City of Adelaide - Central Ward
Supplementary election
The City Council has a big influence on what happens IN the Park Lands and TO the Park Lands. There was a vacancy on the City Council early in 2020 due to the resignation, earlier that year, of former Councillor Houssam Abiad.
Eight candidates nominated to fill the vacancy in Central Ward. The Electoral Commission published a “candidate statement” supplied by each of the candidates.
APPA invited each of the eight candidates to respond to our questions about the Park Lands. Five of the eight candidates did not respond. One (Nathan Paine) gave us a “Park Lands Policy Statement” that did not address our questions. Before volting commenced, we reproduced all responses on this page.
At our Annual General Meeting on Sunday 26 April 2020, APPA members voted to support Greg Mackie as the standout candidate, based based not only on his support for and proposed initiatives on Park Lands issues (such as creation of an Adelaide Park Lands Trust) but on looking more broadly at his 40 year track record as:
a previous member of the Council;
a city business operator;
CEO of the History Trust;
Founder of the Adelaide Festival of Ideas; and
a high-level State Government administrator."
Our AGM recommended a second preference to Malwina Wyra.
We will never know whether the activity of our supporters was the decisive factor, but Greg Mackie was elected.
https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2020/05/13/greg-mackie-elected-as-new-central-ward-councillor/
His election to the Central Ward will alter the balance of power in the City Council, diluting the dominance of the conservative, so-called "Team Adelaide" faction.
Here are the full responses we received from each candidate, to our survey:
What future land uses would you support within the park lands? (e.g. informal recreation, amateur sport, professional sport, cultural festivals, institutional, educational, tourism?)
Against a criteria of public interest and design excellence, I would only consider the replacement or enhancement of existing permanent built form for open public access or community not-for-profit cultural and recreational purposes. Where existing sites have been abandoned or poorly maintained by their lessees, I would consider their simpatico repurposing, with leases to be managed by the City of Adelaide. For temporary or ephemeral cultural purposes (arts, entertainment, sporting, recreation) I support the temporary hire of sites designated as suitable for purpose within the Adelaide Park Lands - eg, during festivals, special events - both community and for-profit, where ‘venue hire’ fees are to be paid, and reasonable site rehabilitation expenses are to be recouped.
The Park Lands are already used for many of the above. I’m particularly supportive of recreational/passive use. Continuing public access for events and activities is essential. I also support passive recreation uses of the Park Lands, as well as community events and forums, and use for growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs accessible to the public.
2) What kind of new buildings would you support within the Park Lands? (e.g.clubrooms. kiosk, swimming pool etc)
Our Park Lands are a gift from generation to generation, taken from First Nations Australian at the time of settlement - they are intended to be enjoyed and to be cherished by future generations. They are not a green-fields ‘land bank’ to be exploited for private gain.
The Adelaide Park Lands are home to many man-made structures - from bridges to public toilets, from sporting club change-rooms, to the Torrens Weir, from restaurants and kiosks to a works depot. The entire Torrens Boating lake is a man-made structure originally designed to foster water sports such as rowing, boat racing and water skiing. And the Institutional zone is home to the old Adelaide Gaol and Police Barracks, North Adelaide Golf Club, National Wine Centre, the Adelaide Botanic Garden, the beautiful Botanic Park, the Adelaide Zoo, the West Terrace Cemetery, bituminised netball and tennis courts, Adelaide High School and the new Botanic High School. The Park Lands institutional precinct is home to two public universities, our major North Terrace Collecting institutions, The Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide Railway Station, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval, Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, Next Generation, a major international hotel, Adelaide Casino and the Riverside Building, SAHMRI, and the Royal Adelaide Hospital. It will soon be home to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. We have croquet and lawn bowls clubs, touch football, soccer and hockey greens. And more.
No-one can say that the Park Lands are dead lands There are many leaseholders and existing small-scale commercial operators who occupy buildings on our Park Lands, under the management of the City of Adelaide.
Just because the ‘horse has well and truly bolted’ does not give carte blanche for future council administrations or governments to allow the endless encroachment of new buildings on designated Park Land.
Over the generations, public uses and amenities rise and fall in popular favour. These sites must either be re-purposed for new community amenity or be removed, so that the area can be returned to open cultivated Park Land.
I’m not supportive of new buildings on the Park Lands. I would only consider new proposals if the existing footprint on the Park Lands is not increased. Any construction on the Park Lands should be contained within the existing footprint. The permeability of the buildings and the ease of public access should be considered, and whether whatever is being build is for community use and benefit rather than for private profit.
3) What kind of new private commercial developments would you support in the Park Lands, if at all? (e.g. hotel, gymnasium, office building, residential, retail, innovation hub?)
None - private commercial developments belong where Torrens Title can be granted i.e. - within the four Terraces and North Adelaide - not on our Park Lands.
I don’t support private commercial developments on the Park Lands at all. They are a public good and must remain that way.
4) Do you support removing the Adelaide Park Lands from Council’s unsolicited bids process?
Yes I do - The Adelaide Park Lands are not a land bank for future development. The encroachment of commercial development on our Park Lands undermines the market value that is the CBD land economy and therefore reduces the value of commercial land assets ‘inside the Terraces’. Offices, hotels and residential developments belong inside the Terraces. By all means, private capital can and does profit from the overlook vistas - but from inside the city and North Adelaide’s terraces. This is the certainty that both community and private property developers need - and deserve.
Yes. Public space should not be available to private bidders.
5) Do you support World Heritage listing of the Adelaide Park Lands?
Yes - absolutely. But significant areas of The Adelaide Park Lands, in their current state, would not reflect well upon our case for listing.
Yes. We are uniquely lucky to have public Park Lands surrounding our city, and they should be protected and recognised for their public and historical value.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
Park Lands “Policy Statement”
Protecting Our Park Lands
Adelaide’s Park Lands are the jewel in our city – an asset to our city, our health and wellbeing, our community and the state as a whole.
They are the lungs of our city, providing a place to meet and recreate, they also define the outer limit of what we define as the city proper.
But our Park Lands are under attack by proposals for new stand-alone commercial office towers and residential and hotel developments.
Developments that by their very nature suck the life and vibrancy out of the city. This cannot be allowed to continue.
We must act now to protect the Park Lands through the prohibition of these types of developments.
It is time that we all stand as one to protect this community asset.
Policy Initiative #1
I advocate the City of Adelaide and SA Government, through the Department of Environment and Water (DEW) develop and implement a dynamic “Adelaide Park Lands 2050” plan - a 30-year plan for the enhanced landscaping and place-making of currently degraded and undermaintained areas. An exemplar of what resource-appropriate landscape design excellence can achieve in our Park Lands is to be found at Pityarilla/Park 19. Many other areas of our Park Lands leave much to be desired.
Adelaide’s Park Lands must become an even more valued and beloved environmental and community asset, contributing further to city-state pride. Community groups and school groups, including parents and grandparents, would be encouraged to ‘adopt a Park’ and play their part in the evolution of a cultural landscape. The management of weeds and feral animals must become an even greater priority.
Policy Initiative #2
I propose that we establish an Adelaide Park Lands Trust - attracting private and corporate philanthropy - as well as the the contributions of adjoining local government areas to play a part in the resourcing of landscape enhancement programs, always on the basis that full public ownership is maintained. Trusted and respected elders - both First Nations and other citizen experts would steward this public gifting program to target blighted areas of our Park Lands to crate an enhanced legacy for posterity.
