The Alan Coulter Recreation Centre is owned by Renmark Paringa Council and managed by Belgravia Leisure.

The Alan Coulter Recreation Centre has served the community since the mid-1970s and remains one of the region's most important recreation facilities.

A condition assessment completed in 2025 identified structural deficiencies in the existing mezzanine area, resulting in the closure of part of the facility. While Council has continued to invest in maintenance and upgrades over many years, the broader building is approaching the end of its effective service life, with an estimated remaining lifespan of around 10 years.

This has prompted Council to consider how the facility can continue to meet the needs of current and future generations.

An independent Multi-Criteria Analysis assessed four options for the future of the facility:

• Option 1: Renew the structurally compromised mezzanine area only.
• Option 2: Renew the mezzanine and redevelop the former squash court spaces.
• Option 3: Undertake a broader redevelopment of the existing building, including gym and community areas.
• Option 4: Construct a new like-for-like recreation facility.

Each option was assessed against criteria including safety, accessibility, operational efficiency, long-term sustainability, lifecycle costs, community expectations and ease of delivery.

Council endorsed Option 4 as the preferred option to be investigated further through a detailed business case process.

This option was identified as providing the strongest long-term outcomes by delivering a modern, accessible and efficient facility with lower whole-of-life costs and reduced long-term maintenance risks.

Importantly, Council has not decided to build a new recreation centre at this stage.

No. The endorsement allows Council to undertake further investigations through the business case process. No decision has been made to proceed with detailed design or construction.

The business case will help determine whether the preferred option is feasible, affordable and achievable.

Council will prepare a comprehensive business case that will:

• Confirm community needs and future demand;
• Refine the project scope and estimated costs;
• Investigate State and Federal grant opportunities;
• Assess borrowing and funding options;
• Explore staging and partnership opportunities;
• Consider operational models and energy efficiency;
• Undertake detailed risk assessments; and
• Determine whether the project is affordable and deliverable.

The completed business case will be presented to Council before any decisions are made about progressing to detailed design or construction.

Renmark Paringa Council has completed roof repairs over Court 2 at the Alan Coulter Recreation Centre (ACRC), addressing longstanding leaks and preventing further damage to both the roof structure and the recently upgraded flooring. The works ensure the continued functionality of the facility and protect key community assets.

Background

Council had been aware of ongoing leaks in the roof over Court 2, with multiple previous repair attempts undertaken. The issue was regularly reported by Belgravia and sporting groups using the facility.

In addition to the roof leaks, early signs of damage had begun to appear on the Court 2 flooring, which was upgraded by Council six years ago after the previous surface was deemed unsuitable. Prompt action was therefore required to protect this investment and prevent further deterioration.

A structural assessment conducted as part of the building’s internal review confirmed the cause of the leaks, identifying a roof joint in Catchments B & C as the source of water ingress. The identified issue has now been rectified through the completed works.

Yes. The Alan Coulter Recreation Centre will continue operating while planning and investigations take place.

The previously closed mezzanine area will remain unavailable due to the identified structural concerns.

A project of this scale would rely heavily on external funding, including State and Federal Government grants.

The business case will investigate a range of funding options, including grants, borrowing, potential staging approaches and partnership opportunities, to ensure any future investment is financially responsible.

Council has already undertaken extensive community consultation on the future of the Alan Coulter Recreation Centre, with strong participation from users, sporting groups and the broader community. This feedback has been extremely valuable in helping Council understand how the facility is currently used, what is most valued, and what future needs should be prioritised.

This earlier engagement has directly informed the options assessment and Council’s decision-making to date.

As the project progresses through the business case phase, further targeted engagement may occur at key milestones to test assumptions and ensure the emerging direction continues to reflect community expectations.

Council is committed to ensuring community input continues to play an important role in shaping the future of the facility.

Updates will be provided via the Council website, Engage RPC project page, social media, and direct engagement with user groups.