A proposal to return fencing to a public oval has sparked “misinformation” and community “division” in a sleepy inner-south suburb of Adelaide as a local government struggles to cut through the chatter.

The City of Unley is investigating the feasibility of installing a perimeter fence at Unley Oval so the shared community and sporting ground can be closed for ticketed events without relying on temporary fencing.

Yet despite assurances the site will remain just as accessible, with any design to include multiple gates that remain open outside of events, a protest petition is circulating as social media comments suggest it may end up being closed to the public.

“There has been some confusion, speculation and misinformation across the community regarding whether there would be public access to the oval if there was a permanent fence,” a City of Unley spokesperson said.

“Council has not considered or made any decisions … other than stating that the existing access arrangements will remain as is, that is, the community would have access to the oval apart from ticketed events.”

Mayor Michael Hewitson recently stated that the survey over a perimeter fence had been “very divisive” for the community.

A gift to the community

Unley Oval was given to the local community in 1881 by Edmund Trimmer for sport and recreation and has been under the control of the local government since 1892.

Most notably, it has been the home ground for the SANFL’s Sturt Football Club since 1901, which pulls an average of 3,200 people to 10 home games a year but can attract up to 8,000.

A perimeter wall and internal fences, terraces and infrastructure at the ground were removed in the late 1980s when SFC joined South Football Club in a failed SANFL rationalisation experiment to play senior men’s home games at Adelaide Oval.

That ended in 1998 and SFC has since spent more than $1 million erecting temporary cyclone fencing for its home games, with the same occurring for the occasional AFLW game.

During that time, the oval has become a popular space used heavily by residents to exercise themselves and their dogs, play sport and use playgrounds and barbecue equipment.

Sturt supports community access

SFC chief executive Sue Dewing said the latest proposal was not made by the club, although it was “pleasantly surprised” regardless.

Ms Dewing said Sturt did not want to see the site restricted again like it was up until the 1990s with a perimeter wall, such as exists at other SANFL venues like Norwood Oval.

She envisioned Sturt wanting it closed between 12 to 14 times a year — 10 games for its men’s league and a handful of games for its women’s league.

The proposal follows a significant upgrade of the precinct, including an extensive resurfacing project to overcome drainage issues, new lighting and a significant redevelopment of the Jack Oatey Stand in a joint project between the club and the council.

SFC currently pays $3,000 to erect a temporary perimeter fence on game days after the council reinstated an interior fence around the playing field in 2014.

A ‘storm in a teacup’

People on social media questioned whether council promises to keep the oval open to the public would last into the future, and raised concerns about public safety in a space enclosed by fencing. 

Local Andrew Carter pointed out there was already some fencing and grandstand walls at the oval’s exterior that people had to navigate to enter.

“If it’s a well-designed fence with big openings, maybe sliding openings, I suspect in six months’ time nobody will notice,” he said.

“I think the club is really committed to having it as a combined sporting and community facility, which is exactly what it should be.

Gates are ‘made to be closed’

Another Unley Oval regular, who did not want to be named, said she was curious as to “what was happening behind the scenes” for the proposal to be made, seeing as it did not come from Sturt itself.

“I know they’re going to have gates and things and they’ll keep them open other than on those days,” she said.

“I love this space. I’ve met so many people, particularly since finishing full-time work. It’s a gathering place.”

She added that outside her home she had tripped over a broken drain twice, including recently, and had sent emails and photographs to the council.

“I’ve heard nothing from the council and that was a couple of years ago,” she said.

“That’s where I’d like my money to go.”

The council’s online survey remains open until 5pm on July 29.