The SA Labor Opposition has joined with The Greens with commitments to protect Adelaide riverbank Park Lands from the current re-zoning threats of the Marshall Liberal Government.

Greens MLC Robert Simms, and the SA Labor candidate for Adelaide, Lucy Hood were among the speakers at the “Save Helen Mayo Park Picnic Rally” on Sunday 17 October.

A COVID-limited crowd of over 100 came together to lodge their support for the hundreds of trees in Helen Mayo Park – the site of the State Government’s proposed “Riverbank Arena”. The proposed stadium would destroy a large part of Helen Mayo Park, which contains dozens of river red gums, river she-oaks and other trees.

Contrary to assertions by Premier Steven Marshall, the stadium would not be restricted only to “degraded” parts of Helen Mayo Park but would also destroy these century-old trees on the river’s edge, and many others.

The Government’s re-zoning plans would convert all nine hectares of Helen Mayo Park into an “Entertainment Precinct”. Other zoning changes proposed by the State Government would allow developers to take over other riverbank Park Land sites to a total of 70 hectares.

Robert Simms, Greens MLC told the rally: “We're going to do everything we can to defeat these changes when they come to the Parliament.“ Mr Simms promised to move a motion in the Upper House in November “to oppose the proposed sports facility on this site.”

The SA Labor candidate for Adelaide, Lucy Hood, promised that Labor would support that Greens motion.

Ms Hood went further, promising that, if a Labor Government were to be elected next March, we “will not build permanent structures on Helen Mayo [Park]. We will protect the trees and the beautiful walking and cycling paths. Nor will a Malinauskas Labor Government build a $662 million basketball stadium. Nor will we build permanent structures on Pinky Flat, on Elder Park, or on the River Torrens itself.”

The pledge by Labor throws a spotlight on the City Council, which in September took the politically-controversial step of offering to collaborate with the Liberal State Government in its push to confiscate Open Green Public Park Lands. The Council resolved on 14 September to form a “working group” with the State Government “to inform the delivery of the proposed major projects in the Riverbank Precinct to achieve maximum community benefit.”

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor was an apology for the rally, although Councillor Phillip Martin spoke about the Council decision of 14 September.

Neither Premier Steven Marshall nor any member of his Government was available to speak in support of the Government’s plans.

Here is The Advertiser’s report of the rally, published on 18 October.

You may have seen the Premier’s comment that a stadium on Park Lands was justified partly on the basis that the proposed site in Helen Mayo Park was “degraded”. We immediately hit back at that excuse with this pithy 51-second video on social media.

Read more about:

• the stadium threat

• the broader re-zoning threat.

State Government consultation on the proposed re-zoning of 70 hectares of riverbank Park Lands ends on 27 October.