Park 21W Re-development

February 2026 Update

We're getting very close!

Community Facility

While it was hard to make significant progress over Xmas/New Year, the last few weeks has seen a lot of fine tuning in the final design tweaks and cost management between us, Council, and the project management team.

Although aspects of the tender process remain confidential, we are still on track for construction to commence this quarter.  If this timeline is met, then we would expect the first building to be completed at the end of the winter season.  The existing facility will then be demolished and the second built through next summer/autumn.

All of our members who have been part of or following this journey for over 8 years will understand that targeted timelines aren't always achieved (!!!), but the good news now is that we are now discussing these timelines in months not years which is sensational.

Don't be concerned if there is some silence for several weeks as an official public announcement cannot be made until all legal and probity steps are complete, including dotting i's and crossing t's on a contract.  Once this is done, we can tell the world as well as start to plan an event to celebrate!

Playing Fields

As reported late last year, we are also progressing the planning and design of playing field re-alignment and irrigation.  The details around this will start to become clearer over the next couple months and will be shared as soon as possible.  The two biggest issues for this part of our overall master plan are the cost to replace irrigation and re-align fields, and how to minimise disruption to all of our users (ALSC, ACSARA, many others) as work is performed.  Both of these challenges mean that the project will likely be done in stages, with priority given to the main field that will be immediately adjacent to the new community facility.

Mid-November 2025 Update

After a somewhat frustrating process of detailed design, the Park 21W project went out to tender in early November and bids from approximately 4 builders are due early December.  We are hoping that the price comes in at a reasonable level, however if we get bids that exceed the existing available funding, there will need to be a small period of 'value management' in an effort to lower the cost.

December will be yet another pivotal period for our project.  The most likely timeline if costs are ok, is for a contract to be signed in January and construction commencing Feb/Mar. 

Council approval bureaucracy is slow at the best of times and even worse over Xmas /New year, but at least we continue to head in the right direction.

In parallel to the construction of the facility next year, we have progressed planning for the field re-alignment and improvement.  A preliminary report has been received from an independent expert over the remainder of 2025 we will look to better understand the likely cost, nature and staging of works to improve irrigation, extend, re-align and in some areas re-develop the fields. 

Mid-July 2025 Update

1. Council Approval!!
   • Over the last 2-3 weeks we received endorsement from Kadaltilla, then Committee and finally Council approval for the following:
     • The detailed design; and
     • A new 21-year lease (including a maintenance schedule)
   • As usual there were some concerning moments in the lead up to the decision but at the end of the day there was unanimous support.
   • This is a significant milestone and achievement and means that we can confidently focus on delivering the project in partnership with Council.
2. Other highlights
   • A decision has been made to stage the build so that the existing facility can remain in use while the first new building is constructed and able to be used (hopefully by mid 2026), then demolished for when the second new building is constructed into 2027.  This will extend the overall project time but will make it much easier for us to operate and function during the construction period.
   • Our current focus is now on the interiors ie furniture, fittings, materials as well as progressing towards a tender process in September to appoint a builder soon after.  Construction is still expected to commence early in the new year.

Mid-June 2025 Update

1. Design
   • Detailed design is now almost 70% complete and is going through review by Council Administration as well as us.
   • An updated costing has been completed and is also being reviewed.  This cost estimate has fallen just within the funding we have available which gives us some confidence that ultimately, we will be able to fully fund the project.
   • We have spent time reviewing the ability to stage the build so that the existing facility can remain in use while the first new building is constructed and able to be used, then demolished for when the second new building is constructed.  This is our preferred outcome, however we are still working through the costings of doing this, as well as the cost and impact of using temporary changerooms for a period of time.
2. Council Approvals
   • In addition to the detailed design referred to above, the draft 21-year lease (including a maintenance schedule) for our new building and fields is being submitted to Kadaltilla in late June then Council in early July.
   • This will be another important approval milestone to navigate.  At this stage we are optimistic however will be working hard in coming weeks to give us the best chance of a smooth approval.
3. Timeline
   • The current project schedule has a tender process to appoint a builder occurring in September, withe construction commencing early in the new year.
   • We continue to do our best to ensure Council approach the schedule with motivation to contain it and not let it slip.

21st April 2025 Update

1. Design
   • The design work has progressed well since the last update, with greater focus on the layout of the kitchen/kiosk area, trainer/medical rooms, various storage rooms and the outdoor patio area.
   • Detailed design has commenced, and an updated costing is underway.
   • One of the challenges we face is the timing of the demolition of the existing building.  We are trying to find a way to stage the construction of the new facility so that one of the two new buildings (the northern one) can be constructed while retaining and using our existing building, and then once the northern building is finished, we demolish the existing building and construct the new southern building.  This will make it easier to operate continuously, whether that be for winter or summer sport.  This staging may not be able to happen should the extra cost be prohibitive or should the location of the northern building mean that the existing building needs to be demolished up front.  In this case we may need to use portable facilities for a period of time.
   • The image below is an early concept from a few months ago and is likely to be very close to the final external look.

1. Lease
   • The draft 21-year lease for our new building and fields was issued for public comment in April.  We ensured there was a good representation of favourable responses, and we hope that Council will approve a final lease within a few months, followed by both houses of parliament.
   • The Maintenance Schedule that accompanies the lease is still being negotiated, and we are trying to get a fairer balance between our responsibility and Council's responsibility to renew and replace certain aspects of the facility.
2. Funding
   • We were very pleased to be successful in receiving funding from the SANFL/AFL/SA Government Football Facilities programme.  Our application for $150k was so impressive that they decided to award us $300k!
   • We were also asked to host the media event over Gather Round for this programme, and you may have seen pictures on socials regarding this.
   • In further good news, and hot off the press, is that a similar grant programme involving SACA/CA and the SA government also awarded us $100k!
   • These two announcements further lock in our ability to fund our contribution to the project, and also validate the genuine support we now have from local government, state government, and the peak bodies of football and cricket in South Australia.

24th March 2025 Update

Things have really escalated over the last 6 weeks, with formal Steering Committee meetings with Council Administration occurring almost weekly.

1. Design:
   • GGA have been appointed as the architect, and they have then appointed a number of sub-consultants and subject matter experts.
   • The concept design has been reviewed in more depth and tweaked based on feedback from GGA and the other consultants, Council administration and of course ourselves.  As it currently stands we are very comfortable with the latest concept design.
   • Following another design meeting this week, the detailed design process will commence.
2. Lease
   • A new, longer-term lease was negotiated with Council Administration which allows, amongst other things, for 3 x 7-year terms.  This will effectively be a 21-year lease which is relatively rare in the parklands, and which will allow us to invest significant funds without fear of losing the lease.
   • The lease terms were approved by Elected Members a few weeks ago and will be going out for public consultation shortly.
   • We hope that the public feedback will be minimal which would then make it highly likely that Council will approve a final lease within a few months.
   • Following this approval, it still needs to be approved by both houses of parliament, given that it involves the parklands and is a lengthy term.
   • Included as an attachment to the lease is a Maintenance Schedule.  This sets out the obligations of Council and us with respect to replacing, repairing and maintaining various aspects of the facility.  The latest draft is fair but elevates our responsibility and future costs to maintain the asset.
3. Funding
   • A final draft of a funding agreement has now been completed.  This will govern the way finances are contributed and paid between us and the Council.
   • We expect to hear very soon about two grant applications we made through the SANFL/AFL/SA Government Football Facilities programme ($150k) and a similar fund involving SACA/CA and the government ($100k).  The outcome will be announced as soon as we hear.

9th February 2025 Update

Following approval of the single-story concept design in December for our new Park 21W facility, we have been liaising with Council to progress with detailed design and a range of other aspects to get the project underway with momentum.

It's difficult to make progress over the Xmas/NY period, however since mid-January we have:

1. Attended two formal Steering Committee meetings with Council Administration.  The appointment of an architect is now imminent, which will then kick off the detailed design process.
2. Started formal negotiations on a new, longer-term lease.
3. Almost finalised a funding agreement which will govern the way finances are contributed and paid.
4. Applied for another grant through the SAN/AFL/SA Government Football Facilities programme which, if successful, will limit our contribution by another $150k. Success in this is obviously not guaranteed, but we are hopeful.
5. Commenced early-stage high-level planning concerning the re-alignment and improvement of the playing fields.  This is another significant task!

10th December 2024 Update

At tonight's Council meeting Council our preferred single-story concept design option for the new facility at our home in Park 21W was approved.

As outlined below there are still challenges and risks but the big rock has been cracked.

The image above shows the vote with the Chamber in favour 7:1.

A massive milestone has been reached.

3rd December 2024 Update

At the 3rd December Committee meeting the Council endorsed the following:

• • A final draft policy that deals with their approach to sports facilities in the park lands.  There were some late amendments but overall it remained consistent with what we have supported.  It's not perfect for us but it now provides a good framework for sporting facility development.
  • Our preferred single-story concept design option for the new facility at our home in Park 21W.  This is a significant, positive milestone for our club!

There remain future challenges as we work hard in 2025 to progress detailed design, secure a long-term lease, tender for a builder and commence construction. Before any of this can occur though, the Council need to formally adopt the endorsements from last night's Committee meeting at the full Council meeting on December 10th.  Watch this space.

