Our future vision for Alberton Oval is to create a community and recreation hub, while providing modern, elite training and rehab spaces that support the needs of current and future players, including dedicated facilities for our future AFLW players.
Q/ How have/can community members provide feedback on the new development?
A/ PAFC consulted the community in February and March 2021, holding several community consultation meetings with local residents. As a result of these consultations, the plans have been revised and the club resubmitted its proposed development plans, with a series of changes and inclusions to support the feedback shared. This includes more trees, increased off-street carparking and traffic management changes.
Consultation amongst the community is ongoing through the prescribed Council process, with information/Q&A sessions being conducted, as well as the following online portal available from mid-July to 27th August for the community to provide their thoughts and feedback around the Community Land Management Plan and Proposed PAFC Lease: https://haveyoursay.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/register.
A further consultation process will commence in mid-August, specifically around the proposed Building Development.
The opinions of and feedback from the community is an important part of this process and is something that PAFC wholeheartedly supports as part of the formal process underway by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council.
Q/ Why has PAFC developed a new plan for Alberton Oval?
A/ The current facilities at Alberton Oval are not suitable for training and playing at an elite level. When compared to other AFL clubs we are considered to be at the lower end of the league. In preparation for our entry into AFLW competition for Season7 (December 2022), the new development will be crucial in providing elite playing, training and rehabilitation facilities which will provide our players the best opportunity to be successful.
Furthermore, the new precinct includes two new basketball courts and a soccer field that will support the needs of local sporting clubs whilst also providing improved open green space for the community to use recreationally.
Q/ Why is PAFC integrating basketball and soccer facilities for other clubs to access as part of the precinct?
A/ The proposed development includes our investment in the delivery of two basketball courts and a soccer field, which the football club requires as additional functional training space. The football club requires these facilities for its own training and conditioning purposes with over 80 full time professional athletes.
To optimize the investment into the Alberton Oval precinct, Council identified basketball and soccer facilities as key shortages in terms of requirements for community sport and recreation in the area. The fact that elite AFL and AFLW players will use the facilities sparingly at night provides the opportunity to optimize the investment and usage of these facilities to support the greatest community needs.
The West Adelaide Bearcats Basketball Club and North West Junior Soccer Association will directly benefit from the use of these improved facilities and are excited by the prospect of providing their teams with access to such quality courts and grounds. Neither organisations, nor the Council will need to invest any money to realize this project and address some significant facility shortage issues currently faced.
Q/ What is a peppercorn lease and why has PAFC applied for one?
A/ The peppercorn lease relates to a portion of land which the Club owns and will be gifting back to Council to facilitate this development, and a small additional portion of land incorporated in the proposed development. The Club owns the land that the current administration and training facility building is on and some of this land will be donated back to Council as part of the proposed re-development. The commercial value of this land is in the order of $400,000 (independent valuation) and therefore the Club is proposing that instead of Council paying this sum to the Club for the land, a peppercorn lease is put in place.
The football club pays a significant annual rental to Council for use of the oval and surrounds. The peppercorn lease only relates to the portion of land the Club is proposing to transfer back to Council.
Q/ Why should the community support this development?
A/ Alberton Oval has been the home of the Port Adelaide Football Club since 1880. The Club is seeking to upgrade the precinct and facilities consistent with the Council’s purpose for Alberton Oval contained in the existing (and new) land management plan - as a sporting and recreation ground which supports community and elite sporting activities.
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an iconic sporting organisation in Australia, that proudly represents its district on the national and international stage. It is one of the largest employers in the area and does a considerable amount of work in the community. The Club takes its role in the community seriously and it drives significant economic and cultural benefit for the district and the broader community.
Q/ Will PAFC be planting new trees as part of the redevelopment?
A/ The proposed plan requires the removal of 36 trees which will be replaced by 72 new trees, including a significant number of mature trees. Many of the trees being replaced were planted to line the new car parking space in 2010, so aren’t long-term, significant trees.
Q/ How will the development impact the Alberton community?
A/ We understand that some neighbouring residents have expressed concerns about their property values however, the new and improved facilities proposed will substantially upgrade the precinct which will be of benefit to the area and the locals who will be able to access the precinct for recreational purposes.
Furthermore, as the training and match day home for Port Adelaide’s AFLW team, the new Alberton Oval precinct will draw new visitors into the area which is great for local businesses and the economy here in the west.
In addition, there is a $5.0m upgrade underway to the social club facility which, when completed, will include a new sports bar, bistro, café and museum which will be open for the whole community to enjoy. It will create a new experience for local residents, providing a new hospitality venue with unique views over the city and the vista of the Adelaide Hills within walking distance from their homes.
Q/ What measures are proposed as part of the new development to avoid any impacts on neighbouring residents?
A/ The development includes a 70 per-cent increase in off-street car parking to support the needs of the club and any out-of-hours use. A Traffic Management Plan has been submitted by the club which outlines the minimal increase in traffic after hours from soccer and basketball usage.
Usage by the basketball club is only for overflow training purposes on a few evenings per week on the two courts within the new facility. The two courts can be used by four teams at any one time, with a maximum of 36 people. That number will not significantly impact traffic and the independent traffic report support this.
Similarly, the soccer pitch is planned to be used as an overflow facility for the primary school soccer competition operating on Saturday mornings during School Terms 2 and 3, around the SANFL schedule.
The proposed new usage of the Alberton Oval precinct in reality would not be greater than usage of the area in years gone by. The Club previously ran SANFL League, Reserves, U19’s, U17’s and Junior Development Squad programs (U13, U14, U15) throughout the year, including football games every week during the season. This resulted in training activity nearly every weeknight during the season, plus significant off-season activity, along with the Croquet Club activity (which has been dis-used for the last 20 years).
In fact, prior to our AFL entry in 1997 the Port Adelaide Cricket Club junior and senior grades also trained and played at Alberton over summer – resulting in year-round activity in and around the oval, which has since become under-utilised.
Q/ As well as proposing a new community hub at Alberton Oval, how else is PAFC contributing to the community and local economy?
A/ Alberton has been the home of the Port Adelaide Football Club for over 140 years of our proud 151 year history, through which we have represented the local community with pride. The Port Adelaide Football Club provides an outlet for the people of the Port, an escape from the rigours of life and something to look forward to, bringing joy and hope to a lot of people. Many have been able to share in the successes of the club, but most importantly they share the journey – the connection to our people and our supporters is the very thing that drives our Club.
We are one of the largest employers in the region, representing the district on a national and international stage, and we play an active role in the community at large:
- Conducting industry-leading programs that support the development of young people, including Indigenous students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and defence force personnel and their families.
- Working with local businesses and community organisations to provide these programs at schools and sporting clubs which cover issues confronting young people in society such as health, wellbeing and resilience, respectful relationships, cultural awareness and reconciliation, youth education pathways and retention, and employment transitions.
- Long-standing partnerships with charities such as Foodbank, Variety Club and the Childhood Cancer Association are an example of the club’s ethos of giving before it takes, with thousands of dollars raised, countless hours contributed and significant awareness generated about these organisations.
Q/ I invested in a paver or picket at Alberton Oval, will this now be removed as part of the new development?
A/ The treasured member pavers and pickets located around the facility will remain as part of the proposed development. In fact, there will be further opportunities for new pavers and pickets.
