I do however like the idea of turning the site into a multi-level leisure complex, that would be perfect for city workers, residents visitors. Though finding the $$$ for this wouldn't be easy.
BTW no idea where the Messenger got this $30-60m figure for the Rundle Mall Redevelopment from.
Goodbye to City Beach?
http://city-messenger.whereilive.com.au ... ty-beachr/
25 AUG 11 @ 07:30AM BY TIM WILLIAMS
IN TRAINING: Elite beach volleyball player Alice Rohkamper at the City Beach centre. Picture: Helen Orr.
THE City Beach volleyball centre could be sold by the City Council to help fund major projects.
Volleyball SA general manager Andrew Rumbelow said he was resigned to the 10-year-old centre leaving the CBD - a move that would mean losing its best revenue stream and shedding staff.
Mr Rumbelow said he had been in talks with council staff over the past two months, leading up to the expiry of his organisation’s lease this month.
An average of 2000 people play each week at the Pirie St site, the only inner city beach volleyball centre in Australia.
It generates turnover of $300,000 a year for Volleyball SA, which pays a “very low” rent to the council, Mr Rumbelow said.
Up to 80 schools visit each year, while the centre also hosts dozens of corporate events and offers free or reduced rates for charity and church events.
The council had been “trying hard” to find another home for the game in the CBD, but to no avail.
“They’re very happy to help us relocate but they don’t know where,” he said.
“I don’t know there’s any site in the city area that would be vacant that they would put us in.
“I’m almost certain there’s nothing.”
Mr Rumbelow said council staff had indicated City Beach could stay open for at least another year if elected members approved a sale.
The council had thrown up ideas including a move to the parklands, with a shuttle bus to get city workers to lunchtime games, or moving to a rooftop space.
But Mr Rumbelow said each idea presented practical problems, being the time and hassle of a shuttle service and the risk of balls flying off rooftops and injuring people.
Losing City Beach revenue would likely mean cutting Volleyball SA staff from eight to four and putting development programs at risk, he said.
Mr Rumbelow has pitched the idea to the council of turning City Beach into a multi-level entertainment centre, with the volleyball courts left at ground level and possibly a running track, rock climbing wall, indoor basketball and squash courts, cinemas and restaurants built above.
But the council or another developer would have to take on the project as Volleyball SA lacked the money to make it happen, he said.
In coming years the council needs to find ways to fund projects including the $100 million redevelopment of Victoria Square and an overhaul of Rundle Mall expected to cost $30-60 million.
The council did not provide details about the estimated value of the City Beach site or its other commercial properties.
A spokeswoman said City Beach was being looked at as “part of council’s standard reviews of all its assets”.
Difference of opinion on site sale
COUNCILLORS are divided on the future of the city beach site.
Cr Anne Moran said it had been “one of those accidental successes” but the site had only ever been an investment for the council.
“There’s never been any intention of leaving it there in perpetuity for beach volleyball,” she said.
But Cr Moran said she was sure the council would not leave Volleyball SA “high and dry"and thought a shift to the parklands could work.
Cr Sandy Wilkinson said City Beach was “a bit of a waste of a development site” and suggested it might be possible to move it to the top of a building.
Cr Houssam Abiad said the council should not sell properties to fund particular projects such as Victoria Square.
Cr Abiad said if City Beach was closed, the council would be better off developing the site itself for a greater financial benefit than the one-off hit from a sale.
But the community benefit might justify retaining its current use by Volleyball SA, he said.
Cr Tony Williamson also said City Beach might be worth retaining because of the activity it brought to the city centre and a move to a city rooftop or the parklands were possibilities.
“Having it accessible is the most important thing, otherwise people won’t use it,” he said.
Cr Michael Henningsen said: “It’s not the right time to be selling things at the moment and I certainly wouldn’t support its sale at this stage.”
Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the sale would ultimately be a decision for elected members, who would make sure “no stone had been left unturned” to find a way for volleyball to stay in town.
No sale proposal has yet been put to councillors.
“First and foremost I want beach volleyball to stay in the city,” Mr Yarwood said.
“But that’s a very valuable piece of land that we get a very small return on. We’re not a charity and we need to ensure our assets are performing for the benefit of all South Australians.”
