PARKLANDS NEWS
December 2004 Number 17
Contents President’s letter Letters to the editor Schomburgk Pavillion Kelly’s quotable quotes In defence of Victoria Park A letter from our overseas correspondent Use our new e-mail service Web site news Insert: Your ideas wanted!
Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association Inc PO Box 3040 Rundle Mall Adelaide 5000 Web: www.adelaide-parklands.org President’s letter Our voices were heard but not Instead, the softening-up process heeded at the prominent has begun with propaganda events demonstration we organised at run by the Adelaide City Council in Morphettville before the special Hutt St Library and on Victoria Park SAJC meeting on 21 September. as so-called information sessions. The SAJC members were meeting to consider the proposal to sell Our demonstration at Morphettville Cheltenham racecourse and use on behalf of thinking citizens was part of the proceeds to establish successful as a well organised and permanent motor racing facilities timely objection to the proposal, but on Victoria Park. it was not successful in preventing the SAJC members approving the We have sympathy with the scheme. concerns of the residents of Cheltenham and surrounding We can appreciate the pressures of This is a monumental threat to the areas about losing their open financial stress as the racing industry Parklands and they need your space if Cheltenham is sold, but struggles to remain viable. But at help now. Help with distributing we feel nothing but horror at the what cost if they must get into bed leaflets, attend protests, write risk of that cuckoo-like activity, with the motor racing industry? They letters to the government and the motor racing, achieving do not have to corrupt their Adelaide City Council, and enrol permanency on the Parklands. acceptable horse racing activities on more members to APPA so that Victoria Park with motor racing. We the Adelaide City Council and the This will not go ahead if must persuade the government that government are left in no doubt Cheltenham racecourse is not if it allows rezoning and thus the sale that the residents of Adelaide rezoned as residential land, and of Cheltenham that we will never, reject the SAJC proposal. the state government could step under any circumstances, tolerate in and clearly veto any possibility permanent motor racing of such an eventuality. We then infrastructure on Victoria Park. could all breathe more easily. This Ian Gilfillan has not yet happened. Now, where do you come in?
ISSUES ON THE TABLE World Heritage listing Land grab at Victoria Park Welcome Racecourse Biodiversity survey to new members Heritage listing of 1889 Arbor Day plantings Mr Alfred Caddick Adelaide Bowling Club’s activities
Hurtle Square redevelopment Ms Louisa Cufrone and Mr Doug Friend
RAA site redevelopment Mr Brent Dutson Britannia intersection Mr and Mrs Rob Kooymans General and Park Lands Plan Ms Heather Kriegel Amendment Report Ms Christine Lillie Front page: Swamp mallet (or mallee) Mrs Betty Siebert (Eucalyptus spathulata) along East Terrace, March 2003. Photo by Gunta Groves
Parklands News December 2004 Page 2 of the animal and human food chain grasses) which provides the interest, and thus vital to humans’ continued ambiance and vistas which visitors Letters to existence. enjoy.
the editor 2. Schomburgk Pavillion To promote a building and its activities (kiosk and visitor centre) as the ‘heart’ means the ABG has lost Currently on display in the foyer of The proposed $2.3 million its basic focus and ‘reason for the Goodman Building in the investment in the erection of the existence’. Plants are vital to Adelaide Botanic Garden is an proposed Schomburgk Pavillion continued human existence—food, architect model of a proposed provides little peopleÐplant fibre, energy, culture and building named the Schomburgk interaction, with the emphasis on a environmental sustainability, and the Pavillion to be built along the kiosk, toilets and visitor information Board needs to continue this northern face of the Museum of centre. The size of the building is emphasis and focus, rather than Economic Botany. The Board of the overpowering and it is of an construct another physical structure Botanic Gardens and State inappropriate design if intended to with increased maintenance costs Herbarium is seeking public meet the state government objective and with minimal relevance to the comment on the design. of energy efficient buildings, being primarily of glazed panels facing Garden’s educational, recreational, scientific and conservation functions. In my opinion this proposal is north, requiring high recurrent inappropriate in design, usage and expenditure on air conditioning. A more fitting usage of $2.3 million waste of public funds. I have had an Currently the Adelaide Botanic would be the installation of a wetland association with the Adelaide Botanic Garden (ABG) does not have near Hackney Road and the Garden since 1953 and I am sufficient funds to maintain the diversion of First Creek stormwater currently a volunteer guide there. required climate regime for the Bicentennial Conservatory—a into aquifers. RJ van Velsen southern hemisphere showcase of The Wine Centre was promoted with Thorngate SA tropical rainforest plants and tropical rainforest plant strata; so why grandeur and ended up a fiasco for Editor’s note: An abbreviated version of exacerbate the future financial the state and the ABG. This proposal RJ van Velsen’s submission is reprinted difficulties of the ABG? is a repetition of the same ‘Taj below. Mahalism’. There is little merit in this There are five locations within the proposal and no justification of ABG where visitors can access another ‘edifice complex’. The funds information concerning the ABG and could be spent more effectively Schomburgk its plants, serving six different entry improving the standard of the current points to the Garden. A visitor- Garden assets to advance people’s Pavillion friendly coordination of opening existing enjoyment, education and interest when visiting the Garden. 