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e-Gazette No. 014 -   May, 2016.    If this email doesn't look right, then:
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In this e-Gazette....

 

7-STOREY BUILDING FOR FROME PARK: NO PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWED

Changes to the Park Lands Development Plan, made by Minister John Rau last September, mean that there will be no public comments invited (nor will any public comment even be considered) when the Government proposes a seven-storey tower next to this, the Reid building in Frome Park.

Even while it is currently vandalising Rymill Park and Rundle Park, the State Government is planning its next Park Lands assault.  Plans being drawn up for the Education Minister were revealed last Tuesday to the Adelaide Park Lands Authority.

They were leaked immediately to InDaily:
http://indaily.com.au/news/2016/05/11/revealed-second-building-planned-for-new-city-high-school/

There are many schools in the CBD and near the CBD. For example, Wilderness, St Aloysius, CBC, Pulteney Grammar, Annesley, Prince Alfred, St Peters.   (Not to mention those that are built on former Park Lands, e.g. Adelaide High and Adelaide University). 

APPA's glad that students from these schools enjoy their Park Lands surrounds and often play sport on the Park Lands.  If there is to be another Government high school, there is no reason why it can't be located actually in or near to the CBD without needing to take away yet more of our precious Park Lands.

APPA will be taking up this issue with the Government and urging an alternative location.
Please join us, and take action!
 

RYMILL PARK NEVER HAD A CHANCE

For most of us, the development and planning system sets the rules, and whatever we want to build has to fit within the rules.  For the Government, their pet projects force the changing of the rules.

Documents obtained with a Freedom of Information request by Greens MLC (and APPA member) the Hon Mark Parnell reveal that the fate of Rymill Park was sealed long before "public consultation" on the project began.

Changes to the Park Lands Zone Development Plan made last September were made because the Government had already decided early in 2015, that it wanted to push the O-Bahn through Rymill Park.

Advice to the Minister for Planning, John Rau, from his own Department shows clearly that proposed changes to zoning were recommended to "achieve the timely delivery" of the O-Bahn project. 

The document show that in early 2015, as community debate ranged over what was being planned for Rymill Park and beyond, the Government never considered any option other than opening up the entire eastern Park Lands for future non-complying "infrastructure"  development. 

In fact the Minister was advised by two senior DPTI bureacurats on 1 May 2015 that to achieve the desired O-Bahn outcome "it is considered that there are no alternative policy options" toopening up thbe entirety of the Park Lands for "infrastructure".  The Minister promptly approved the department's recommendations.  What followed (including 168 public submissions in July 2015 (opposing the change) was virtually inevitable.

The released documents have censored entirely what the Department advised the Minister about those 168 public submissions.

If that makes you disappointed, angry or upset, then take action!
 

JAY WEATHERILL's RESPONSE - INSULTS ADDED TO INJURY

In the final few weeks before the destruction of Rymill Park began in early April, the Premier was besieged with hundreds of letters urging him to step in to 'Save Rymill Park'.

The Premier ignored those letters until it was far too late.   Only after all the trees were felled and the earthmovers had moved in, did the Premier make the response below.   The same response went to all the letter writers.

The Premier's letter includes the same disinformation and weasel words that his Ministers were spreading over the previous 12 months. For the record his claim that the O-Bahn proposal will increase Park Lands by 3,000 square metres is false. There is an area on the corner of Rundle Rd and Dequetteville Tce that could have been returned to Rymill Park at any time. It did not require construction of an O-Bahn trench through Rymill Park to do so. The two are unrelated, except in Ministers' minds. The claim of a benefit-cost ratio of 1.6 is meaningless. It's just a number dreamed up by DPTI bureaucrats which totally omits the cost of environmental destruction. As far as "minimising the effect on Rymill Park and significant trees" you can see for yourself, from the photos here and on APPA's web site, how much you can believe that assertion. The reply is insulting and fails to acknowledge any legitimate environmental and heritage concerns about what the Government has now done.

If this makes you disappointed, angry or upset, then take action!

 A  TRAM THROUGH BONYTHON PARK?

It might be just media speculation, but to our knowledge the Government has not ruled out the idea of running a tram line through Bonython Park from the Entertainment Centre to Adelaide Oval and onto the King William Rd bridge.

The Federal Budget handed down on 3 May included funding for a project that has long been on the drawing boards: the Torrens Junction Rail grade separation.  The necessity for freight trains to cross commuter train tracks leads to frequent massive traffic disruptions at railway crossings at Hawker Steet Brompton and Torrens Rd Ovingham.

