Ground-breaking ceremony kicks off work on new $15m facility

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna will kick off construction of the new $15.74 million Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre at a ground-breaking ceremony this Saturday, 5 December.

The ageing clubrooms will be demolished and replaced with a modern venue to cater for 1500 sports players and local residents.

The Mitchell Park Neighbourhood Centre will be relocated to the site, which will also be home to Dover Gardens Kennel and Obedience Club.

The new centre will address shortages for indoor recreation facilities in southern Adelaide, link to the nearby Tonsley Innovation District, and be a hub for community events.

The project is due for completion in the first quarter of 2022 and will support an estimated 91 jobs.

The centre will include:

• Two indoor courts for basketball, and volleyball
• Facilities for football, tennis, netball and cricket
• Fitness area, change rooms, kiosk, expanded car parking
• Relocated Mitchell Park Neighbourhood Centre with meeting and training rooms
• Community function area
• Facilities for the dog club

Council has provided $10.74 million of funding and the Australian Government $5 million.

Mayor Kris Hanna said: “The new Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre will be a quality venue for sports players, fans, and local residents.”

“Council is investing tens of millions of dollars in new facilities. This is creating jobs, and much-needed opportunities for businesses and the community across our city.

“We have asked the State Government for a pedestrian crossing over the Flinders Link railway line to the nearby Tonsley Innovation District. This will be a win for the Tonsley community and the new centre.

“I would like to thank Nicolle Flint MP and the Australian Government for providing $5 million of funding at a vital time.

“Local residents and sports people played an important role in supporting Council’s campaign to build a new centre. I thank them for their input to the design of the centre during community consultation.”

Member for Boothby Nicolle Flint said: “I am proud the funding I secured in the 2019 election has made this significant community project possible.

“Our local community and sporting clubs, like the Mitchell Park Football, Cricket and Rugby Clubs, will be provided with a new home and facilities to support their players, families and volunteers.

“It will also be wonderful to see the other local clubs make use of the new basketball, netball, tennis and community meeting facilities.”

President Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre John Gumley said: “This is an exciting new era for sports people and the community. All our clubs are looking forward to the upgrade.”

Building work will be undertaken by South Australia-based Badge Constructions.

Local residents are being invited to contribute to a major artwork for the exterior of the new building by submitting old and new photographs of Mitchell Park, its places, and people.

Photographs could include sport, work, play, local characters, and the neighbourhood.

This project has received a $100,000 Major Projects – Public Art and Design Major Commission through a State Government (Arts South Australia) grant.

Residents are also invited to help create textile artwork that will be hung inside the new building.

Football and cricket will continue to be played at the oval during construction. Other sports will continue off site.

The dog club will continue to use the site’s southern reserve, and other local sites.

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