Motions

Adelaide Oval

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (12:36): I take delight in moving the motion:

That this house notes—

(a) that 29 March 2016 marks the second anniversary of the completion of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval in the first Australian Football League game at the new ground;

(b) that the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval has been a resounding success, with highlights including AFL football, Liverpool playing Adelaide United, India versus Pakistan in the World Cup, the first ever day/night test match and concerts, including the Rolling Stones;

(c) that the redevelopment has won a number of significant international and national awards; and

(d) the significant contribution the new ground has made to the South Australian economy, with strong visitor numbers, new hotel developments and revitalisation of the Riverbank Precinct.

This is a project that will be remembered as a landmark achievement for this city and for this government and as game-changer for our Riverbank Precinct. This motion marks the second anniversary of the completion in 2014 of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and congratulates all those who played a role in seeing this ambitious project succeed for the benefit of South Australia.

Since the first AFL game on the redeveloped Oval in March 2014, crowds have flocked to the new stadium to see football in the city. Every weekend, thousands stream across the new footbridge from the city and the Railway Station to be greeted with the stunning architecture and construction of the new Adelaide Oval, a ground that combines the history of the old scoreboard and hill with all the modern facilities that people expect of a modern stadium.

Importantly, it is easily accessible from the centre of the city, and this has been crucial in attracting tourists to visit Adelaide and see events, whether it is a sporting match or a rock concert, at the Oval. Prior to this redevelopment, cricket and football had been separated for four decades, deterring many interstate fans from travelling to Adelaide for sporting events. The Adelaide Oval redevelopment brought South Australian cricket and football back together in one venue. Adelaide Oval becomes not only the home of cricket but also, for the first time in 40 years, the home of South Australian football.

Since opening, over four million patrons have visited Adelaide Oval for a huge variety of events. Some of the highlights since the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval include AFL games that have been consistently well attended at the new Adelaide Oval, the record attendance being 54,468 people who attended the Showdown in July last year following the tragic death of Crows coach Phil Walsh. It is estimated that AFL crowds are up by about 60 per cent since the move from AAMI stadium at West Lakes.

We have also seen the friendly match between Liverpool and Adelaide United in July 2015, which saw a crowd of 53,000 people in attendance even on what was a very cold winter's night, and the singing of You'll Never Walk Alone was very inspiring for all who were there. We also saw the India versus Pakistan World Cup game as part of that series, which was equally successful, and it was one of the most watched sporting games internationally of all time, bringing huge exposure for our city, particularly the shots of the beautiful sunset that night that were beamed across the world. The World Cup alone pumped about $80 million into the state's economy and attracted tens of thousands of tourists.

We also had the inaugural day/night test cricket match last year, which was a significant milestone not only for cricket but also for our state, when 120,000 people went through the gates of the Oval over the three days. We look forward to beating that record with the second day/night test match later this year. We have also seen huge success with the Big Bash League, which has produced some of the biggest attendances in the league from around the country right here in Adelaide. Last year, a record 52,633 people flocked to the stadium to see our home side, the Adelaide Strikers, compete against Sydney for a place in the finals.

Also, the redeveloped Adelaide Oval has been a stunning success, not only for sporting events but also for some incredible concerts, including the Rolling Stones concert, which I know a few people here were at, including the members for Ashford and Colton, and which some 54,000 people attended. The AC/DC concert drew about 53,000 people—

The Hon. S.W. Key: And the member for Hammond.

Mr PICTON: The member for Hammond is a big AC/DC fan.

Mr Treloar: Aren't we all?

Mr PICTON: Aren't we all? That is true, member for Flinders.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, as it turns out, we're not.

Mr PICTON: Sorry, Deputy Speaker. Deputy Speaker, you might have been much more interested in the Groupe F performance at the Adelaide Festival of Arts launch—

The Hon. L.A. Vlahos: That was awesome. That was amazing.

Mr PICTON: —earlier this year, which the Minister for Disabilities says was amazing, and some 50,000 people were there for that as well. So, it is clear that Adelaide is reaping the benefits of the new Adelaide Oval. Some analysis released recently showed that the new Oval has delivered an economic benefit in wages and business incomes of approximately $158 million and that it has created about 700 jobs in our city.

The analysis also showed that over 300,000 interstate and overseas visitors have come for events at Adelaide Oval and that about half of these visitors would not have come to Adelaide without the events happening at the revitalised stadium. The move from West Lakes to the city has increased tourist numbers and, as a result, Adelaide's demand for hotel accommodation has increased by 23 per cent and the revenue has increased by 30 per cent. It has also led to a boom in the development of new high-quality hotel accommodation in the city, with at least three new hotels now open and others in the planning or construction phase.