1. Introduction times of these five locations and availability of interpretive leaflets would provide a more cost-effective RJ van Velsen Richard Schomburgk, during his term visitor information and interpretation (1860Ð1891) as Director of the feature than a ‘central’ visitor Adelaide Botanic Garden, introduced information centre tucked away in Kelly’s and established many exotic and the Garden. native plants to increase people’s quotable knowledge of the diversity of plants The incorporation of a kiosk in the and their economic, environmental proposed Pavillion is unnecessary and cultural importance, as well as since there is a well-established and quotes their natural beauty and grandeur. popular kiosk with vista views across With the economic boom in South the Main Lake and to the Palm ‘We’ll do it, and we’ll Australia during Schomburgk’s House. There is no visitor demand do it properly.’ tenure, due to land sales and for another kiosk/coffee shop. The agricultural and copper exports, he matter of disability access to the was able to secure state funds for Museum of Economic Botany is South Australian Premier, the erection and establishment of the supported; however, the excuse to Palm House and Museum of Mike Rann MP, in have the Pavillion to provide the response to a question Economic Botany to display and access is a disingenuous argument, inform visitors particularly about since an architecturally sensitive from the floor regarding plants and their products of access structure could be installed World Heritage economic and cultural significance. along the south wall of the Museum, nomination of Adelaide’s similar to that installed at the Torrens Parklands, at the With the proliferation of urbanisation, Parade Ground. it is of increased importance that Adelaide Community people are aware of the value of Focus Cabinet Meeting plants to the environment and to Community Forum, human economic and cultural The ‘heart’ of the ABG is the planted 6 September 2004 existence. Plants are the basic unit environment (trees, shrubs and
Parklands News December 2004 Page 3 In defence of Victoria Park
Left: Demonstration at Morphettville racecourse, 21 September, 2004. Photo by Hazel Douglas
Below: APPA banners were prominent at the ACC Community Lands Management Plan consultation on 10 October, 2004. Photo by Gunta Groves
These last few months have been very busy ones in defence of Victoria Park. APPA was supported by people who cared about the open spaces of Victoria Park and were outraged by the scandalous ‘new concept’ proposed for this community land. People from Cheltenham joined APPA on 21 September 2004 (see above) to voice their concerns about losing open space and facing dense urban development in their area when the SAJC sells its Cheltenham racecourse. On 10 October 2004 more than two hundred people came to the Adelaide City Council’s display promoting the SAJC concept. APPA was there to balance the information given out.
Kelly’s quotable quotes ‘... on behalf of the citizens generally, and more particularly on behalf of the old colonists present at the selection and sale of the town acres in March, 1837, I deny the right of the Government to interfere with or make use of any portion of the Park Lands not specially reserved or set apart for government purposes by Colonel Light. I may, I think be excused for claiming to speak as an authority on this subject, because my official position as next to Colonel Light on the survey staff gave me the best opportunity for knowing every detail of his plans, as well as its being my duty to see that his instructions were properly carried out.’
Hon George Strickland Kingston MP, Speaker of the House of Assembly Advertiser 12 November 1877
Parklands News December 2004 Page 4 In defence of Victoria Park
Right: Protesters from Cheltenham joined with APPA to catch the attention of peak hour traffic outside Morphettville racecourse, 21 September 2004. Photo by Gunta Groves
Below: Extensive media coverage was achieved for the protest at the SAJC meeting of members to vote for the sale of Cheltenham. Photo by Gunta Groves
Members of the APPA committee have been busy writing letters to the government and seeing individual politicians such as Michael Wright and Jane Lomax-Smith. The Victoria Park issue was also discussed extensively with Michael Harbison and Mal Hemmerling. There is still much more to do. The threat remains. Many thanks to those APPA members and their friends who made banners, distributed leaflets (5250 at last count) and attended gatherings. This is a time to show solidarity in the face of menaces by state government, council and big business.
