The Break surf park, Lyndoch Recreation Park: The major sports developments in SA in 2024
From $100m surf parks, to netball stadiums, ice arenas, ovals, pools and multi-sport centres, we look at the major sport projects in 2024 across South Australia.
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The great state of South Australia is no stranger to elite sports facilities. But in 2024 that list is about to get even bigger.
Whether it’s a multimillion-dollar upgrade to a Happy Valley recreation centre or a $100m world-class surf park, Adelaide will soon be home to an abundance of more exciting sports centres this year.
Here are 15 of the top sports developments to look forward to in 2024.
Payneham Memorial Swimming Centre
Suburb: Payneham | $60m
The major redevelopment of the swimming centre – aimed to be a “pinnacle” of SA’s aquatic industry – includes three pools, a 14m tower with water slides, waterplay area and shade and picnic areas.
The $60m project suffered a cost blowout due to Covid’s effects on construction and supply chain issues
The centre aims to be inclusive, with ramps and lift entry for all three pools, aquatic wheelchairs available and unisex all-access changerooms.
The project will generate 100 jobs during construction.
The Break Surf & Stay
Suburb: Aldinga | $100m
Aldinga will soon be home to a $100m world-class surf park and tourism destination, with designs for The Break Surf & Stay revealed after Onkaparinga Council approved planning consent.
The 7.1ha precinct boasts cutting-edge ‘Endless Surf’ technology that can generate 2.1m waves for rides of up to 18 seconds, cementing itself as the first surf park in the Southern Hemisphere to employ the next-gen technology.
It includes a surf academy, 35 short-stay villas and a craft brewhouse and licensed restaurant, with coastal-inspired community facilities by local architects Studio Gram for an authentic “barefoot luxury” experience.
About 300 jobs will be created during construction and 60 full-time workers needed upon completion, while more than 300,000 annual visitors are expected to visit The Break, which is scheduled to open mid-2026.
Netball SA Stadium
Suburb: Mile End | $80m
The rundown Netball SA stadium will be bulldozed and replaced with an $80m multi-sport facility capable of hosting other indoor sports, like volleyball.
The planned redevelopment will be done in two stages, starting with the outdoor facilities in mid to late 2025.
All 26 netball courts will be upgraded with better shelter, improved lighting and new playing surfaces.
Later, the current indoor stadium, opened in 2001, will be replaced with a new building featuring a flexible 3000 seat show court.
It is expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028.
Playford Sports Hub
Suburb: Elizabeth | Uncosted
Property magnate Ross Pelligra has unveiled plans to transform the centre of Elizabeth with development of an ice and multi-sports arena and an innovation hub for start-ups and high-growth companies.
Planning documents revealed the 11,200sq m Playford Sports Hub developed by the Pelligra Group is expected to include an indoor ice skating arena of more than 2000 sqm, that could be used to host league games.
Alongside the ice will also be a rock-climbing facility, two indoor basketball courts and a two-level gymnasium. Plans also include a children’s play cafe, a shop tenancy and a restaurant with exterior dining space.
There is also expected to be 236 carparks – 177 in the basement – change rooms, a rock-climbing store, kiosk and pro shop are also planned. About 15 trees would be removed, three considered significant.
Lyndoch Recreation Park
Suburb: Lyndoch | $42m
A two-storey clubroom, viewing platform, athletics oval and netball courts are part of an unfunded $42m plan to transform the Lyndoch Recreation Park into a regional sporting precinct.
In anticipation of future growth, the Barossa Council is seeking planning consent to refurbish the park’s existing oval and build a new clubroom to hold up to 180 people.
The plan, lodged with PlanSA, also includes the construction of a new multi-use sports and athletics oval, four netball courts, a half basketball court and a playground.
Barossa Council mayor Bim Lange told The Advertiser the project would be “the most significant investment the council has undertaken”.
Mt Barker Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Suburb: Mt Barker | $51.8m
The regional aquatic and leisure centre, which will be built opposite the Laratinga Wetlands at Mount Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park, includes a 25m, 10-lane pool capable of holding competitions, a leisure pool, warm water therapy pool, an expansive gym, fitness rooms, crèche, and a kiosk/cafe.
More than a dozen jobs will be created by the centre. Mount Barker’s existing Mountain Pool is more than 60 years old and attracts at least 15,000 people a year.
Future expansion will include elements such as an outdoor 50-metre competition pool, water slides and indoor sports courts.
Work is set to start in January next year and is hoped to be finished mid-to-late 2025.
Salisbury Aquatic Centre
Suburb: Salisbury North | $30m
A highly-anticipated new aquatic centre in Adelaide’s north will open its doors to the public this month after Salisbury Council announced the redeveloped Salisbury Aquatic Centre would be completed on Monday, June 24.
The star attractions of the centre’s state-of-the-art upgrade include two indoor pools, a health club, a 50-metre outdoor pool, a splash pad and waterplay area, and a 10m, triple water slide tower.
The centre will also offer learn-to-swim programs for children of all ages and is accepting expressions of interests in enrolment now.
The Aquatic Centre’s redevelopment was jointly funded by the council and state government.
The new Aquatic Centre will operate year-round, giving the community constant access to state-of-the-art health, recreation and fitness opportunities.
Essex Park
Suburb: Gawler | Uncosted
Essex Park will soon have an expanded 10 new netball courts designed to adhere to Netball Australia standards along with about 100 new car parks under a proposal by Gawler council.
The pre-existing courts and surrounding structures will be demolished as part of the project, but approval of the designs has not yet been granted and details of closures are currently unknown.
