You wouldn’t buy a car from a car thief, but in desperation, APPA is giving you a chance to buy part of a Park from the Park thieves.
The South Australian Government is pursuing the holy dollar – trying to sell off to developers the land that used to be Park Lands around the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.
This is land that Government Ministers previously promised would NOT be sold, and would be returned to Park Lands.
Simply pledge some money – anything you can – to help us put in a bid with Renewal SA for this land. We’re aiming for $7 million. If we are successful in bidding for the land, we will keep the heritage-listed buildings on the site, but return the rest to Park Lands, including a large slab to the Botanic Gardens.
This is an ‘all-or-nothing” fund-raising campaign. If the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association, Inc can’t raise $7 million, and we are not the winning bidder for the old RAH site, then you won’t need to part with any cash. Anything you pledge will not be debited.
We realise that reaching our target is extremely unlikely. However if we can raise enough in pledges, then you will go down in history as one of the heroes who saved Park Lands from the Park thieves of the early 21st century.
APPA will ensure that your name is inscribed on one of the heritage buildings that will remain on the old RAH site.
Put your money where your Parks are! How much will you bid to protect our world-unique Adelaide Park Lands from developers?
In last month's e-Gazette, we reported our written challenge to Minister Hunter over his apparent non-compliance with Section 23 of the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005.
The law requires the Minister to order a report on returning the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site to Park Lands
APPA imagines that a bureaucrat in the Minister's office is having trouble drafting a suitable reply for the Minister's signature. We will be fascinated to eventually read the excuse.
PARK LANDS RIVERBANK SOLD TO CASINO
In the latest insult to the Adelaide Park Lands, the State Government is refusing to even tell the public how much it will be paid by Sky CIty for selling this section of Festival Plaza Park Lands.
The Torrens Riverbank will be handed over almost in its entirety, to the cause of gambling, and other commercial interests with an 80-room hotel on what was once public land overlooking our River Torrens.
Gaming suites for "international VIP players" will be part of the expansion, along with 500 more poker machines and 110 extra gaming tables.
To lovers of the Adelaide Park Lands, it is priceless, and this sacrilege will be mourned for generations.
LIBERAL OPPOSITION WANTS MORE CONCRETE POURED OVER PARK LANDS
The State Liberal Opposition has called on the Government to cover this part of the Adelaide Park Lands - Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) - with tonnes of concrete.
The State Opposition claims this area, which it says is in "proximity to the Wayville train station, the tram and bike paths" is "particularly under-utilised" and therefore should be covered in concrete.
Yes, the Opposition wants a skate park on Wikaparntu Wirra.
Presumably the intention is to have the targeted area of Park Lands looking something like this:
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) is the home of 20 netball courts.
The courts are used by over 200 teams through the year with an estimated 188,000 people utilising the courts for school and amateur netball games. Hardly "under-utilised".
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) is the home of 20 netball courts.
The courts are used by over 200 teams through the year with an estimated 188,000 people utilising the courts for school and amateur netball games.
- See more at: http://www.adelaideparklands.com.au/parks-and-squares/wikaparntu-wirra-park-22#sthash.wBONyXfv.dpuf
APPA loves to see people using the Park Lands, especially for sport. But there are many sports that canh be enjoyed in the Park Lands, without destroying the very nature of the "park".
Football, soccer, cricket, lacrosse, archery, golf and other sports are played on grass, which is consistent with Park Lands. Grassed areas are suitable for many uses and public enjoyment.
Netball courts are hard surfaces which degrade the natural value of our Park Lands. But at least they are open spaces. A concrete skate park, however, is not even remotely consistent with Park Lands. Its construction would effectively destroy any Park Lands on which it was situated.
APPA would welcome construction of a skate park, anywhere other than on Park Lands.
We encourage the State Government and the Adelaide City Council to come up with alternative sites.
We also encourage the Liberal Opposition to respect the national heritage values of our world unique Park Lands and find a better venue.
Wikaparntu Wirra (Park 22) is the home of 20 netball courts.
The courts are used by over 200 teams through the year with an estimated 188,000 people utilising the courts for school and amateur netball games.
