If you Love Your Park Lands, like we do, you might occasionally hear criticism from people who have latched onto a Park Lands myth.
In this article, we’re MYTH-BUSTING the claim that you can’t call the sites of old buildings “Park Lands” any more.
People who have pushed this myth have argued, for instance, that the old RAH site (now re-named as “Lot Fourteen”) could not have been restored to Open, Green, Public Park Lands because it was lost to Park 11 of your Park Lands in the mid-1800’s.
Sites like this should not be classed as Park Lands (so they would say) because it has been so long since they were Parks.
Image: Shutterstock
FACTS
This fiction is really saying that once a Park Lands site stops being “Open Green Public” it should never be returned to that status. However that is illogical. When an old building on Park Lands is no longer needed then the site can be, and should be returned to Park Lands.
Section 23 of the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 requires that in these circumstances, a report on possible restoration must be produced and tabled in State Parliament.
A great example of achieving restoration is the former SA Water Depot which stood on Park 25 for 130 years - eventually being returned to Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands in 2012.
The site of the former SA Water depot which occupied the western part of Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25) for 130 years: now the Narnungga Urban Forest
The same thing can be said about areas of your Park Lands that might be described as “degraded”. For example, Rymill Park /Murlawirrapurka was blighted for decades with a Council rubbish dump.
Site of former rubbish dump off Bartels Road, long before Park 14 was named Rymill Park
When the new Royal Adelaide Hospital was opened in 2017, the old RAH site (the-so-called “Lot Fourteen”) could have been returned to Open Green Public Space, just as the former SA Water depot was returned to the public in 2012.
The so-called “Lot Fourteen” part of Park 11 in your Adelaide Park Lands.
It is not only possible, but the only appropriate thing to do with land which is recognised in law as Park Lands.
See the other Park Lands Myth Busters https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/myth-busters
