The City of Adelaide wants your feedback on its proposed budget priorities for 2023-24.

There’s a lot to like about the Council’s proposed budget; but there’s also two serious Park Lands omissions - which you can rectify with a single response by Sunday 18 June. (See below, under the heading “What Can You Do?”)

The City Council’s draft budget and business plan for the coming financial year is a large document (PDF, 80 pages, 8 Mb) but we’ve read it thoroughly, so you don’t have to.

The proposed budget includes large headline figures, including

• $12m+ for "Climate change initiatives and Park Lands Greening and biodiversity"

• $6m+ for project construction and improvements to the Park Lands including:

  • Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16)

  • Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27) and

  • Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14).

Apart from maintaining general Park Lands gardening and maintenance, with a budget allocation of $820k, specific changes in this 2023-24 draft budget include:

• A phased return of charges for using your Park Lands for outdoor dining and commercial events. This has already proved controversial. Promoters of two Fringe Festival venues, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, and Gluttony are threatening not to return in 2024 unless Council reduces its proposed new level of fees. (The Advertiser 14 June 2023 - $$ subscriber-only link).

• Kaurna heritage and voice and cultural mapping of the Park Lands ($75k)

Under the headings of "Strategic Projects" and "Major Projects" there are several significant Park Lands budget allocations including:

• Park Lands Biodiversity Survey ($150k); and

• Park Lands Greening ($30k)

• Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) Master Plan implementation ($50k)

• Detailed design of "improvements" to Carriageway Park / Tuthangga (Park 17) ($180k)

• Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14)

  • Continuing "lake upgrade" in ($3.57 million, following on from $1.3 million in the current financial year) with another $1 million for a “sustainable water supply” in that park.

  • Lighting upgrades ($300k)

• Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27)

  • Completing the shared path lighting, retaining wall and footpath Upgrade ($70k)

  • A new public art installation: Place of Courage / Spirit of Woman in Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27)($100k)

• Bullrush Park / Warnpangga (Park 10)

  • Public Lighting Upgrade ($190k)

PARK LANDS generally:

• Installing Park Lands "furniture" including benches, picnic tables and bicycle racks ($80k)

One item that is sure to be controversial is a draft budget allocation of $1.9 million for construction of a "community sports building" in Mary Lee Park (Park 27B), which is home to the West Adelaide Soccer Club. There is not yet any information about the design, size, or public accessibility of the proposed building.

However the document is notable for two serious omissions. Nowhere in the Council’s draft budget or strategic priorities are there commitments to restoring degraded parts of your Park Lands, nor the much-anticipated Adelaide Recreation Circuit.

Restoration

There is an amount of $30,000 listed for “Park Lands Greening” although no site is suggested.

There is no specific commitment to restore degraded or neglected parts of the Adelaide Park Lands such as Helen Mayo Park.

Allocating funds to restore this Park would be consistent with what is supposed to be a “Key Focus Area” for the “City Shaping Portfolio” i.e. “Park Lands Greening”.

Adelaide Recreation Circuit

The proposed Adelaide Recreation Circuit would be a world-unique unbroken and illuminated shared-use path, for running, walking or cycling a complete circuit of the City through your Open Green Public Park Lands. The key concept is to use bridges and/or underpasses to cross roads and train lines, connecting all parts of the Park Lands seamlessly and safely.

The concept has very wide community support, including among the city’s business community, and sporting groups.

Developing plans for the Adelaide Recreation Circuit would be consistent with the Council's "City Culture" program to provide opportunities for creativity, recreation, and wellbeing".

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You can respond to the City Council’s budget consultation by email, or on paper.

Email:   StrategicPlan@cityofadelaide.com.au

Clicking on this email link will open an already-drafted email, which you can choose to amend (if you wish) before sending.

On paper:   Posted to:

Community Consultation
Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023-2024
GPO Box 2252
Adelaide SA 5001

or delivered to the City of Adelaide Customer Centre, 25 Pirie Street, or to any City Council library or community centres, during business hours.  Submissions close midnight Sunday 18 June 2023.

Click here to see a short, plain text response which you can copy and paste into a letter, or email, if you wish.

Read more about the City Council’s draft Business Plan and Budget here:

https://yoursay.cityofadelaide.com.au/draft-2023-2024-business-plan-and-budget