HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-16 Daily Xml
Contents
Xml

Argana Park

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:36): At the last election, I was really pleased and proud to be able to commit the state government to contributing $1.5 million to the City of Playford's master plan for Argana Park. Argana Park is a shared facility, as people will know, between the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club, Craigmore Cricket Club, Elizabeth Netball Association and Elizabeth Football Club. I want to talk a bit more about the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club, but I do just want to say that this contribution is part of a larger master plan. I think it is somewhere around $10 million or $11 million over the next three or four years. It is going to make Argana Park, which is already the sporting heart of the City of Playford, or at least the Elizabeth part of the City of Playford, even better. It will improve parking, improve lighting and improve facilities.

The $1.5 million I am talking about went towards some new changing rooms for the netball club and the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club. They are shared facilities, including female changing rooms, which was a point where it was sadly lacking in the past. I was really proud to be able to deliver that the other day. I attended with the mayor, with councillors, with representatives of all the clubs, the grand opening of those changing rooms. It was a really proud day, and I saw the first use on that following weekend by the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club. Unfortunately, the result was not what we wanted, but it was a great game nonetheless.

I have been peripherally involved in the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club for many years. My son played there for the under 8s, under 9s and under 10s and then more recently in the senior team, but I have been a fellow traveller along the way and long before that. The club goes back to 1962. It really is one of the major sporting clubs in the northern suburbs, not to mention Elizabeth. They are really looking forward to making history next year by going into the Football SA State League 2, into the senior comp. They are currently doing trials, and they are really looking forward to that. Their pitch is up to local Football Federation SA standard. Obviously, now they have the clubrooms. The parking and the associated facilities are being worked on as part of that master plan as we speak, and I look forward to talking to the council and talking to the club over the coming years about continued improvements to that site.

As I said, the club was formed in 1962. With the time available to me, I do just want to pay tribute to one particular person, the chairperson who spoke at the opening several weeks ago, Mark Swann. A couple of Sundays ago, Swanny—'the gaffer', as he might be known—played his 1,000th game for Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club. I am reliably informed that since 1972 he has played every position in every boys' and men's team since he was in the under 6s in 1972. A couple of Sundays ago he played his 1,000th game. Admittedly, it was not in the A team, but it was a remarkable achievement from Swanny. I want to congratulate him. I want to congratulate the Elizabeth Downs Soccer Club on making the necessary changes to become a part of State League 2 next year. I wish them all the best. I will be there for the opening game, and I wish them every success as they go forward.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT