In a first during its 39-year history, the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) will finally have a headquarters to call home. A purpose-built facility will identify, develop and support high performance athletes and programs.
The new facility is included in the State Budget 2021-22, where $49 million will go towards its construction, to be located at Mile End next to the existing Netball SA Stadium.
Premier Steven Marshall explains that the new facility is part of a record $17.9 billion infrastructure spend spanning the next four years and will open up approximately 200 jobs throughout the development.
“This Budget builds on the Marshall Liberal Government’s strong economic recovery plan, to create more jobs, expand health services and deliver record investment in education and infrastructure,” Premier Marshall said.
“This landmark Budget is helping secure SA’s growing global reputation as one of the safest and most attractive places in the world to live, work and raise a family and this significant investment continues to position our great state as a premiere sporting destination.”
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Corey Wingard believes the introduction of SASI HQ will provide high-performance athletes access to new state-of-the-art training facilities and leading-edge integrated technologies to reach greater heights.
“SASI was Australia’s first state-based sports institute but has never had its own purpose-designed facility that is fit-for-purpose and for the past 21 years has operated out of the old Kidman Park High School,” Minister Wingard said.
“Despite that, South Australia has developed and produced some of the best athletes in the world and this investment will help build on that legacy.
“It will also help SASI to achieve its target of contributing at least 10% of Australia’s team medals at both the Olympics and Paralympics.
“This investment will also give our state greater opportunities to grow our economy by attracting national and international training camps and elite programs.”
The new SASI will feature the following:
- Strength and conditioning gym capable of accommodating multiple sports and teams
- Specially designed indoor court with smart technology
- Sport specific ergometer training zones
- Indoor bounding areas
- Environment chamber for simulated heat, humidity and altitude stress training
Planning for the new facility will begin immediately, with construction hoped to start in 2022 and expected to be complete in mid-2023.
