AEHCA withdrawal from Summit Sport and Recreation Park
The SSRP Board has worked closely with the AEHCA since November 2021 to provide access to our premier oval for regional cricket training and matches.
Both the council and SSRP Board remain committed to supporting the future of cricket in the district and will continue to engage with the AEHCA about any potential future use of the SSRP site.
The AEHCA’s decision not to renew its licence relates to the organisation’s own financial situation.
The SSRP Board and the council were not made aware of the AEHCA’s financial sustainability issues until July, just a few weeks before receiving their letter to terminate its licence in early August. The SSRP Board worked with the AECHA within this very tight timeframe to attempt to accommodate their needs, including offering to extend payment terms and provide a repayment plan to allow them to remain at the SSRP.
While a resolution could not be found within the short timeframe, the SSRP remains open to further discussions with the AECHA and would welcome the return of cricket to the SSRP if an agreement can be reached.
Council recognises the importance of community sport and the significant benefits it brings to our district in terms of health and wellbeing, community connectedness, and economic development.
We also recognise that there are financial challenges for community sporting organisations, especially in the current difficult economic climate. With this in mind, council has commenced an independent review of its fees and charges for the SSRP. We will keep all our local clubs, associations and stakeholders updated on the outcomes of this review.
The Board and council are continually working to identify and secure funding opportunities for the SSRP, in addition to developing and enhancing the facilities and infrastructure at the venue under a staged and strategic approach.
Quotes attributable to SSRP Board Chairperson Iain Evans
Cricket, and in particular the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association, were among the first supporters and users of the SSRP, and have been champions for the continued growth and development of the precinct.
We are disappointed that the AEHCA has made the decision not to renew its licence to use the Summit Sport and Recreation Park. We worked with the AEHCA during the limited time available to try to find solutions to their financial situation to allow them to remain at the SSRP. While we haven’t been able to find a solution as yet, we will remain in contact and certainly we’re open to any approaches the AEHCA may make in future.
The SSRP was created by Council with the intention of being a premier regional sporting facility. It is already heavily subsidised by Council, and we are upfront about the fees and charges licensees incur to use the park.
We are committed to ensuring the SSRP is a premier, affordable sporting facility for our local clubs. We will continue to listen to and work with our district’s sporting and recreation bodies to ensure the precinct achieves its vision to become home to national, state, regional, district and local level activities and events.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Update on SSRP use
During the quarter from April to June 2024, the SSRP was used for an average of 124 hours per week, compared with an average of 100 hours per week in the previous quarter.
The oval precinct was used by multiple football clubs, including Sturt, Nairne, Hahndorf, Torrens Valley and the Hills Football League. It was also used for the council-supported AusDrive program, and the hugely popular AFL Gather Round.
Use of the soccer precinct, which is licensed to Football SA, remains strong and has expanded to include new opportunities, such as the Mount Barker High School Soccer Carnival.
Future management
The SSRP Board and council are currently developing an Activation Plan that will set out the guiding vision and implementation strategy to transform the SSRP into a premier regional activated hub by attracting major events, enhancing infrastructure, and securing sponsorships to boost tourism, economic development, and community well-being.
The Board and council acknowledge that there have been challenges in realising this vision, and the Activation Plan we are developing sets out how we will address these.
While yet to be finalised, the plan sets out priorities for the SSRP’s future management, including:
- Developing and executing marketing strategies to raise the profile of the SSRP
- Hosting a mix of minor and major events, increasing in scale and frequency over 10 years
- Improving internal processes and resolving scheduling conflicts with licensees
- Enhancing infrastructure, including parking, catering and facilities
- Creating a sponsorship strategy that incorporates tiered sponsorship packages and actively engaging potential sponsors through a streamlined EOI process
- Prioritising infrastructure improvements to support large-scale events
- Review and updating booking, hiring, and sponsorship policies.
The Board and council will keep SSRP users, stakeholders and the community updated on its Activation Plan process.
