by Shane Sody
Despite launching six attacks this year on your Adelaide Park Lands, the State Labor Government has honoured one of its pre-election promises - to reverse the former Liberal Government's "entertainment" zoning of Helen Mayo Park.
In January 2022, the former Liberal State Government re-zoned most of Helen Mayo Park in Park 27 to make it an "Entertainment" zone.
This was done to permit the construction of a $662 million, 15-thousand seat stadium on your Park - the so-called Riverbank Arena.
The former Liberal State Government’s plans for your Helen Mayo Park
APA campaigned during 2021 to ‘Save Helen Mayo Park’ and SA Labor campaigned during the State election in 2022, on the basis that not only would it scrap the proposed Riverbank Arena, but it would also reverse that zoning decision.
Labor’s promise was to return the zoning of Helen Mayo Park to Park Lands (Open Space).
After an Inquiry by Parliament's Environment resources and Development Committee, that has now occurred.
UPDATE 7 DECEMBER 2022: The Threat Remains
The riverbank area outlined by the yellow dotted line has now reverted to Park Lands (Open Space) zoning. The area further north-west, outlined in red, was not affected by the re-zoning. It remained and still remains zoned as Park Lands.
There are still areas of Park 27 adjacent to Helen Mayo Park that are not 'Open Green Public'.
This works compound, controlled by the City Council was not affected by the re-zoning, and is still off limits to the public.
The State Government says this is not part of Helen Mayo Park, but it’s still part of your Park 27. Controlled by the City Council it could be returned to you as Open, Green, Public Park Lands.
Nor is this State Government car park off Montefiore Road about to become 'Open, Green, Public' any time soon.
The State Government does not consider this area part of Helen Mayo Park either, but it’s still part of your Park 27 Controlled by the State Government, it could be returned to you as Open, Green, Public Park Lands.
These two areas within Park 27 will remain in focus, as sites for potential Park restoration.
Other sites elsewhere in your Park Lands, that were re-zoned in January 2022, have not been affected by the change to Helen Mayo Park.
Re-zoning of land in Park 11 to become an "Innovation" zone has provided the legal basis to construct a new eight-storey High School building, and
Re-zoning of Kate Cocks Park in Park 27 to become a "Health" zone has underpinned the State Government's plans for a new Women's and Children's Hospital.
But for now, the State Government has fulfilled this election promise to reverse one of the areas targeted by the previous Government's Park Lands re-zoning.
