Mortlock Park sporting grounds to be redeveloped as sport registrations boom

A popular community park in Adelaide’s inner-south is in line for a massive multimillion-dollar revamp as interest soars. See the plans.

Mortlock Park will undergo a major redevelopment under a proposal by Mitcham council. Picture: Grieve Gillett Architects

Baseball and football facilities at a popular park in Colonel Light Gardens would be upgraded under a $4.5m proposal to improve its recreational use for the local community.

Plans reveal Mortlock Park, home of the Goodwood Baseball Club and Colonel Light Gardens Football Club, would undergo the construction of new change rooms, batting cages and lighting – along with redevelopment of its existing clubroom.

Mitcham mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said the development would help “accommodate the growth” of sport in the community.

“The sports clubs, particularly the baseball club, are growing – as well as the uptake in women’s and kids’ sport,” Dr Holmes-Ross said.

“Of course, people like to use upgraded facilities but it’s already incredibly popular in the area. The clubs are growing and growing, so that’s why we’re doing this.

“We’ve spent a lot of time talking to the community about the upgrade. There has been some concern about the hours of use we’ve put aside for the clubs versus when it’s available to the community, but I think we’ve reached a compromise that everybody’s pretty happy with.”

Mortlock Park will undergo a major redevelopment under a proposal by Mitcham council. Picture: Grieve Gillett Architects

Mortlock Park will undergo a major redevelopment under a proposal by Mitcham council. Picture: Grieve Gillett Architects

The oval’s existing lighting will be removed and replaced with six LED light posts after it was found they no longer aligned with “contemporary sporting lighting expectations”.

The current baseball field fencing has also “reached the end of its serviceability”, with a retractable backstop net proposed.

The new fence would be considerably higher than the current one and offer better protection to spectators during baseball games.

Mortlock Park will undergo a major redevelopment under a proposal by Mitcham council. Picture: Grieve Gillett Architects

Mortlock Park will undergo a major redevelopment under a proposal by Mitcham council. Picture: Grieve Gillett Architects

Designs submitted to Plan SA show the existing clubroom’s balcony would be extended to improve weather protection and shelter for spectators – while a single-storey change room with enclosed batting cages would be constructed next door.

Two additional accessible carparks will be added to the existing carpark.

A concrete Girl Guides hall – which is not in use – would be demolished under the proposal.

Mitcham Council will fund $1.4m of the development having received $2.1m from the state government, $900,000 from the federal government and $50,000 each from the baseball and football clubs.

Public submissions are open until September 17.

Originally published as Mortlock Park sporting grounds to be redeveloped as sport registrations boom