- See more at: http://www.adelaideparklands.com.au/parks-and-squares/wikaparntu-wirra-park-22#sthash.9XLfst7e.dpuf
'NATURAL BURIAL GROUND' TO ADJOIN WEST TERRACE CEMETERY?
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Recent changes to the law have allowed the creation of "natural burial grounds" as an alternative to traditional cemeteries.
The Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, as the operators of West Terrace Cemetery are investigating the possibility of creating a 'natural burial ground' immediately south of the existing cemetery.
This land is covered in bitumen, from the long-disused former netball courts. (see photo).
The concept is that burials would be "natural" i.e. with a minimum of burial paraphernalia and only a short distance below the earth surface in terms of the normal in earth internment with coffin etc. The graves would be unmarked but could have approved vegetation planted on top.
The 'natural burial ground' would be fenced although there would be unrestricted public access between sunrise and sunset, as there is for West Terrace cemetery.
Although there is no formal application, APPA has been asked to comment on the concept.
On the one hand, the proposal would certainly improve the current status of the land as pictured above. On the other hand, many APPA members would be reticent to endorse more fencing around parts of the Park Lands, even if gates were open during daylight hours.
We the community of APPA lost a true friend and Park Lands warrior in Brian Mitchell who died in his sleep last Sunday week the 8th of November.
He joined the APPA Committee in 2000 and then accepted the role of Secretary in 2001.
After several years as Secretary he was awarded Life Membership of the Association.
He continued in the role of Secretary until his failing health compelled him to step down, in 2013 although he continued as a Committee member in 2014.
He could at times be a bit of a curmudgeon to those of us who hadn’t toed the line, which included all of us at sometime or other, but we always knew it was because he cared so much for the proper and effective work of the Committee.
On another front Brian was an expert archivist and kept all our records under his control beautifully filed and noted. His last challenge to us and himself was to bring everything up to date as he realised that he had limited time at that particular helm.
The State Library has agreed to accept the archives into their keeping which pleased Brian and will stand with additions as a lasting memorial to his service to APPA.
His funeral will be held at Blackwell's, 290 Greenhill Rd, Glenside, at 10.30am this Saturday 21 November.
TOO MANY CORELLAS?
What, if anything, should be done about the huge flocks of these birds in the Adelaide Park Lands, and elsewhere?
Dr Annette Scanlon of Uni SA is leading a team trying to obtain information on community experiences with little corellas. An on-line survey has been set up and your help is sought to identify any problem sites and impacts of little corellas as well as any general observations or opinions you may have about these birds.
Project collaborators include a number of local governments. The information gathered in this survey will help the Department of Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) to a 'Little Corella Management Plan' for SA.
A flock of little corellas in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16).
Reference works on Australian birds usually state that these birds are found in Victoria, southern NSW and WA. However these works should be updated!
MONEY TALKS FOR PAMPERED PRINCES
Sunday Mail columnist Peter Goers recently lashed out at the 'Pampered Princes' of Prince Alfred College (and their corporate sponsors) over plans for a "luxurious pavilion" on Tidlangga (Park 9).
However our coverage was not as scathing as Peter Goers' contribution:
"The taxpayers of SA and the ratepayers of Adelaide are expected to help pay PAC and PAOC to develop it’s luxurious pavilion on public land so that pampered old Princes can play football and cricket and get pissed in luxury watching it. The school already has a boathouse and use of two other parkland ovals. It’s just not enough"
Susan Napoli: 'City in the Park—Red Kangaroo Dreaming Place'
Acrylic, Textile. (Highly commended, 2014 Art Prize)
PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Recent highlights
From the top:
a) Park bench, Tuthangga (Park 17) off Hutt Rd
b) Corporate team building exercises, Light Square / Wauwi
c) Wellington Square / Kudnartu d) Narnungga (Park 25) off Port Rd
e) School rowing, River Torrens, Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27)
We maintain (and gradually grow) 37 separate albums for each one of our 30 Parks, six squares (and one album for Park Lands losses: i.e. "Alienations"). To browse our hundreds of photos just follow the link below to 'Our photos on Flickr'.
