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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-07-03 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Oval

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house on the recent milestone achieved at the Adelaide Oval?

The SPEAKER: Minister, if it is just another Port Adelaide defeat at Adelaide Oval, that information is readily available from easily accessible sources.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:47): Thank you, Mr Speaker. As painful as it is to discuss the events at Adelaide Oval the most recent Sunday, amongst the misery there was also a significant milestone. The redeveloped Adelaide Oval welcomed its one millionth patron last weekend. Since the redeveloped Oval opened, South Australians have been streaming through the gates. It was initially predicted annual attendances at the Oval would increase from about 400,000 a year to 1.37 million. This figure will surely be eclipsed with one million already having visited the Oval and more AFL and international cricket to be played before the first anniversary.

In addition, AFL attendances were predicted to grow to 802,000 throughout the home and away season—107,000 more than AAMI Stadium—but if current averages continue attendances could reach as high as one million for this year's home and away season, particularly given one team will be playing finals. But it is not only crowds for major events that are big, it is also the sheer number of people attending the Oval for functions, events and tours. The state government's intervention at Adelaide Oval—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I have to say I do enjoy the interjections from the member for Hartley, sitting up the back there like Statler and Waldorf from The Muppets—nothing to contribute to the show but lots of commentary about it.

The state government's investment in the Adelaide Oval redevelopment was always about creating an economic driver for the city. Job creation on our infrastructure projects extends, of course, beyond the construction phase. With an average of 45,000 people streaming into the stadium each weekend, many of them across our new footbridge, it means more jobs catering for these big crowds as well as more opportunities for cafes, bars and restaurants in the CBD.

The success of Adelaide Oval has seen an additional 265 casual jobs created in the lead-up to the start of the 2014 AFL season. This is on top of approximately 1,200 positions that were advertised and filled ahead of last December's Ashes Test. We saw more than 150,000 people attend the Ashes Test, a remarkable figure given the redeveloped Oval's full capacity was not yet available. In addition, average attendances for the Big Bash Twenty20 games at the Oval were over 23,000, with total attendances of over 94,000 across the four fixtures.

Overall, there have been substantial tourism benefits flowing from the redeveloped Adelaide Oval. Intercontinental Adelaide advise that there has been an increase in overnight stays compared to the same period last year. They estimate there has been a 12 per cent business uplift compared to 2013. In addition, the hotel has experienced an increase in traffic into their all-day dining restaurant and lobby bar.

This is just one snapshot of the benefit hotels and other accommodation providers are experiencing from the influx of tourists into our state from fixtures at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval. The economic benefits of the redevelopment are clear. A report by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies—

Mr Pengilly: Come back, Kevin. All is forgiven.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Was that another unplanned eructation by the member for Finniss? I'm sure it happens to the best of you. A report by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies estimates that the Adelaide Oval redevelopment will generate upwards of $111 million in economic activity yearly in the City of Adelaide. That's an extra $72 million a year in spending and $39 million in flow-on expenditure. Given the redeveloped Adelaide Oval has only been in operation for less than a year, it's well on its way to achieving these economic benefits while contributing to a renewed sense of momentum and vibrancy in the city.

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