WHAT goes around comes around as Bridgestone recycles its former Adelaide tyre manufacturing plant into a state-of-the-art, multi-discipline athletics centre.

Opened last week, the multi-million-dollar Bridgestone Athletics Centre is on land that was returned to the City of Salisbury, in north Adelaide, following the closure of the Bridgestone factory in 2011.

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand managing director Stephen Roche said the company is proud to have collaborated with the city to develop the centre.

“When Bridgestone returned this land to the City of Salisbury back in 2011, our vision was for it to be a vibrant space that benefited the community,” Mr Roche said.

“To see the Bridgestone Athletics Centre come to life has far exceeded our expectations for Bridgestone Reserve.

“Over Bridgestone Corporation’s 90-year history, there is a proud heritage of giving back to the community to deliver social value as well as customer value, and our partnership with the City of Salisbury and the Bridgestone Athletics Centre is an example of this commitment.”

City of Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge OAM said the benefits of the facility are wide-reaching and “will not only provide a much-needed new home for three local athletics clubs, but also benefit regional and state associations including northern schools.”

Bridgestone announced its commitment as naming rights partner of the venue earlier this year, with the concept aligning to the three priority areas of the company’s global corporate social responsibility initiative “Our Way to Serve”: mobility, people and the environment.

The iconic blue running track uses 50 tonnes of recycled rubber in the surfacing system, in harmony with Bridgestone’s local commitment to responsible end-of-life tyre management across its network of stores which sees rubber recycled in sustainable ways such as sporting grounds.

To make the venue accessible in all seasons, the City of Salisbury has invested in the latest LED venue lighting systems that uses less energy than conventional oval lighting but features customisable programs to ensure only the needed lights are used, providing further energy savings and reducing CO2 emissions.

By Neil Dowling