Adelaide Oval's Stadium Management Authority (SMA) was mulling over an idea to allow people to zipline from the stadium across the River Torrens, a parliamentary committee has heard.

Key points: A zipline idea was raised with Adelaide City Council

A zipline idea was raised with Adelaide City Council The plan was revealed during a parliamentary committee into plans for a hotel at Adelaide Oval

The plan was revealed during a parliamentary committee into plans for a hotel at Adelaide Oval The council's mayor has labelled the stadium authority as "greedy and opportunistic"

The revelation emerged during a hearing into the State Government's plan to loan the SMA $42 million to build an onsite hotel.

Under questioning from MLC Frank Pangallo, Adelaide City Council said the stadium's managers had asked what council permits would be required for a flying fox to be installed between Adelaide Oval and another venue.

Lawyer Brett Kahland told the committee that while he could not share confidential details of the idea, "you could infer the trajectory" of the flying fox.

Adelaide Oval also manages the bar and catering for the Adelaide Festival Centre, across the River Torrens.

The idea has not been assessed by the council.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said it would need to go through a consultation process.

Planning Minister Stephan Knoll said he had not been involved in any discussions about a flying fox.

"Our mind is always open, we're always open to finding new ways to grow and really enhance our visitor economy," Mr Knoll said.

SMA chair Kevin Scarce said that the idea was informally raised "at working level with the council" more than 12 months ago.

"There are no proposals before the board in relation to this matter," he said.

"We make no apologies for exploring innovative ideas aimed at further growing the oval's popularity, tourism appeal and its brand."

An artist's impression of a hotel planned for the east wing of Adelaide Oval. ( Supplied )

Lord Mayor labels stadium authority 'greedy and opportunistic'

Throughout the hearing Ms Verschoor suggested the authority might have breached the terms of its leaders by not consulting with council over the hotel development.

"It was a briefing, there was no chance for feedback, there was no discussion," Ms Verschoor said.

"A five-minute briefing by the stadium management authority does not constitute consultation in accordance with the lease."

The council said it was getting legal advice on the potential breach, and had already spent around $25,000 on preliminary advice.

She also slammed the stadium as being "greedy and opportunistic" with its plans for expansion, and complained that the oval was growing commercial operations without paying council rates or land tax.

"The Adelaide Oval [Redevelopment and Management] Act was a tool to redevelop the oval, not to facilitate the expansionist ambitions of a greedy and opportunistic stadium management authority," Ms Verschoor said.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor has slammed the idea as "simply wrong". ( ABC News )

Mr Pangallo said plans for the hotel showed Adelaide Oval had "aggressive expansion plans to make a buck".

"This will clearly compete with other cafes, hotels and entertainment facilities in the area," he said.

Mr Knoll insisted the development had gone through the correct approval process.

"We've consulted as we have to … there is no shred of evidence that has been put on the table to say anything otherwise," he said.

The State Government argued the hotel was necessary to ensure that the oval would be financially viable into the future.

"If they actually need this hotel development to balance their books, what happens in five or eight years time when their books aren't balanced again," Ms Verschoor said.

"Are they going to build a shopping centre?"

Shadow Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the State Government's handling of the hotel loan had been "an absolute shambles".

"Where does it stop … it seems that these concerns for other commercial operations might well be realised," he said.