THE banks of the River Torrens could be home to four multi-purpose beach courts if Adelaide’s urban beach becomes a permanent venue, Volleyball SA says.
The sporting body hopes to partner with Renewal SA to make the temporary beach at Pinky Flat a permanent place to host beach volleyball, netball and tennis competitions.
The lease for the City Beach volleyball courts expires in June, and Volleyball SA is yet to find a new home after several years of controversy. The council has previously discussed selling the site at the corner of Pirie St and Frome St, despite proposals from Volleyball SA for it to become a Fringe venue, have a screen to host movies or AFL games, or rock climbing — in an attempt to stay in the city. But Volleyball SA has now set its sights on the temporary urban beach project to replace City Beach.
General manager Anne-Marie McAinsh, who has been operating activities at the urban beach at Pinky Flat, saw an opportunity to boost the night economy at the beach.
She said family groups attend during the day and use the equipment casually, “and then you schedule games at night for people who actually want to compete, and they’re usually the adults who will have a game, might have a drink, and socialise”.
“If you could put those two together, it would be a really cool place all year,” she said.
“We need four courts — if you had four courts like you have city beach, with all the rest of the beautiful layout you have with urban beach and that view (of the Riverbank),” she said.
“What we’re saying to Renewal (SA) is just build us the courts and we will fill them.”
A Renewal SA spokeswoman said Volleyball SA has expressed an interest in having beach volleyball at any future urban beach. She said it was aware of the impending closure and has had informal discussions about a potential new home for the sport in the city.
“Renewal SA, on behalf of the authority, would support exploring the benefits of a permanent beach volleyball facility within Adelaide Riverbank,” she said. But if urban beach is not renewed Ms McAinsh said “we won’t have a home”.
“We have put everything in to this ... we have probably lost a bit of money a long the way, but that’s not important to us.
“What’s important to us is making a place that people can be active in the city.”
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