The visitor economy to our state is worth $5.4 billion and the tourism industry employs 32,000 people. Our goal is for it to reach $8 billion by 2020 and to create an extra 9,000 jobs, and this Oval is helping us get on the way there. The increase in tourist numbers has created new employment opportunities, and Adelaide Oval itself is now the single largest site employer for food and beverage staff in South Australia, with approximately 1,200 casual and part-time staff employed at the stadium.

It has been recognised as a state-of-the-art venue, not only in South Australia but nationally as well. It has received a number of international design and construction awards, including the national award for public architecture, from the Australian Institute of Architects; the best tourism and leisure development, at the Property Council of Australia's Innovation and Excellence Awards; and the Institution of Structural Engineers award for excellence in structural design, amongst many other awards.

There are a number of important people to thank in helping this vision become a reality—firstly, everybody who was involved in the construction and design of the project. Thank you to the main contractors Lendlease, Arup, Aurecon, AECOM and Wallbridge & Gilbert; the architects, Cox Architects, Hames Sharley, and Walter Brooke; the many subcontractors, most of whom work in Adelaide; and the many talented South Australian workers who constructed the stadium. Significant thanks also need to go to the parties who successfully agreed to the management plan for the new stadium, putting aside decades of conflict between football and cricket in this state. Thank you to people including Andrew Demetriou, Leigh Whicker, Ian McLachlan, and many others.

This, of course, was an achievement by this government, so I pay tribute to former premier Mike Rann, former treasurer Kevin Foley, former infrastructure minister Patrick Conlon, as well as the current Premier, Treasurer, and infrastructure minister for their steadfast work to see this project come to fruition. Sadly, much like the new hospital, this will be seen as something that we have achieved as a government against the strident opposition of the Liberal Party in this state.

People of South Australia know that the Liberal Party fought tooth and nail against this development. Opposition was particularly strident from the local member, the member for Adelaide. She published in her newsletter:

Why the SACA should vote against the further expansion of Adelaide Oval... With Australia missing out on the FIFA World Cup and with further State Budget cuts to essential services, taxpayers are right to ask why they must fund another upgrade of Adelaide Oval. With no roof and no money to pay for carparks, the upgrade will turn the parklands into a bog and turn North Adelaide into gridlock. SACA mustn't let Adelaide Oval become Labor's next money pit.

Sadly, the opposition was very strident in its opposition to the redevelopment, and luckily it was not successful. I think history will prove that that attitude was a massive mistake. South Australian sporting fans must be relieved that the Liberals did not get their way in stopping this development from happening.

In contrast to the claims of the opposition, the Adelaide Oval redevelopment has not only attracted tourists to Adelaide but it has created employment opportunities, made Adelaide a more vibrant city, improved the use of the Parklands and, most importantly, it has brought massive economic benefit to the city and the state. I ask the house to join me in congratulating the success of this project.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:45): I too rise to speak on this motion put forward to mark the second anniversary of the completion of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval. There is no doubt that the Adelaide Oval redevelopment has been positive for South Australia, attracting millions of people to both sporting and entertainment events.

I would also like to speak about some of the history of the Adelaide Oval. I am part of that history, having at home one of the pickets from the Adelaide Oval fence. Many enthusiasts, particularly cricket enthusiasts, were given the opportunity to purchase a picket, and that is something I did. I also have many memories of the Adelaide Oval as a young fellow going along to the cricket with my father way back then.

One of my most fond memories is watching the Australia versus England test. After that test, I watched the Australian captain being chased out of the change rooms by the English captain. It was Ian Chappell with Ian Botham hot on his tail. Ian Chappell had been sledging Ian Botham all day, and Botham just snapped. It is something that I will never forget, watching the Australian cricket captain disappear into the car park with the English captain hot on his heels.

There is much history. The Oval was built in 1871, and it has long been considered one of the most picturesque test grounds in Australia and in the world. Here are some interesting snippets: the Oval's first test match was played from 12 to 16 December in 1884. Australia beat England by eight wickets. The first football game lit by electric light was played at the Oval in 1885 by lamps made by Siemens. The game had an attendance of 8,000 people, but sadly there were many lighting failures. The ball's white paint faded throughout the game, making it very hard to see, so the game was stopped. The historic scoreboard we have all seen and grown to love was put into service on 3 November 1911.

I also want to correct the member for Kaurna. He talked about record attendances. The biggest attendance at the Adelaide Oval was back in 1965. In 1965, attendances reached 62,543. What a great day for the Oval. However, people in today's redeveloped Adelaide Oval sit a little more comfortably. Most of them are seated, but some stand on the famous hill. It just shows you what can be achieved. Today, we like to live in comfort.

