Gibson MP Sarah Andrews calls out ‘outrageous’ Marion Council after controversial vote to bulldoze beloved tennis club

A Labor MP has ripped into Marion Council’s decision to bulldoze a tennis club for a basketball stadium expansion – but the mayor has rejected bias claims.

A Labor MP has called out Marion Council’s “outrageous” decision to bulldoze a sporting club in Adelaide’s south in favour of an upgrade for an ageing basketball club, claiming bias may have played a part.

However, Marion Mayor rejected the bias claim, calling it “preposterous”.

Gibson MP Sarah Andrews said she was at a “loss for words” over Marion Council’s decision to redevelop Marion Basketball Stadium on Norfolk Rd into a five-court area, which would take over the site currently held by next-door Marion Tennis Club.

The tennis club was given no prior warning about the decision, which was made behind closed doors.

The Advertiser understands Marion Mayor Kris Hanna is a patron of South Adelaide Basketball Club, while the council’s Manager of City Property Mark Hubbard was Basketball SA CEO from 2006 to 2017.

Ms Andrews said there was a “current perception” an element of bias could have been involved in the decision to move ahead with a new stadium.

Marion Tennis Club members Liz Hearn, Nigel Dally, Tony Davey, Pat Carey, Kym Morgan Lakshay Madankumar and Korbyn Hearn, 9.

Education Minister Blair Boyer with Member for Gibson Sarah Andrews at the Darlington Primary School on December 5. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

“It’s not how you treat community sports organisations. You don’t sacrifice one for another, particularly on such a massive block of land that the Marion Council owns,” Ms Andrews said.

“To do this behind closed doors – under the veil of confidentiality, to decide that one club is no longer welcome – is shocking … Like, it’s actually outrageous.

“I spoke to Kris Hanna the day I found out and I actually ended up being at a loss for words because I just couldn’t believe that they would do something like this.”

However, Mr Hanna rejected claims of bias towards the basketball club.

“Any suggestion of bias in the decision-making process is preposterous,” Mr Hanna said.

February 9 2023: Marion Mayor Kris Hanna at the then soon to be opened Glenthorne National Park, nature play space. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

“There is an ongoing invitation from council to the members of the club to work through a solution. If Marion Tennis Club members want to speak about their future, I’m happy to be contacted to speak to them individually.”

Marion Council said the existing 50-year-old centre was no longer functional, and South Adelaide Basketball Club’s 2200-strong membership was forecast to hit more than 6000 players in 10 years.

Marion Tennis Club members Tony Davey, Nigel Dally, Liz Hearn, Pat Carey, Kym Morgan and Korbyn Hearn 9 (front) The Marion Tennis Club was recently informed by council of plans to demolish their 90-year-old club to re-zone community sporting land for commercial use.

Announcing the plan last Wednesday, it said it had communicated with the tennis club and Tennis SA, and had received $6m in federal funding.

However, club president at the time Nigel Dally received a phone call from the council saying the decision to bulldoze their club and expand the basketball club had already been made, newly appointed president Kym Morgan said.

Tennis SA CEO Debbie Sterrey confirmed she had not been consulted, saying council’s decision was “very disappointing”.

“Their lack of consultation with either Tennis SA or the club is very disappointing,” Ms Sterrey said.

“Our priority is to find a solution that sees tennis continue to thrive in the community as it has been for the past 90 years.”

A petition to save the tennis club has been created, amassing more than 250 signatures in just two days.

Ms Andrews said that she would support the Marion Tennis Club “as much as possible” during their David v Goliath battle.

“I’ve run quite a number of campaigns during my time and so I’m able to support the club in any way forward. I’m absolutely ready and able to lengthen my experiences,” she said.

“The Marion Council do have time to make amends, they do have time to change their decision. If they had everyone around the table and if they did do true consultation, they would have heard other ideas. They just haven’t allowed that to happen.

“There has to be another solution but no one’s had the opportunity to suggest what that might be.”

Originally published as Gibson MP Sarah Andrews calls out ‘outrageous’ Marion Council after controversial vote to bulldoze beloved tennis club