Community-backed location for new state-of-the-art aquatic centre

Monday, 5 September 2022

Following extensive community consultation and site analysis, the location of the new $80 million Adelaide Aquatic Centre has been decided, marking an important milestone for the project.

The new fit-for-purpose Adelaide Aquatic Centre will be built immediately south of the existing facility at Park 2 in the northern Adelaide Park Lands.

This is in line with the south-west corner site consulted on, but with a minor amendment - in response to residents’ feedback, the proposed footprint has been moved further north. The selected location will allow the existing centre’s carpark to be utilised where possible, ensuring the existing row of trees along Barton Terrace West is retained.

Of three proposals considered, the south-west location was backed by 55 per cent of the 989 respondents who provided feedback on the preferred site for a new facility. Only 20 per cent of respondents preferred the south-east corner, 15 per cent supported the north-east corner, and 10 per cent indicated no preference.

A 12-member Community Reference Group reviewed all feedback received during the engagement period before supporting the new south-west location, which attracted significant support due to its proximity to existing infrastructure.

The option also had the least impact on existing trees, while new trees will also be pre-ordered and grown off-site to enable planting of semi-mature trees in 2025.

Delivering, owning and operating a new Adelaide Aquatic Centre is a key election commitment for the Malinauskas Labor Government.

In a boost for local jobs, the Aquatic Centre will be designed by experienced Adelaide-based architecture firm JPE Design Studio. JPE will lead the design process, working in collaboration with aquatic and recreation architecture specialist Warren and Mahoney.

The design process will include developing a concept plan for the new aquatic centre and a masterplan for the western side of Park 2, which will also identify vehicle, pedestrian and cycling path connections to the new facility. Further community feedback will be sought to inform these.

Importantly, the development of the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre will result in no net loss of Park Lands, with the existing site to be returned to Park Lands once the new centre is built.

For more information about the project: Adelaide Aquatic Centre - Department for Infrastructure and Transport - South Australia (dit.sa.gov.au)