Early December 2024 Update

• In November we were pleased to see Council approving a financial contribution of $1.7m to the Park 21W project.  This will complement other funding sources and ensure a facility can be built.
• At a Committee meeting on December 3rd, and then a Council meeting on December 10th, the Council will be considering the following:
  • A final draft policy that deals with their approach to sports facilities in the park lands.  This version is very similar to the previous draft and has our support.  We expect that it will be (finally) approved.
  • Two single-story concept design options.  We support only the second of these options and will be working hard to have it approved.  Should this be successful the next phase will involve detailed design in the early months of 2025.

Mid-October 2024 Update

The last 12-18 months has seen painfully slow progress, but we are at least now at the following juncture:

1. The Council are about to consider a second draft policy that deals with their approach to sports facilities in the park lands.  This policy has our support, as well as the support of all of our stakeholders and the overwhelming majority of respondents when it we recently put out for public consultation.  It is sensible and provides the Council with a certain level of flexibility to ensure the facilities in the park lands are suitable for their future use by the community.  The policy is expected to be considered by Council in December 2024.
2. At the time of approving their budget for the 2024/25 financial year, the Council also approved an ongoing commitment to invest 1.5% of annual rates revenue into sporting facilities in the parklands.  We expect the Park 21W facility to be at the top of the list of suitable projects due to the community need and the condition of the existing facility.
3. The concept design of a facility in Park 21W is undergoing revision yet again, and the aim is for this to be reviewed by the Council later this year.  It is a single-story concept that is yet to be finalised, but early versions provide a similar level of functionality to the other concepts prepared over recent years.

We have been disappointed many times before by Council timelines extending way beyond reasonable limits but are pushing for the above to be approved this calendar year.  If this occurs it will be the catalyst for tangible action and progress, not just for Park21W but for all lovers of community sport and recreation in the parklands.

Background and recap since 2017!

The redevelopment of Park21W is a long time in the making.

In 2016/17 we won an Expression of Interest to partner with Council to improve the area.  A master plan was approved comprising a new sports facility to cater for the growing number of codes, genders and age groups playing at Park 21W, re-aligning, irrigating and expanding the lighting of the playing fields, new cricket training nets and pitches, and associated landscaping, footpaths and public toilets.

Since then, we have planned and progressed many aspects, invested significant amounts of club money, raised significant sums from sponsors and donors, spent thousands of volunteer hours, and faced numerous hurdles along the way - initially with funding, then COVID interruptions, and more recently with obtaining Council support for the design of the facility.

There have been some wins:

• In 2021 we installed 6 new light towers and 31 new LED lights so that the entire precinct can now be lit.  This allows much greater use by ALSC, ACSARA members and a huge range of other community groups and schools over 52 weeks of the year.  The design is future proofed for night cricket as there is scope for additional LED lights if and when additional funds are sourced.
• In 2023/24 a new set of cricket training nets were constructed, together with two new hard wickets, creating a much better playing experience for junior and senior cricketers.
• The next major phase of the club redevelopment is the construction of a new community sporting pavilion.
• Once the construction of a new facility is underway the focus will be on re-aligning and improving the playing fields so that they can accommodate the growing number of community participants including football, soccer, cricket and smaller sized fields for other sports like Ultimate Frisbee, AFL 9's etc.

Sporting Facility

The new sporting facility will comprise multiple change rooms, safe and protected viewing, a community space and significantly more storage space.  It will be a facility that supports the operations of our club, as well as the broader ACSARA membership.  The general public, as well as other community groups, clubs and schools will be encouraged to also use the facility.

There are many aspects and stages to work through in a project like this.  The three primary ones in our case are:

1. Funding - the type of facility required to service the growing demands of Park21W community participants is likely to cost in the vicinity of $5million.  This is a very broad estimate that has increased over recent years following significant inflationary pressures on the construction industry.  The longer this takes the more it will cost!  In January 2022 we were awarded a $1.55m grant from the Office of Recreation, Sport & Racing.  This contribution, together with additional funds already secured or nearly secured, meant that we were able to progress the planning, design, costing and approvals. This progress stalled as cost estimates increased and the newly elected Council in late 2022 were reluctant to contribute any funding.
2. Design - The 2022 design was a two-story facility that maintained the footprint of the current (inadequate) facility.  The new Council did not support this design and in June 2023 commenced a process to develop a policy for Council's approach to sporting facilities in the park lands.
3. Tenure - In recent years the lease providing us access to Park21W has been on a 5-year term (historically this was only annual).  In order for us to invest significantly in the Park21W sporting infrastructure (which we do not own), there is a need for security of tenure.  Preliminary steps have been taken to seek agreement on terms for a long-term lease that we hope will provide enough confidence to enable this investment to be made for current and future generations of users.