As you will have seen, one of our strategic priorities is the re-development of the Alberton Oval precinct so I wanted to take this opportunity to provide our members with an update on the importance of the project, and explain how our members, as important stakeholders of the Club, can help.
Why is this re-development so important?
To provide our players, AFL and future AFLW players, with elite high-performance training and rehabilitation facilities. Our current facilities are now dated and in the bottom few in the AFL so this upgrade is a strategic priority to ensure this does not become a disadvantage for Port Adelaide into the future, with both player retention and recruiting.
Alberton Oval has been the home of the Port Adelaide Football Club since 1880. As the only genuine community football club from outside of Victoria to elevate into the national AFL competition in its own right (not a composite team or relocated VFL Club), the connection we have to our home is special and important.
This redevelopment will bring Alberton Oval and the Club’s training and high-performance facilities up to an elite standard and importantly provide the additional space required for AFL and AFLW athletes to be co-located.
The re-development will ensure the Club is ready to enter the AFLW competition at the next available opportunity. Hosting AFLW home games at Alberton Oval during the summer and autumn months is something we are excited about, and compliments the $2.0m upgrade of our social club facility.
Importantly also, in consultation with Council, the precinct is designed to be a community facility and opening up the precinct to junior sport in the district is an important feature. Junior basketball and soccer facilities are an important requirement for the local community to optimise the investment and use of the facilities, outside of the Club’s football requirements.
What are the features of the project?
There are a number of proposed features to this development including the following:
- Upgraded changeroom facilities in the Fos Williams Family stand to cater for women’s football and AFLW training and match days
- Upgraded and enlarged player training, gym and rehabilitation facilities to provide space and dedicated facilities for men’s and women’s AFL programs. It will also increase the capacity to support AFLW talent pathway programs in the western suburbs
- Expanded indoor training space to include two indoor basketball courts, which will be used by local junior basketball teams (West Adelaide Bearcats Basketball Club) out of PAFC training hours
- Increased off-street parking to cater for the growth of the football club, and to ensure out of hours junior sports use is contained completely within this provision – increases from 95 to 190
- The dis-used croquet club, reserve and existing car park upgraded to a soccer field to provide additional formal training space for the football club. This pitch will be used by the North West Junior Soccer Association for primary school soccer on Saturday mornings. On event days at Alberton Oval (SANFL or AFLW) this space will be used as car parking, as it is currently. Outside of these uses, it remains open green space for the community, but improved and contained
- Upgraded social club to include an interactive museum which captures the 150-year story of the Port Adelaide Football Club and its connection to the local community, and an expanded retail experience and store. It will also see the relocation of the sports bar, bistro and conference / function room upstairs to capitalise on the views out over Alberton Oval, with the city and vista of the Adelaide Hills.
How is the re-development being funded?
The total precinct re-development cost is $23.0m
The upgraded training, playing field, changerooms, AFLW facilities, landscaping and car parking will cost $21.0m. Funding submissions are currently with the Commonwealth and State Governments, and the AFL to fully fund these stages.
The Club is funding the $2.0m renovations to the social club facility.
How can our members help?
The Council will decide on the proposed re-development in the coming month after providing provisional approval allowing us to progress the funding submissions.
Many of our members live in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, so you can play an active role in supporting the project. There is a formal Council process which the Club is following and we will advise later in April when members can provide formal support of the project.
If you have any feedback or would like to provide your support for this project, please email me direct at ceo@pafc.com.au
What’s next?
The Club and project consultants will consider all community feedback for this project ahead of the Council’s Development Assessment Panel considering the proposed re-development against the Council’s development criteria. The Club has ensured that all plans are compliant with the existing approved use of the precinct, and there is no change of land use or ownership involved in this proposal.
All Club members are important stakeholders in this project, and we will be seeking their formal support at the appropriate time. We will continue to keep members informed as we step through the planning and approvals process with Council. If you are resident or ratepayer within the City of Port Adelaide Enfield, you have a formal voice in this process.
If you have any concerns or queries about the project, please review the FAQs on our website or contact me personally on ceo@pafc.com.au
Matthew Richardson
Chief Executive Officer
