionary project through its Federal Government funding arrangement.
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The Adelaide Crows may look likely to put their proposal to relocate to North Adelaide on hold, but they could have at least six years to reignite the project.
As part of cost-cutting measures brought on by huge financial implications from the suspended season, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Crows have already shed 80 per cent of staff.
The cost-cutting measures are expected to extend to the ambitious plans for a new headquarters and training base on the site of the ageing Aquatic Centre in North Adelaide being put on hold for the immediate future.
But The Advertiser understands that under the agreement for the $15 million Federal Government loan announced last year the Crows have until June 30, 2026 to complete the proposal.
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan in December said he believed the project, which could cost up to $65 million, would take around two years to complete.
This would mean the Crows would have to start construction, if they get the relevant approvals, in 2024, but a Federal Government spokesman indicated there could be flexibility provided to the club because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Australian Government is conscious of the impacts COVID-19 is having on businesses and sporting organisations across the country,” he said.
“The Government is working closely with proponents on the delivery of funding commitments and will continue to do so, including where project timeframes may be subject to delays stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Adelaide City Council chief executive Mark Goldstone said the club was yet to formally advise of its intentions for the proposal.
“At this stage we haven’t received additional correspondence from the Adelaide Football Club regarding its proposal and, expect that they, like all of us, are dealing with more pressing matters at this point in time,” he said.
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The Advertiser asked the Crows if they had made a decision as to the status of their proposal.
Last week, when he declared the club was “in survival mode”, Crows chairman Rob Chapman signalled the proposal would be put on hold.
“If we’re cutting into the muscle of the club’s business, something like new facilities might just have to take a backburner,” he told The Advertiser.
“Now, if that’s the case, if that’s what we decide, all will not have been lost.
“I think we’ve gone through a process in a professional and respectful manner.
“We’ve learned a lot and we’ve got a lot of information there as well in the future.”
If the Crows do put the proposal on hold, as widely expected, The Advertiser has learnt it won’t be too difficult for the club to restart it.
A public consultation period on the Crows’ plans, which involves the building of a public pool, training and administration complex on the ageing Adelaide Aquatic Centre, closed earlier this month and Adelaide City councillors are set to be provided with the results of it shortly.
A council source told The Advertiser either the council or the Crows could halt the proposal at any time and subsequently revisit it when circumstances suited.
Hawthorn has put on hold its plans to build its $130 million Dingley training facility due to the coronavirus crisis.
Adelaide’s plans have been fiercely opposed by advocates for the North Adelaide parklands.
The Crows can remain rent-free at the desolate former Football Park until 2038, in a $21 million training facility little more than a decade old, under a deal struck with the SANFL in return for a $11.326 million payment in 2014 to gain control of their AFL licence.
Originally published as Adelaide Crows have until 2026 – possibly longer – to bring their Adelaide Aquatic Centre vision to life