In 1931-32, Donald Bradman scored the highest test score at the ground: 299 against South Africa. Clarrie Grimmett also collected 14 wickets, the record for a bowler at the ground. Of course, many sports fans would remember the Bodyline affair, a nasty tactic devised by the English team to thwart Bradman's legendary batting skills. It reached a low point in 1932, with several players struck. Mounted police had to keep record crowds in order in that 1932 test.

In 1947-48, Australia scored 674 against India. It is still the highest team total at the ground for test cricket. David Bowie played his first concert in the Southern Hemisphere at the Adelaide Oval in 1978. It was also his first large outdoor concert. In 2003, two matches of the Rugby World Cup were played at the Oval. During the first, Australia beat Namibia 142 to zip, so that was a bit of a thrashing. The second was a little closer: Ireland beat Argentina by one single point. The year 2009 marked the commitment to redeveloping the Adelaide Oval, and 2014 saw the completion of the redevelopment of the Oval. As you can see, the history of Adelaide Oval is deeply entrenched in its story.

I guess one aspect of the Adelaide Oval redevelopment that it was important to see remain was the old heritage-listed scoreboard on the hill, at the northern end by the Moreton Bay figs, two of the favourite pieces of the Oval which make it quite unique right around the world. The upgrade enabled seating capacity of the Oval to increase from 34,000 to 50,000 plus—I think 53,000 is somewhere around the mark—with several other important upgrades taking place that allow the Oval to be used for major football, cricket, rugby and soccer games as well as the large entertainment concerts that have gone on at the Oval.

The Oval also houses the Bradman Collection, an exhibition containing cricket memorabilia from 1927 to 1977 and covering the entire life of the legendary cricketer Donald Bradman who made Adelaide his home. Likewise, the sporting hall of fame has been a fantastic addition. In April the ground launched its RoofClimb, allowing harnessed participants to venture along the walkway atop the western-southern grandstands to take in aerial views of the ground and the Greater Adelaide area, another great feature and initiative of the Stadium Management Authority.

The first AFL game played at the new oval had 50,397 people attend. Interestingly, 5,700 hotdogs were consumed, 3,000 pies were sold, 2,000 sandwiches, 26,000 soft drinks (a lot of rotten teeth in that), 10,000 bottles of water, a thousand churros, four and half thousand corporate meals served, and 1.7 tonnes of potatoes used—and I would say that most of those potatoes would have come from Chaffey. There were 200 kilos of coffee beans, and copious amounts of alcohol, but I will just leave the alcohol for another day.

Overall, there have been more than 14 million visitors through the gate since the revamp was completed in 2014, and of the 4 million visitors since March 2014 slightly more than half were for Australian Rules Football matches while 1.1 million came to watch cricket. Again, it was great to see that the state Liberals instigated the community sports fund from the redevelopment of the oval, $200,000 per year going back into grassroots sports. There has been a number of officials and people who have whinged about it, but we cannot just promote two codes of sport and leave everyone else to hang out to dry.

Unfortunately it has not all been smooth sailing. The redevelopment had a cost blowout: first it was $450 million and not a penny more, then all of a sudden costs blew out, including the $85 million payment to the South Australian Cricket Association, 30 million in external and Parkland works, $40 million for the footbridge, and $5 million for the upgrade costs of the western grandstand. These costs were outlined in the Auditor-General's project report for the period to December 2013.

In a snub to South Australian businesses, the current Weatherill Labor government used an interstate contractor to undertake work on the Adelaide footbridge: a Brisbane-based company was awarded the $2 million paving contract for the footbridge. The $40 million footbridge cost double what was originally promised. Obviously there are contentious issues around the Oval. It is a great stadium, it is presenting as a landmark in Adelaide, but we have recently learned that every time someone buys a ticket for that Oval they have to pay a transport development levy. Also, the car parking is still not finished, and when you go to the stadium on a wet, windy day and you are in the western stand you are going to get wet, and that is a sad indictment. So weatherproofing is still there to be fixed.

I also wanted to touch on some of the iconic sculptures around the Adelaide Oval. Basil Sellers AM, a highly respected art and sports patron, has donated those bronze sculptures: Malcolm Blight, Barrie Robran, Russell Ebert, Ken Farmer, Darren Lehmann, Jason Gillespie, George Giffen and Clem Hill. They are world-class sculptures and really do add to the Adelaide Oval. There are those memories.

The SACA's Avenue of Honour has the Lyn Fullston Lawns—she is a great Mallee girl from the electorate of Chaffey—and the Favell-Dansie indoor sports centre compliment this fantastic sports stadium. The Adelaide Oval is bathed in history. It has had great events over its history from way back. It is an iconic stadium and it is a world-renowned stadium for both cricket and football. It is a great asset to Adelaide, but there are pieces missing that will compliment Adelaide Oval and, hopefully, we will see some more redevelopment on the Riverbank Precinct.