From West Lakes to Plympton: Adelaide's youth sports infrastructure gets a $40 million boost

Adelaide's youth sports scene is getting a infrastructure overhaul, with $40 million in combined state and local government funding committed to new or upgraded facilities across the city since January 2025.

The investment comes as participation numbers in junior sport continue to climb. The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing reported a 12% increase in registered junior players in the Adelaide metropolitan area between 2022 and 2025, driven largely by growth in soccer, basketball and netball. That surge has put pressure on ageing venues, with some clubs reporting waitlists for court time.

Two projects leading the charge

The most significant development is the $18 million redevelopment of the West Lakes Sporting Precinct, which opened its new multi-purpose sports hub in March 2026. The facility includes four indoor basketball courts, two netball courts and a synthetic hockey field, all built to national competition standards. Located on Freda Road, it replaces the old West Lakes Netball Club complex that had stood since 1987 and had been described by a council report as "beyond its useful life".

Further south, the Plympton Community Sports Centre on Marion Road is undergoing a $12.5 million expansion, due to finish in October 2026. The project adds two indoor courts for basketball and volleyball, a dedicated futsal pitch and upgraded change rooms. The centre already serves more than 2,000 junior members from the Plympton, Kurralta Park and Everard Park suburbs.

The City of Charles Sturt contributed $4.5 million to the West Lakes project, while the state government chipped in $8 million from its Sport Infrastructure Fund. At Plympton, the City of Marion matched a $6.25 million state grant.

What the data shows about demand

Participation figures from the South Australian Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing show that netball remains the most popular junior sport in Adelaide, with 28,000 registered players aged under 18. Soccer is second at 24,000, followed by basketball at 18,500. The number of junior basketball players alone jumped 9% year-on-year in 2025, forcing the Basketball SA league to schedule games as late as 9pm on weeknights at some venues.

Wait times for court access at the Parks Community Centre in Angle Park average 8.4 weeks for after-school bookings, according to a council audit released in February 2026. The new West Lakes hub is expected to ease that pressure by diverting some demand from the western suburbs.

What happens next

Three additional projects are in the pipeline. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield will break ground in September 2026 on a $6.5 million upgrade to the Largs North Sports Complex, adding two netball courts and a synthetic cricket wicket. In the hills, the Adelaide Hills Council is seeking tenders for a $3.2 million upgrade to the Bridgewater Oval changing rooms, set to begin early 2027.

For families looking to get involved, registration for winter junior competitions at the new West Lakes hub is still open through the City of Charles Sturt website until July 25. The Plympton centre is accepting expressions of interest for its spring basketball league, which starts November 2026.