From the artist's impression above, it appears that design of the project has changed.  Rather than building an intrusive flyover in the Park Lands (as previously envisaged) it seems that the Port Adelaide commuter line will be lowered as far as Brompton.   Hopefully, this can be done without increasing the impact on Bonython Park.  Given the Government's recent poor record with Park Lands, we will reserve our judgment until more details emerge,  But the picture seems to suggest an outcome that will certainly help motorists without materially affecting the size of the existing rail footprint on Bonython Park.

Read more here, especially the speculation about a possible tram line:
http://indaily.com.au/news/2016/05/06/238m-parklands-rail-fix-raises-tram-questions/

INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

APPA is planning to reach-out to like-minded people, associations and local governments overseas who share our interest in urban Park Lands and the important role they play in city life.

We think there's a lot to be gained through sharing thinking, offering each other mutual support and sharing selected initiatives to help preserve and extend the precious “green lungs” of our cities worldwide.

The initiative will also help bring national and international media coverage on positive and negative developments in the Adelaide Park Lands – in turn creating incentives for State and Federal Governments, Local Councils and our representatives on them “to do the right thing”.

Interested? If so, perhaps you have international contacts through family or work, belong to one of the many international Clubs and Societies in Adelaide, or are an international student? Do you know of like-minded individuals, opinion-formers and associations overseas?
The legacy of Colonel Light’s father:  Botanic Gardens, Penang, Malaysia  (with acknowledgements to Penang Tourism)

Ideas put forward so far for activities to consider include:
  • International networking via e-mail and targeted letters, helping identify interested people and organisations overseas - and maybe interstate within Australia too;
  • Meeting visiting delegations from overseas when they are in Adelaide (showing APPA’s videos, sharing our experience with successful APPA initiatives like the Park Lands Art Prize and showcasing the beauty and diversity the Park Lands);
  • Using members’ visits overseas, on holiday, family visits or for work, to meet key contacts informally, and share ideas and experiences;
  • Collaboration through the World Urban Parks organisation, including coordinating events with “World Parks Day”;
  • Linking up with all or some of Adelaide’s “Sister Cities” (Austin, USA; Christchurch, New Zealand; George Town, Penang, Malaysia; Himeji, Japan; Qingdao, PRC) and also selected “green cities” like Singapore – or those undertaking park-related initiatives like Seoul;
  • Learning from successful initiatives like New Zealand’s “Wellington Parks Week” (and other similar initiatives), emulating some of them - and perhaps carrying out joint activities coordinated across several cities;
  • Drawing in schools and teachers as well as youth organisations and leaders in Adelaide (already well connected internationally through social media), as a working example to encourage a widening international outlook.
Old freeway – new Park Lands: Cheonggyecheon, Republic of Korea
(with acknowledgements to Reuters)
If you are interested in participating in any way in this initiative, (or just offering your ideas and contacts), please get in touch with Mike Seager or Walter Dollman of APPA, via secretary@adelaide-parklands.asn.au. We’d really welcome hearing from you!

PARK LANDS ART EXHIBITION - 'PEOPLE'S PRIZE' ANNOUNCED SATURDAY

Don't leave it too late to visit the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize Exhibition.

The exhibition is open Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm at the Art Space Gallery at the Festival Centre.

59 art works (from 53 artists) are on display, and are all up for sale (except the ones that already have a 'red dot, indicating they've already sold!)

The People's Choice Award (for the most popular piece in the exhibition will be named on Saturday 21 May, one week before the exhibition closes on Saturday 28 May at 4pm.

For more information about the competition and the exhibition, visit www.parklandsart.com

The two finalists above are:
  • "At the Edge of the Park" by Stefan Twaine-Wood; and
  • "Regeneration" by Helen Sheriff  (painted on a large round tabletop!)

PARK LANDS WORKS UPDATES

Adelaide City Council is undertaking significant new work in Tidlangga (Park 9) and Kangatilla (Park 4).  Refer to the map above for the location of these Parks.

In Tidlangga, work is getting under way on a new children's  "playspace", adding to the existing recreation facilities in the Park to form a new community activity hub.  These works will include new seating, grassed areas and shading.
The landscaping associated with the new children’s playspace will also incorporate a pocket orchard.   The area has been fenced and pegged.  This work is scheduled to be completed by late August 2016, weather permitting
In Kangatilla (Park 4) the Council has commenced building a shared-use walking and cycling path between O'Connell Street and Lefevre Rd forming part of the Council’s walking and cycling network
The new path is shown in yellow above
...and currently under construction.  (Photo taken on 14 May.)

