News
Issue No. 19 - October/November 2004
Life on the beach in Adelaide CBD
A unique facility in Australia and perhaps in the world, Vodafone City beach is more than 110 tons of sand, a shack and some netting occupying prime CBD land at Flinders and Frome streets in central Adelaide.
Opened in November 2001, Vodafone City Beach is a sports strongpoint for Volleyball SA, and now has up to 280 teams per week over summer (about 1,500 participants) and a lunchtime corporate competition involving teams of 4 in 30 minute matches with around 50 teams involved representing all sectors of the CBD.
“After-school competitions between 4pm and 6pm attract 110 teams per week with many from city schools which have little active space,” says Volleyball SA executive, Paul Finn. “Many inner city schools now use the facility as part of their Physical education program.”
“Adelaide City Council made a decision to invest in the human capital of the city through supporting the leasing of the land to Volleyball SA rather than selling the vacant block to developers.
“Mayor Michael Harbison saw an opportunity to bring more young people into the city and to bring the vibrant activity profiled at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games into the CBD.
“The area is leased at a less than commercial rate which makes the operation possible. Without this generous subsidy from the Adelaide City Council the facility could not operate as a positive business.”
Added to the business challenge is the fact that the outdoor activity falls from a ...
