Suppose you are carrying a wad of cash, and you're confronted by an armed robber. The robber demands all of your money, but after a period of haggling, the robber reduces his demand, and takes only half your cash. Would you consider that a "win"?
Image: Shutterstock
This is effectively what has just happened with the State Government and your Park Lands.
In September 2021, the State Government proposed a re-zoning that would have allowed developers lose over 70 hectares of your riverbank Open Green Public Park Lands, with buildings of up to 20 storeys.
The State Government proposal of September 2021. All areas shaded blue and green were earmarked for future development.
Now, the Government has cut back its land demand by about half.
It’s determined that re-zoning will apply to about 35 hectares, rather than 70.
On those 35 hectares new buildings will be permitted to be no more than six storeys, rather than 20 storeys.
Does that seem like a Park Lands win?
The decision made by Minister Josh Teague on 17 December 2021. Areas shaded blue will be re-zoned and eventually lost to Park Lands.
This decision effectively defies you, the public.
In the space of six weeks, up until late October 2021, the people of South Australia delivered an unmistakeable message to the State Government and the bureaucrats in Planning SA.
“Engaging” on its intended Park Lands re-zoning, the Government received 661 written submissions including many from organisations representing hundreds or thousands of members.
Planning SA has produced a massive “engagement report” running to 1,182 pages. You can read it here (PDF 39 Mb).
But here is the most important feature of the report:
577 submissions (87%) objected to new development on Park Lands generally
There were 54 comments characterised as "neutral" or with alternative suggestions (8%)
And there were just 12 submissions (only 2%) in support of the re-zoning proposals generally.
Support for the Premier's proposed stadium (that would destroy Helen Mayo Park) was even lower, with only five comments backing the stadium (fewer than 1% of submissions received).
Yet in the face of this overwhelming support for Open Green Public Park Lands, Planning Minister Josh Teague nevertheless decided on 17 December 2021 to press ahead with re-zoning of massive areas of Park Lands.
The Minister admits that the primary purpose of the re-zoning is to “support the delivery of public assets, such as the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital and [multi-storey] car park and the Adelaide Riverbank Arena.”
Despite this acknowledgement, he has been trying to spin this decision as somehow “protecting” the Park Lands.
The reality is that he has given the go-ahead to the destruction of Helen Mayo Park and the removal of hundreds of mature trees to make way for the Premier's proposed 15,000-seat stadium, and associated “Entertainment zone.”
Minister Josh Teague and a stand of River Red Gums among the hundreds of mature trees at risk in what he’s declared will be an “Entertainment Zone”
The Minister was unable to accommodate our request for an urgent meeting before he made his fateful decision on 17 December.
APA has been offered the opportunity to meet Minister Teague late in January and will be hoping to persuade him that there are many votes to be won throughout Adelaide (even at this late stage) by turning around this disastrous course. He still has an opportunity to show that he really does Love Your Park Lands.
You can add your voice to this ongoing campaign by contacting Minister Teague diectly: attorneygeneral@sa.gov.au
And, if you haven’t already done so, please add your name to the more than 3,200 others who’ve signed our petition to the Premier to Save Helen Mayo Park
Author Jon Bridgland has produced his own analysis of the politics and the spin involved in this saga.
Read his opinion piece here: (PDF, 4 pages, 17 Mb)
