Public Works Committee: Alberton Oval Stage 4 Redevelopment

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

That the 150^th report of the committee, entitled Alberton Oval Stage 4 Redevelopment, be noted.

This project from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and the Port Adelaide Football Club will make further upgrades to Alberton Oval. Managed by the Port Adelaide Football Club, from here on referred to as 'the football club', the project will upgrade and extend the Allan Scott headquarters as well as construct a new grandstand. The new and upgraded facilities aim to consolidate a high-performance football infrastructure whilst improving community access to this premium sporting facility.

Alberton Oval is one of the Australia's oldest continuously operating football grounds and has been home to the Port Adelaide Football Club since 1880. Today, the venue serves as the administrative, training and match-day base for the football club's AFL, AFLW and SANFL teams, as well as the Next Generation Academy programs. The oval is also a vital community asset for Adelaide's western suburbs, providing accessible sporting facilities, community programs and educational opportunities that directly benefit one of Adelaide's most diverse regions.

The proposal states that, despite past upgrades to the oval facilities, significant infrastructure gaps remain, making particular note of the AFL and AFLW national competition requirements. These include the oval's lack of dedicated female change rooms within the main training facility, inadequate medical and recovery areas, insufficient meeting and education spaces, restricted access to training and conditioning areas and lack of appropriate technology integration for coaching. The proposal also notes the current facility's insufficient spectator infrastructure, including limited permanent seating, accessibility compliance gaps, lack of game-day audio and inadequate corporate and hospitality infrastructure.

The redevelopment comprises a multitier extension to the Allan Scott headquarters, estimated to cost approximately $8 million, and the construction of a $2.6 million grandstand on the eastern boundary. Detailed works for the headquarters include:

a two-level extension to the existing headquarters building;

ground-floor AFLW change rooms with wet areas, medical facilities and recovery spaces;

meeting rooms, additional office space and expanded reception area;

a new lift, upgraded mechanical systems and enhanced accessibility;

function space and viewing areas;

audiovisual systems; and

technology infrastructure, environmental systems and security integration.

Works for the grandstand include steel-frame construction with precast concrete elements, 1,040 sheltered tiered stadium-style seats and integrated technology, as well as concession areas, amenities and accessibility features. The development also includes features to support community access, including multipurpose spaces, allied health integration, event hosting and educational opportunities.

Construction is expected to commence this quarter and is anticipated to be complete in June next year. The project cost is approximately $10.5 million, drawn from a state government contribution of $17 million, the balance of which will go towards a future project for the Port Adelaide Bowling Club grandstand. A grant agreement has been executed between the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and the football club for an initial $8.5 million.

The project is expected to create 104 full-time equivalent positions and create indirect employment of 35 positions via supply and support services. The project anticipates that 85 per cent of construction value will be through South Australian suppliers. The project will also capitalise on growing investment in Adelaide's western suburbs, contributing towards precinct activation, tourism and events, property value enhancement and employment generation.

To optimise project delivery, the project has adopted a staged procurement strategy combining early contractor involvement with a competitive tender process. The project is overseen by a project steering committee, with representatives from the football club, the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, and an independent project adviser. Weekly operational management, technical decision-making and progress monitoring will be administered by a project control group.

Project risks include delayed approvals, for which early engagement aims to mitigate project interruption; weather impacts, for which project management is considering scheduling; in-season disruption for oval users, for which project management is considering scheduling, staged construction and temporary facilities where necessary; site conditions, for which relevant contractors have been engaged; and service integration, for which early works will prepare for service diversions.

The redevelopment will incorporate ecological and sustainability initiatives, including advanced lighting systems utilising LED technology and smart controls; a high-performance building envelope utilising double glazing, insulation and natural light optimisation; advanced climate control and specialised ventilation systems; water conservation utilising efficient fixtures and maintenance; stormwater and landscape water management; use of sustainable materials, utilising recycled content, adopting a local procurement focus and preferencing low-impact products where possible; and selection of native plants, microclimate management, habitat creation, heat island reduction and wind protection.

Port Adelaide Football Club celebrates the Kaurna land on which the site sits and states that a search of the central archive identified no Aboriginal heritage within the development site. The football club will take internal guidance and leadership from its First Nations leaders in relation to engagement and approach. The submission also states that a comprehensive search identified no state or local heritage at the works location.

The project team has engaged in community consultation via two information sessions, as well as through communication with local residents, adjacent property owners, the local business community and sporting organisations. The club has also received feedback from targeted consultation with the AFLW and women's sports advocates, as well as relevant technical and professional experts.

The project has subsequently enhanced design based upon feedback from consultation regarding traffic and parking, construction noise, community access and visual impact, considering acoustic treatment, landscaping expansion, accessibility improvements, community programming and parking management. The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and the football club have also consulted with relevant government departments and agencies, including regarding approvals where necessary.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Alberton Oval stage 4 redevelopment. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Matthew Richardson, Chief Executive Officer, Port Adelaide Football Club; Shane Smith, Chief Operations Officer, Port Adelaide Football Club; Michael Lambert, architect at Brown Falconer; and Adam Trottman, Director, Infrastructure and Planning, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. I thank the witnesses for their time. 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.