Adelaide City Council and community vote for new Aquatic Centre location

February 3, 2023

Members of the public and an almost unanimous Adelaide City Council elected body last night joined together to tell the South Australia Government to find an “alternate” site for the planned redevelopment of the Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

With the South Australian Government planning for the news $80 million facility to be built adjacent to the current Adelaide Aquatic Centre at Pardipardinyilla Denise Norton Park in North Adelaide, last night almost all Adelaide City Councillors voted to oppose the proposed new location.

Councillors passed a motion for the South Australian Government to find another site for the ageing swimming centre - supported by all.

Objections were led by Councillor Janet Giles, who, as reported by Adelaide news website InDaily, last night told the chamber the location for the new Centre was not an issue exclusive to the “group of people that live very close to the Aquatic Centre”.

She added "it’s about the process of how we invite (the) community to decision-making and the impact decisions have on people’s basic rights as residents."

In a statement to CityMag, South Australian Minister for Infrastructure Tom Koutsantonis said the South Australian Government “does not intend to seek alternative sites” and “has been completely upfront about its plans”.

The 50-year-old Adelaide Aquatic Centre cost ths City Council about $2.5 million each year in subsidies.

The South Australian Government announced in September last year that following community consultation the new centre would be built on an existing oval in the south-western quadrant of the park, near the corner of Jeffcott Road and Barton Terrace West.

It would be located next to the current facility, which will be demolished and returned to park lands.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said at the time the location was selected because it would result in the fewest trees being felled to make way for development.

Image shows the current Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

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