Build a Premier Athletics Training Hub at Mile End SA Stadium

Location :

Adelaide, SA

Client :

Hames Sharley | South Australians Office for Sport, Recreation and Racing

Year :

2023-2024

Sector :

Synthetic Surface | Athletics Tracks

In 2023, the South Australian Office for Sport and Recreation sought to update the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) Athletics Stadium to extend its facilities in line with national standards and continue offering comprehensive, modern facilities for the people of South Australia.

SPORTENG were engaged to provide detailed design and construction phase services for new beach volleyball courts and the redevelopment of athletics field events.

The Athletics elements included warm-up training facilities for the hammer throw and discus, javelin, pole vault and shot put. To obtain government funding for the Athletic elements, the project had to include the establishment of Beach Volleyball courts.

The Athletics elements needed to be completed before a Nationals event in April 2024. The warm-up space allocated for the project was a tight area, and the layout had to be designed to suit the existing landscape while allowing for a slight incline across the field.

THE CHALLENGE

When undertaking this project, there was some difficulty with drainage on the site – specifically the discharge from the pole vault, hammer throw, shotput and discus rings, which were located some distance from the existing stormwater infrastructure. SPORTENG designed stormwater solutions, such as soaker pits within the surface, which mitigated drainage concerns as the small surface area allowed water to be discharged through the surrounding ground.

THE SOLUTIONS

In addition to the drainage solutions, an existing wind tunnel had been constructed prior to the works. While the location protected the area from wind, sports netting was required for hammer throw and discus to ensure the area was safe for both users and spectators.

THE RESULTS

The people of South Australia now have purpose-built warm-up and training facilities at their State Athletics Centre. Designed to World Athletics standards, these facilities provide athletes with the perfect environment to train and prepare for events, matching competition-level quality.

Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard said: “This investment will deliver a world-class facility for our state. It brings together key pieces of sporting infrastructure and creates a hub that will support athletes to develop their high-performance potential and attract national and international teams to Adelaide in their preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics.”

UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean - UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit, said: “UniSA is pleased to partner with SASI on this outstanding facility for the State. It will better prepare high-performing athletes and the future workforce to support them, delivering significant benefits to sports teaching, research and industry collaboration.”

Source: $90m South Australian Sports Institute in Mile End on track for August open