Adelaide people are speaking up. A site in the inner north-western suburbs is firming as the people's favourite for a new Aquatic Centre.
Most respondents so far would choose a site just outside the Park Lands, close to public transport, in an inner north or north-west suburb, for the promised new Aquatic Centre.
Open-ended consultation, facilitated by the Adelaide Park Lands Association has most respondents critical of State Government plans to bulldoze dozens of trees for an $82 million Aquatic Centre.
The APA consultation is being conducted in parallel to the State Government's sham consultation.
Before the State election in March 2022, SA Labor cautiously promised only that a new Aquatic Centre might be “adjacent” to the current site; leaving open the possibility of a brownfields site in Medindie, Fitzroy, Bowden, Brompton, Ovingham or Hindmarsh. The party’s promise did not openly threaten Park Lands.
Now, the State Government is falsely pretending that your Adelaide Park Lands must be sacrificed yet again, as if there were no other options for a new Aquatic Centre. Any one of the Government’s three suggested Park Lands sites would require clearing dozens, if not hundreds of mature trees.
The Labor party did not make clear in its pre-election campaigning, that it had its sights set on removing dozens of mature trees from one of these three sites in Denise Norton Park / Pardipardinyilla (Park 2).
Respondents to APA's survey have other ideas. Most respondents prefer to have a new Aquatic Centre close to the CBD, and near public transport, but NOT on your Park Lands.
Almost 90% of respondents so far have expressed support for a win-win scenario:
Fewer than 6% supported siting the new Aquatic Centre on Park Lands
The survey will remain open until at least the end of July, longer than the State Government’s sham consultation that ends on 10 July. You can have your say here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KGZ7FKT
We will provide all responses to the State Government for their consideration.
Image: Shutterstock
Not everyone who’s responded to our survey was content to simply tick a box. Here are some of the “other comments” we received by 3pm on Thursday 30 June.
“Vacant land at Corner of Churchill & Regency Rds, Prospect”
“Not on parkland. Find some unused buildings and knock them down.”
“A brown site... not on any of our Parklands. We are demolishing buildings and building apartment blocks...do that...repurpose an old carpark...but stay out of our parklands”
“A suburb where the project would have a role in regeneration”
“Any viable inner suburban sites particularly if not at expense of parklands”
“inner north, inner north-east, inner north-west and CBD would all be good as they are close to the original”
“Anywhere that isn’t a park”
“I think that the largest population growth areas need to be examined as to where the new aquatic centre goes”
“Anywhere within approx 10 mins of CBD would be fine. What about old west end site or old lecornu”
“I don’t mind where as I believe people will drive to it. I think within 15 minutes of the CBD is important. We need trees and open space for so many reasons and it is a TRUE asset to Adelaide”
“It would be nice if the new pool were built near public transport. As youngsters we caught the train to the city to enjoy the City baths. Others caught the tram or bus. It would be brilliant if all forms of public transport could access the new pool. Maybe the old gas works at Bowden/Brompton would be suitable.”
“The old women's and children's hospital site when it moves (hopefully not on the parklands)”
“Any where significant trees arent removed”
“Over the railyards west of the Morphett Street bridge with parking underneath”
“The west end brewery site”
“West End Brewery site”
“Anywhere that is within reasonable distance of the city but NOT on parklands!! There are brownfield sites that would be quite appropriate.”
“Inner northwest or inner north not on any parklands”
“ANY of these other than the PARKLANDS”
“Metrics would drive this.”
“No idea. Not in The Parklands.”
“Anywhere convenient to potential users that’s already vacant and free of mature trees or heritage buildings”
“I believe a revamped site between Richmond and the old West End Brewery would be more beneficial to locals, with easy transport access, modern parking and a revitalised residentail area”
“Somewhere where trees won’t be lost !!!!!!!!!!!! “
“The ex-Coke and WestEnd Brewery site”
“within 5km radius of the city, incl within the CBD, MUST have good public transport links (eg tram, train)”
“Keep it where it is. Maintain what works and fix up what doesn't. It's a waste of resources to build totally afresh.”
“Car park next to The Watson in Walkerville”
“The suburb where there are the most children”
“Must be accessible by public transport. Bus tram or train.”
“Acquire the land of the big green shed at mile end - close to other sporting facilities alternatively go to Gepps Cross by the velodrome.”
“Northern suburbs are not well served with public pools and have fewer back-yard pools. They deserve a good public swimming pool.”
“We should let user group demographics determine appropriate location”
“Pooraka, at State Sports Centre land on Grand Junction Road.”
“No preference.”
“Western Beaches area around West Lakes”
“This is really tough, whilst there is merit in an Aquatic centre and recreation facility I am unsure where it should be built. However, it should not be built on the parklands, No way. I am sure there are other possible sites similar to the one built at Marion.”
