South Australian Budget backs sport venues and infrastructure

The South Australian Government’s upcoming 2020/21 Budget has committed $209 million to investment in upgrades to Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium and Memorial Drive Tennis Centre while also backing new community sporting and recreation infrastructure.

In anticipation of hosting matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the Budget will provide $45 million for the 16,500-capacity Coopers (Hindmarsh) Stadium, the home of the Adelaide United A-League team.

With Adelaide among seven venues aiming seeking to be among the five Australian venues which FIFA will chose to host games, the $45 million funding will deliver a new pitch, upgraded lighting, shade covering over the east grandstand, new and upgraded changerooms, enhanced media/broadcast facilities, and improved disability access and corporate facilities.

$44 million for the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre - the home of the Adelaide International tennis tournament which is played prior to the Australian Open - will deliver stage two of the venue’s redevelopment, coming soon after a $10 million project to install a canopy-roof structure.

The Stage two improvements will see an additional 1,500 seat capacity across four new grandstands for a total capacity of 6,000 as well as improved access to the adjacent Adelaide Oval precinct. There will also be new areas for event activities, general function spaces, enhanced digital infrastructure and elite training and recovery facilities.

$35 million in funding for new community sporting and recreational infrastructure is being made available for:

• Expansion of the Grassroots Football, Cricket and Netball Facility Program to include all sports - and an increase in total budget - $25 million over 2020/21 and 2021/22 ($15 million in the first year and $10 million in 2021/22)
• Regional and Districts Facilities Program - a total of $10 million - $5 million in 2020/21 and $5 million 2021/22

Heralding the State Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Plan as creating “a sporting golden era”, South Australia Premier, Steven Marshall advised “our investment is a game changer for sport at all levels and will cement our state as one of the leading sporting cities in the nation (and) significantly boost our economy.”

South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Corey Wingard added “our investment is a game changer for sport (with the new) Grassroots Program including all sports, not just footy, cricket and netball.

“A $10 million Regional and Districts Facilities Program – split over the next two years – also offers opportunity for more regional level facility projects to get off the ground.

“These facilities can be located in metro or non-metro South Australia, and should promote multi-use and multi-user experiences and high participation rates from across a region.

“Both of these programs will assist sporting organisations to develop core infrastructure and community hubs that directly impact participation through the rational development of well-designed and utilised facilities.

“Our Grassroots Program has been extremely successful and proves our funding formula works. By partnering with councils and the sporting codes, through Rounds 1, 2 and 3 we’ve been able to turn $15 million of taxpayers money into nearly $60 million worth of projects - an amazing achievement that benefits thousands of South Aussies.”

Images: Adelaide United fans Coopers Stadium (top) and the concept for the city's Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (below).