Mount Barker Council ditches board of underused $23m Summit Sport and Recreation Park, takes over management

The board managing a massive Adelaide Hills oval and sports complex that’s losing $400,000 a year has been dumped – as council vows to “review” the fees.

The Summit Sport and Recreation Park Oval. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

An Adelaide Hills council has decided to not re-engage the board of its $23m flagship sports oval when its term ends next month – instead voting to manage the Mount Barker facility “in-house”.

The Advertiser previously revealed The Summit Sport and Recreation Park, which has hosted three AFL Gather Round games, was running at an expected loss of nearly $400,000 a year – largely due to local clubs and associations being unable to afford the exorbitant leasing costs.

It now says under the new regime, fees would be “reviewed”.

Mayor David Leach said he was not “critical” of the board, and the change in governance would allow council “to take control of the park’s future direction”.

“Since the establishment of the SSRP board, council’s internal resourcing has matured, and we now have the capability to directly manage the agreements and operations of the SSRP,” Mr Leach said.

George, 10, and Ted, 11, Harris at The Summit. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

He paid tribute to the board and said it had played a key role in securing the AFL Gather Round matches in 2023 and 2024, which he said helped raise the region’s profile.

The facility costs council roughly $561,100 a year to run, but the budgeted 2024 income was $176,434.

The Alexandrina and Eastern Hills Cricket Association has dumped its licence agreement with The Summit for the 2024/25 season – joining the Hills Football League, which quit using the oval at the end of the 2023 season. Mount Barker Football Club also ditched the oval last year, saying it was a financial burden – with Mount Barker Cricket Club the latest club to part ways.

The AEHCA were charged $34,859 in 2023 and said its departure was “the only option left”, while Mount Barker Cricket Club were charged a $900-a-day hire cost.

A council spokesman said they were continuing to “explore opportunities for increasing community access” to the SSRP – including reviewing the facilities fees and “developing an activation plan to guide the future of the SSRP”.

“The plan will focus on attracting major events, improving infrastructure, and securing sponsorships to promote tourism, economic development, and community wellbeing,” they said.

Originally published as Mount Barker Council ditches board of underused $23m Summit Sport and Recreation Park, takes over management