DISMANTLING CAR RACE:  MINISTER SAYS 'TAKE YOUR TIME'

In the e-Gazette last month, we queried how long it takes to have Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16) cleared of all the paraphernalia associated with the annual four-day Motor Racing event.

The City Council has kindly pointed out that the matter is entirely out of their hands.   Every year, the Minister for Tourism (currently Leon Bignell) has the legal power to determine how long it's going to take.

He simply puts a "declaration" into the Government Gazette and that's that.  The most recent "prescribed works period" was from 25 November 2015 to last Friday May 13th; just under six months.  

Before making this "declaration" the Minister must "consult" with:
  • the South Australian Tourism Commission;
  • the Adelaide Park Lands Authority;
  • "any relevant council"; and
  • the Minister for the City of Adelaide (currently John Rau)
Even after these consultations, the Minister can decide whatever he wants and can change his mind any number of times later if he wants to.

If you think this is less than satisfactory, then take action!

AN AUDIT OF CAR PARKING

The Adelaide Park Lands Authority has agreed to drop its apparent earlier suggestions that thousands of extra car parks be created in the Park Lands.

In a meeting last Tuesday, APPA vice-president, Emeritus Professor Damien Mugavin (a member of the Authority) successfully moved a number of amendments to the Draft Park Lands Management Strategy 2015-2025.

To the delight of the audience of mainly Park Lands supporters, Mr Mugavin managed to persuade a majority of his fellow Authority members to back changes to the Strategy that would:
  • remove priority for car parking as an essential feature of new so-called large "hubs" in the Park Lands; and
  • limit the scope of "multi-purpose" buildings to reduce their potential as de facto commercial function centres. 
The key change was a new definition of "multi-purpose building" which is now intended to mean:

"...a building designed to support a variety of formal sports and informal community and recreation through provision of an appropriate publicly accessible amenities and limited meeting space."

However, there were some obvious other improvements to the Strategy which were not adopted.  Although the Royal Adelaide Show has agreed to work towards ending the annual public car parking on Park 21W, the Park Lands Authority was not willing to plan for that, even over a 10-year period.

In addition one of the Strategy's key initiative is new 'shared spaces' which seems sensible, except for the fact that people will be competing with parked cars for these shared spaces.  Mr Mugavin unfortunately failed in his push to exclude "car parking" from the "shared space" concept.

The meeting was informed that regardless of what happens to the Management Strategy, there is to be an audit of car parking in and around the Park Lands.
A section of Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27).  There are at least 6,000 car parking spaces in the Park Lands, the meeting was told.  But there may be many more than that.  It seems that no-one has ever counted them.
The Park Lands Strategy still faces major hurdles.  It is to be presented for endorsement to a future meeting of the full Adelaide City Council, as well as to the Minister for the City of Adelaide (John Rau) and to Parliament.

TELEMARKETING FALLS FLAT

Your APPA secretary, Shane Sody (an alumnus of the University of Adelaide) received a tele-marketing phone call recently from the University.  The caller was spruiking the opportunity for personal recognition as a donor on a "Donor Wall' of the Uni's new Health and Medical Sciences Building that is nearing completion on North Terrace.

Mr Sody politely declined, pointing out that the building in question was being erected on alienated Park Lands, and he wished that the University had considered an alternate site more respecting of Adelaide's unique heritage.

The tele-marketer sheepishly admitted that other people had made similar responses.  We can only hope that a growing number of Adelaide Uni's graduates are aware of the inter-generational issue of Park Lands loss.
 

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Recent highlights
From the top:
a)  Torrens linear path, Warnpangga (Park 10)
b)  West Terrace cemetery, Wirraninthi (Park 23)
c)  "Memorial to the Forgotten Australians & Wards of the State", Karrawirra (Park 12)
d)  Palmer Gardens / Pangki Pangki (Park 28) Palmer Place, North Adelaide
e)  Marshmallow playground, Pityarilla (Park 19) off Glen Osmond Rd

The Park Lands 'photo of the day' series has been running for almost two years  (commenced 18 May 2014) and the collection of Park Lands photos now numbers more than 700.  We maintain (and gradually grow) 37 separate albums for each one of our 30 Parks, six squares (and one album for 'Alienations').   To browse the photos follow the link below to 'Our photos on Flickr'.
 
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