by Shane Sody

Fresh from ignoring your views about the location of a new $135 million megalith Aquatic Centre, Kadaltilla/ Adelaide Park Lands Authority nevertheless says it wants to hear your views about the future of the Adelaide Park Lands.

A toothless kitten

Despite its name, Kadaltilla / the Adelaide Park Lands Authority has no authority. It is merely an advisory body, advising both the City Council and the State Government on how to manage your Park Lands.

It’s chaired by the Lord Mayor, and has four members appointed by the Council, and five members appointed by the State Government. One of the State Government appointees is nominated by the Adelaide Park Lands Association.

Kadaltilla produces a five-year Strategic Management Plan, which is supposed to guide what happens in your Park Lands. However this Plan is regularly ignored or over-ridden by the State Government.

Therefore, the Authority has been likened not to a toothless tiger, but a toothless kitten.

What’s it doing now?

Despite its impotence, the Authority is required by its Charter to hold an “annual community forum”. Its ten members are encouraged to attend and use the annual forum to meet members of the public and discuss what Kadaltilla is doing.

This year, Kadaltilla / Adelaide Park Lands Authority is conducting not merely one, but four pop-up sessions; in different locations: at the following times:

• Tuesday, September 12, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Adelaide Central Market

• Sunday, September 17, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Mary Lee Park (Park 27B)

• Sunday, October 8, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16)

• Thursday, October 19, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Pelzer Park / Pityarilla (Park 19)

Read more at the Kadaltilla website.