FAQs

Earlier this year the City of Adelaide was approached by Adelaide Football Club (AFC) with an unsolicited proposal (expression of interest) to establish an administration and training base in Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2).

Following Council’s Unsolicited Proposals process, AFC has been permitted to present a concept that would need to adhere to a set of guiding principles.

The Unsolicited Proposals process is in place for non-government sector organisations to approach the City of Adelaide with commercial proposals.

The process provides consistency and certainty to non-government sector organisations seeking to deal directly with the City of Adelaide and is a process that is widely used across all levels of government.

In June 2019, Council convened a workshop to discuss draft Guiding Principles, to establish clear guidelines between the City of Adelaide and Adelaide Football Club in relation to their unsolicited proposal. Based on feedback from the workshop, a set of draft Guiding Principles was developed and later endorsed by Council.

The current draft proposal from Adelaide Football Club includes the provision of an aquatic and recreational facility that would replace the AAC.

Yes. Blackfriars Priory School currently leases five (5) playing fields, four (4) tennis courts and the associated building in Park 2. They are a key stakeholder and they will continue to be consulted and their needs considered, if the unsolicited bid process progresses.

No.  As with other similar arrangements on the Adelaide Park Lands, the Council would lease the relevant portion of the Park Lands to Adelaide Football Club for an identified time period subject to strict requirements.

Yes. There are several other similar arrangements whereby sporting clubs / organisations lease buildings and license playing fields. A number of these clubs / organisations have recently developed new community facilities within the Park Lands. Examples include: the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) in Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25), Adelaide Comets Football Club in Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24) and Adelaide University Graduates Building in Red Gum Park / Karrawirra (Park 12).

As the custodian of the Adelaide Park Lands and Lessor to Adelaide Football Club as Lessee, the Council retains control of any development.  Council will have control of the aquatic and recreational facility – whether owning and operating the facility directly or whether, via a management agreement, imposing conditions of operation on an operator.

The needs of the community remain central to Council and the Guiding Principles speak to the need for ongoing priority access for the community. As such, a new facility would need to be of benefit to the community as well as support the broader precinct.

Other than the Adelaide Football Club headquarters, public access to the new, upgraded facilities will be on substantially the same basis as now.

This is yet to be determined.

Feedback from consultation and the finalised Needs Analysis will be used to inform Council’s decision-making about the features that AFC would need to incorporate into a detailed design at a later stage, should this process continue.

The future of the AAC is yet to be determined.

Should Adelaide Football Club’s (AFC) concept continue under the Unsolicited Proposals process, one of the guiding principles is that it must address an improved service offering and community access.

The centre’s members, key stakeholders and the community will be kept fully informed of the progress of AFC’s concept or of an alternative plan to renew the existing facility.

The purpose of undertaking consultation on the Adelaide Football Club Draft Proposal is to:

• inform the community about the direction of the Draft Proposal at this stage
• seek feedback from AAC members, key stakeholders and the community about AFC’s Draft Proposal.

Yes. All personal information gathered through this consultation will remain confidential.

There are several ways in which you can provide feedback:

Online: click here to complete the Feedback Form.

Meet with a staff member: see contact details by clicking here.

Email your comments to yoursay@cityofadelaide.com.au.

Written Submissions

All written submissions must be received by 5.00pm on Wednesday 19 February 2020 and should be addressed to:

Community Consultation

Adelaide Football Club Draft Proposal

GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

Throughout Stage 2 of the Unsolicited Proposal Process there will be opportunities for key stakeholders and the wider community to provide feedback. There are also statutory consultation requirements that arise under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1999, if/as the project progresses. These statutory obligations to consult the community would relate to the granting of a long-term lease of community land and potential variation to the relevant Community Land Management Plan.

It is anticipated that any final proposal to lease Park Lands will be required to be laid before both Houses of Parliament (before executing any agreements) on the assumption that it will be for a term exceeding ten (10) years. This is a statutory requirement that Council must adhere to under the provisions of the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 and the Local Government Act 1999.