Frustrations grow over hold up of SANFL’s return to Football Park, Crows’ Thebarton redevelopment

The Treasurer of South Australia has revealed his frustration at the stalling of the SANFL’s return to Football Park, which is also holding up the Crows’ $100m redevelopment of Thebarton Oval.

Stalling the SANFL’s return to Football Park is a “strange decision” that unnecessarily holds up a good, local outcome and the Crows’ once-in-a-generation investment at Thebarton.

That was the view of Treasurer and local member Stephen Mullighan, who was frustrated that Charles Sturt Council this week voted against awarding a licence to the state league.

The council’s decision added uncertainty to Adelaide’s proposed $100m redevelopment of Thebarton Oval because that move required the SANFL to find a new home.

The state league leases Thebarton, but wants to return to West Lakes to use the ground for state junior, First Nations and multicultural programs.

Mullighan, who addressed Charles Sturt’s meeting on behalf of the SANFL, expected the council would resolve to support the project so long as they could negotiate more open space.

South Australia Treasurer Stephen Mullighan (R). Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Instead, councillors knocked it back and requested a meeting with Planning Minister Nick Champion hoping to increase open space around Football Park through neighbouring two land parcels owned by developer Commercial and General.

“I got asked a couple of questions about if I thought it was appropriate to have apartment buildings built so close to the oval and I said ‘absolutely not, that’d be a dreadful outcome’,” Mullighan said.

“If the council can work with the developer to stop that happening, if they can get access to that land and keep it as open space, that’d be a terrific result.

“But they’ve just said ‘we want more open space and we’re not prepared to consider the SANFL proposal at all’ – and that leaves everyone in limbo.

“There’s no guarantee that even if they can deliver more open space that the development will be considered by council.

“That’s the stalemate we’re stuck in because of the very strange decision that was made.”

If granted a licence, the SANFL would build a new $22.6m administration and training centre on privately held land adjoining the Mosaic Hotel as part of a $27m precinct redevelopment.

It would also use the ground for about 20 hours per week.

Mullighan said the state league’s proposal would turn Football Park from a mainly locked up training venue into a community-focused site, akin to Unley Oval.

“This is holding up not only a good, local outcome … but also a really significant, once-in-a-generation investment that the Crows are trying to deliver,” he said.

“The SANFL have worked so hard for so long in partnership with council staff to address all of the community concerns when it comes to oval access, lighting and upkeep.

“That’s why it was so surprising to see the spanner thrown in the works.”

The Adelaide Football Club’s proposed new training, administration and community precinct at Thebarton Oval. Picture: City Collective

A disappointed Champion said he would meet with Charles Sturt to try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Council chief executive Paul Sutton said a report on the meeting’s outcomes would be brought back at the earliest opportunity.

Adelaide received a 42-year lease from West Torrens Council in December to establish a $100m training and administrative headquarters at Thebarton.

The Crows remained optimistic the Charles Sturt matter would be resolved soon.

Adelaide is also awaiting a State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) hearing next month.

Originally published as Frustrations grow over hold up of SANFL’s return to Football Park, Crows’ Thebarton redevelopment