Frequently Asked Questions

Under the Local Government Act 1999 (SA), all local government land (except roads) that is owned by Council or is under the care, control and management of Council is classified as community land. Land that is community land cannot be disposed of (i.e. sold or transferred) unless it has been excluded from this classification or revoked.

On 15 December 2020 Council resolved to commence the process to revoke the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land from its classification as community land and to undertake public consultation.

Public consultation will close on 29 March 2021 at 5pm.  Following the close of the public consultation a report will be presented to Council incorporating the outcomes of the public consultation.  If Council decides to proceed with the community land revocation it will formally seek approval from the relevant Minister to revoke the land.  The Minister will then consider the proposal and decide on the merits of the application.   Respondents to the public consultation process will be advised following the decision of Council. 

Subject to the approval of the Minister the Council will pass a resolution to revoke the community land classification. 

Council is proposing to offer the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land for sale and redevelopment by way of an open expression of interest/ tender process.  This will enable a mixed-use development supporting catalytic investment within the City East precinct. 

Proceeds from the sale of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land will be transferred to the City of Adelaide’s future fund for the purpose of funding the future purchase of new income generating assets or to fund new capital works of a strategic nature for broader community benefits. 

Investigations associated with the Strategic Property Review identified the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land for sale and redevelopment. 

The Strategic Property Review, a key action of Council’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, examines the performance of Council’s property assets.  The review considers the disposal of under-performing assets as well as opportunities to leverage existing property assets for income generating and city shaping initiatives, enabling greater public value for ratepayers and the community. 

The Strategic Property Review identified that the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land while supporting City recreation represents an under-utilisation of the property with limited financial return to Council. The existing beach volleyball facility has been in operation for over 20 years based on a subsidised lease arrangement with the City of Adelaide. 

Sale and redevelopment of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land will support a mixed-use development enabling an improved alignment with Council’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, namely:

• Thriving Communities – Opportunities to support residential growth.
• Strong Economies – Opportunities for residential, commercial and retail development increasing the number of people working, living and visiting the City East precinct.
• Dynamic City Culture – Opportunities for open space and green space including roof top space.
• Environmental Leadership – Opportunities for sustainability features. 

More broadly, the redevelopment will act as a catalyst supporting employment and economic activity within the City East precinct.  This is in addition to opportunities for ground level retail and associated public space offering improved activation and amenity within this part of the City. 

The revocation of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land will enable sale and redevelopment for a mixed-use development including ground level retail activation. Desired outcomes to inform the redevelopment of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land include:  

• High quality mixed-use development – High quality precinct that delivers superior levels of activity for visitors, workers and residents.  Should aspire to improve ground floor amenity and activation.  Residential uses to be well designed and highly liveable (i.e. balconies, passive design and sustainability features).
• Innovative commercial space – Leverage the existing commercial precinct with emerging opportunities in advanced economy businesses and start-ups.  Higher quality and more innovative built form for commercial space not currently represented in the precinct or CBD i.e. green spaces, integrated landscaping, rooftop activation and indoor-outdoor functionality.
• Quality housing catering for the ‘missing middle’ – Well designed housing that appeals to a broader market including potential for Build to Rent and Key Worker Housing. Further opportunities for apartment product that has genuine appeal to the owner occupier market. 
• Quality open space – High quality retail activated public spaces delivering a higher quality ground plane inclusive of quality landscaped areas for use by customers, key workers and visitors to the precinct.  Further opportunities for green spaces and rooftop activation. 
• Ground floor activation – Meet a market gap in precinct retail amenity for workers supported by quality indoor and outdoor retail spaces and higher quality landscaped areas. 
• Sustainability – Respond to minimising impacts on climate change through high levels of sustainability.

The desired outcomes will provide guidance with respect to the expression of interest/ tender process. 

Redevelopment of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land is expected to have the following affects:  

• Relocation of the existing beach volleyball facility.  In this regard, the City of Adelaide will assist in a facilitation role to connect Volleyball SA with potential relocation opportunities. 
• Improved alignment with Council’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan including the four key outcomes comprising Thriving Communities, Strong Economies, Dynamic City Culture and Environmental Leadership. 
• The potential to stimulate investment supporting economic activity and employment. 
• Opportunities for residential, commercial and retail development increasing the number of people working, living and visiting the City East precinct 
• A mix of uses supporting greater day and night-time activity creating broader benefits for the City. 
• Opportunities for ground level retail addressing current gaps in retail servicing and supporting activation of Pirie and Frome Streets. 
• Improved amenity and activation within the City East precinct with opportunities to support new market sectors. 

The expression of interest/ tender process for the sale and redevelopment of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land will also allow for the adjoining Pirie Flinders UPark to be considered as a value-add opportunity enabling the potential for a larger precinct outcome.  

Council will gauge market interest through the expression of interest/ tender process and consider how the Pirie Flinders UPark may add value to the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land.  This will include consideration of the broader benefits for Council, its ratepayers and the community.  

Sale and redevelopment of the Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land will require the relocation of the existing beach volleyball facility.  Council will assist in a facilitation role to connect Volleyball SA with potential relocation opportunities. 

Council will also work with existing tenants within the Pirie Flinders UPark should Council decide to dispose of the asset.   Council will assist tenants to make informed decisions around how they might relocate their business within the City should it be required. 

Feedback can be provided: 

Online 

yoursay.cityofadelaide.com.au  

Contribute your feedback via the Online Survey.

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

Written Submissions
Written submissions can be sent by email to yoursay@cityofadelaide.com.au or posted to:

Community Consultation

Pirie Street Volleyball Courts land – Community Land Revocation

GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

All submissions must be received by 5.00pm, 29 March 2021.