An APPA deputation met with Lord Mayor Michael Harbison and ACC CEO Above from left: Mal Hemmerling on 22 October 2004 to discuss the threat to Victoria Park and Mal Hemmerling, Ian Gilfillan, Gunta request that other models than the one presented be considered, especially Groves, Michael Harbison, David without the entrenchment of motor racing facilities in the Parklands. Plumridge, Peter Austin
Parklands News December 2004 Page 5 A letter from our overseas correspondent
Dear Members Another area of importance in our at the expense of our Parklands is quest for nomination is the the latest violation. The addition of B- I am looking forward to returning identification of significant events double heavy tractor trailers along home to Adelaide’s spring in mid- which have occurred on the the eastern thoroughfares will have November and to missing northern Parklands. There have been an impact on the Parklands with Arizona’s winter which has already numerous events which are noise from motors and their engine signalled its intentions with two early important on a state level but only a brakes and fouling of the air with tree-breaking snowfalls. My father’s few with national and international highly toxic cancer-causing diesel health is much improved and I thank importance. One of these, the 1889 exhaust fumes (so pleasing to you for your many kind wishes during Arbor Day celebration in Victoria joggers, I don’t think). this difficult time. Park, occurred south of the racetrack with 5000 of our school children Traffic noise is an even greater A visit to New York’s Central Park participating. Arbor Day was then an culprit in destroying our Parklands’ and their library is on the return international event—Adelaide amenity than the roadways through agenda and I have a ready supply of appears to be the first location them. This noise, generated mostly APPA bumper stickers for the outside the United States to from motors and tire abrasion, occasion. inaugurate these festivities. Other permeates into the Parklands to countries adopting the idea were varying depths dependent on factors Thanks to the excellent university Japan in 1895, Spain in 1896, Italy in such as traffic speed, weather library here in Flagstaff, I have been 1902, as well as England, France, conditions, the amount of adjacent able to proceed somewhat with my Mexico, Norway, Russia, China and sound-absorbing foliage and the type research on a number of topics. Israel. of materials used in building the road surface. References: World Heritage: The link between Richard C Davis (Ed) (1983) ‘Arbor In September, an article in the Adelaide and Ebenezer Howard’s Day’ Encyclopedia of American Arizona Republic newspaper Garden City movement is among our forest and conservation history. p 22. mentioned that rubberised-asphalt most important claims to World paving was to be applied to a Heritage listing. Published Clepper Henry (1982) ‘The man who section of Phoenix Highway. Shortly references to this link make the gave us Arbor Day’ American forests. thereafter I found the following identification solely on the basis of Vol 88 No 4 April 1982. p 60. website: Howard’s modelling his garden cities,
Kelly’s quotable quotes ‘Labor recognises that the Parklands don’t belong to a State Government or a city council, they belong to the people and to future generations.’
Labor Election Policy 2002 http://www.sa.alp.org.au/policy/environment/greener-city.html Labor’s plan to save open spaces and our Parklands
Parklands News December 2004 Page 6 USE OUR NEW E-MAIL SERVICE Some people have already seen the Adelaide Parklands Preservation You can also download PDFs of past light (pun intended) and sent in their Association Inc newsletters (from August 2003 e-mail addresses. If you would like to PO Box 3040 Rundle Mall edition onwards) from our Web site at receive the Parklands News by e-mail Adelaide 5000.
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News, comments and Committee 2004Ð2005 articles: WEB SITE Gunta Groves (Newsletter President: Ian Gilfillan Editor) Deputy President: Peter Austin PO Box 3040 Rundle Mall Secretary: Brian Mitchell NEWS Adelaide SA 5000 Treasurer: Kyle Penick Telephone/facsimile: 8223 1360 Go to our Web site at E-mail: [email protected] Committee members: Gunta Groves (Newsletter Editor) www.adelaide-parklands.org Next newsletter copy Kelly Henderson to see the latest deadline: Mike Hudson (Publicity Officer) 31 January 2005 David Plumridge AM developments. Advertising: Michael Sando Brian Mitchell Telephone: 8263 5168 Patron All the news on our Robert Champion de Crespigny AC activities is now Information about APPA: Brian Mitchell (Secretary) Auditor published there. Telephone: 8263 5168 David Mead Peter Austin (Deputy President) Telephone: 8362 8671 Find out about the Mike Hudson (Publicity Officer) DISCLAIMER Telephone: 8357 8851 The information is this publication is presented in Association, the good faith to members of APPA Inc. While the Membership: information is believed to be correct, APPA Inc Parklands and more. takes no responsibility for its accuracy. No Membership of the Association liability is accepted for any statements of opinion is open to all who support the or any error or omission. Although advertising objectives of the Association. material is accepted for this newsletter, such acceptance does not imply endorsement by www.adelaide-parklands.org Members receive the Parklands APPA Inc. News four times a year.
Parklands News December 2004 Page 8