Public Works Committee: Walkerville Recreation Centre

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:39): I move:

That the 128^th report of the committee, entitled Walkerville Recreation Centre, be noted.

The proposed works from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, in conjunction with the Town of Walkerville, will build a new community recreation centre on the site of the defunct YMCA facility at 39 Smith Street in Walkerville. The original facility was constructed in 1965 and, in 2022, after nearly 60 years in service the building's declining condition led to the termination of its lease. After investigating both refurbishment and new-build options, the Town of Walkerville council decided to proceed with complete demolition of the old building and the construction of a new facility.

The new recreation centre aims to return community sport and recreation that has left the area following the closure of the YMCA. Located close to the thriving retail and hospitality precinct on Walkerville Terrace, the centre will enhance the overall quality of life within the community, providing residents with opportunities for leisure, socialising and community engagement. The building is planned to accommodate various sports, group activities and community uses, and the design includes provisions to be inclusive for older people, people with disabilities and young families.

The facility will provide two fully compliant indoor netball courts, which may in turn be reconfigured to accommodate two basketball courts, two volleyball courts and eight smaller courts for badminton or pickleball. A central draw curtain will be installed so that two different groups may use the space concurrently, and the works will also construct fixed seating for spectators, two unisex change rooms to accommodate opposing teams, and male, female and accessible toilets.

The building's placement on the site has been carefully considered to minimise noise, overshadowing and visual impacts on adjoining residents. The redevelopment will include the expansion of the car park from 36 dedicated parks to 80, including two accessible parking spaces near the entrance. Structural construction commenced in March with the aim to be complete and operational in December.

The project is expected to cost $10 million, and the state government has administered a $5 million grant, anticipating a further $400,000 in interest. The Walkerville council states that it will fund the remaining $4.6 million. Throughout construction, the project is expected to create 41 full-time equivalent jobs.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Walkerville Recreation Centre. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Dr Andrew Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Town of Walkerville; Adam Trottman, Director, Infrastructure and Planning, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing; Ross Oates, Strategic Projects Coordinator, Town of Walkerville; and James Kelly, Group Manager, Assets and Infrastructure, Town of Walkerville. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Also, with my hat on as the local MP for the area, I do wish to acknowledge that this was one of my major election commitments for the area. It was an incredible facility that was there previously, serving our community for many decades, and when the former YMCA site at Walkerville was shut down it did have an enormous impact on the community in terms of accessing recreational and sporting services. So I worked with the community over a number of years to both commit an election commitment of $5 million to the community and then worked closely with the Town of Walkerville to realise a brand-new centre.

Recently I was joined by the Mayor of Walkerville, Melissa Jones, and our sports minister, Emily Bourke MLC, in the other place, to turn the sod on the new centre, which I very much look forward to going to with my own children later in the year, when it is expected to open.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.