The new courts will be fenced with a 3.6m-tall chain-link fence and LED sport floodlights installed for players to have full visibility when playing and to improve the area’s safety.
Amenities such as benches, freestanding bike racks, bins and drinking fountains will be added, with the proposal detailing a focus on natural materials to compliment the surrounding landscape.
The redevelopment will see a multimillion-dollar investment by the council, which is collaborating with JPE Design Studio and Camco Construction on the project.
Paul Murray Recreation Centre
Suburb: Happy Valley | $4m
A $4m redevelopment includes a new, expanded gym hall and multi-use community room, new mezzanine viewing area, new kindergym, upgrades to the entrance, kitchen, foyer, office and amenities, complete roof replacement, and expanded carparking and landscaping.
A spokesperson for Onkaparinga Council said “a high-level conceptual building expansion plan was initiated by Hub Gymnastics to address the high demand for gymnastics in the region”.
“We have been working closely with Hub Gymnastics and the 50s Plus Activity Group to design the redevelopment and ensure it satisfies their current and future needs,” they said.
Demolition work has started and council anticipates the work will be completed within the next 12 months.
Cove Sports & Community Club
Suburb: Hallett Cove | $5m
An upgrade to the Cove Sports and Community Centre will soon provide netballers with an abundance of new facilities thanks to $2.5m in state funding toward the $5m project.
The existing Cove BMX track will be demolished and the current soccer field restructured for construction of a new multi-sport field and carparking.
“The upgrade at the Cove Sports and Community Centre will give netballers a new clubhouse with a canteen, meeting and storage areas, toilets, changerooms and undercover areas,” a Marion Council spokesperson said.
“An additional two netball courts with game-quality lighting will also be built along with sheltered spectator seating, and an extra 99 car parks.
“At the lower oval area of the centre, the existing BMX track and soccer field will be removed and replaced with a reconfigured sporting field suitable for a range of different recreational activities.”
Construction began in August last year and is expected to be completed within the next few months.
Cruickshank Reserve
Suburb: Maylands | $1.3m
In 2022, Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council received $889k which it used to replace the existing clubroom and toilets with a $1.339m “fit-for-purpose” building to support tennis, netball and other recreation activities at the reserve.
Completed in February, the project include an upgraded clubroom, canteen, two changerooms, equipment storage and public toilets.
The courts are leased to the Maylands Sports Centre and are used by the St Peters Tennis Club and the Gems Netball Club.
Burchell Reserve
Suburb: St Peters | $3.2m
Scheduled to be completed next month, the upgrade includes multipurpose courts, wheelchair-accessible trampoline, public toilets, playground, barbecues and park furniture.
The project is jointly funded by the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commissions and Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council.
Largs Reserve
Suburb: Largs Bay | Uncosted
Under a proposal by Port Adelaide Enfield Council, Port District Football Club would have its existing clubrooms make way for the construction of a new facilities including viewing balcony, function room, bar and kitchen and new changerooms for both male and female players.
A new carpark will also be built, increasing the current site from 79 spaces to 98.
Mayor Claire Boan said the proposal was aiming for a “big focus on community”.
“As has been the case for all council sports infrastructure over recent years, the new Largs Clubrooms will have expanded facilities for all players, including new accessible and female changerooms to help more people take part in local sport,” she said.
Districts comfortably sit as one of the most successful clubs in the history of the Adelaide Footy League with the second most division one premierships, behind only Adelaide University.
Aldinga Sports Park
Suburb: Aldinga | $6.3m
Last month, Onkaparinga Council officially opened its multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the Aldinga Sports Park.
The completed upgrades include new hockey and soccer buildings – with canteens and bars – and a new irrigated senior-sized soccer pitch, delivered through millions of dollars in funding from local, state and federal governments.
Two unisex changerooms and a function room were built and a new carpark, with new sports lights installed for hockey, bowls and croquet, fully enclosed cricket nets, six upgraded netball courts and two upgraded unisex changerooms for football and cricket.
A million-dollar, competition-level skate park designed for all skill levels is also coming to the Aldinga Sports Park that will include a beginners’ ramp, greenery, viewing platform and shelter, offering a contemporary facility while giving riders a unique skating experience.
The project also include lights, turf for seating and viewing, trees, footpaths and an unsealed car park.
Construction is expected to begin in August of this year and is due to be completed and open to the public by December.
Marion Basketball Stadium
Suburb: Marion | Uncosted
A new five-court facility for the Marion Basketball Stadium has been proposed to replace the current stadium at Norfolk Rd with construction expected to start in 2026.
The South Adelaide Basketball Club has been lobbying for a new facility to meet the needs of its 2259 membership base.
However, the design footprint of the new stadium will overtake the site currently leased by the Marion Tennis Club – causing outrage within the local community.
Federal government funding of $6 million was secured for the project in April 2022.
Duncan Fraser Reserve
Suburb: Northfield | Uncosted
Under a proposal just announced by Port Adelaide Enfield Council, the existing clubrooms at Duncan Fraser Reserve will be demolished to make way for upgraded facilities.
The redevelopment will see the construction of a new clubroom that will include changerooms, medical rooms, a storage area, canteen and a public toilet block.
Submissions close June 3.
Tatachilla Lutheran College
Suburb: McLaren Vale | $170k
Tatachilla Lutheran College has partnered with the McLaren Districts Cricket Club to establish a new $170k cricket upgrade, which will allow aspiring young cricketers the opportunity to train at the next level.
The new development will consist of four netted practice pitches valued at $150k, as well as a brand new $20k hard-wicket pitch that will be laid on the existing college oval thanks to a grant from the South Australian Cricket Association.
Works on the new facility started last month and are expected to be completed in May.
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