ParkLANDS news December 2012 Number 49 Contents President’s letter ... 2 10 ... Surveying world heritage Issues on the table ... 2 12 ... Water pilfering: the west Editorial ... 2 14 ... Carbon fraud and tree deceit Boycott of Cirque du Soleil ... 3 15 ... Town Hall honour reality check Park Lands bouquets ... 3 15 ... Did you know? Maroonhood native orchids discovered ... 3 15 ... Rebadging Danthonia Mozzie menace: 5000 victims a year ... 4 16 ... Boiling frog syndrome Branding the (Adelaide) Park Lands ... 4 16 ... Signs of the times ACC Park Lands car park capers ... 5 17 ... What’s in a title? Unsustainable secrets ... 6 17 ... Victoria Park— ‘Minimal disturbance’ a flying success ... 7 don’t miss this race Scraping the surface ... 7 18 ... For the record What’s it for? ... 7 19 ... ‘Who took the people’s Park Lands digs ... 8 Park Lands? It was him.’
Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association Inc PO Box 7334 Hutt Street SA 5000 Web: www.adelaide-parklands.org President’s letter Ian’s Lament Years ago the ACC rightly insisted that the Netball Association remove We have recognized that we really its administration from the West Park need to excite more people to cherish, Lands. Since then administration offices celebrate and enjoy our Park Lands! have slipped into the Wine Centre, Next To be resigned to a future of being Generation and the North Adelaide Golf categorised as a vociferous carping Club (now housing Golf SA). There has minority—which is always right, mind!— even been a proposal that Victoria Park’s may be an avenue for spleen but will not Heritage Grandstand open its doors to save the Park Lands in the long run. This the Clipsal 500 administration! ‘long run’ has to be at least viewed as Obviously, as well as trespassing extending for the next 200 years. buildings, extensive administration goes This is the rub, because the political with Adelaide High School, the new and popular view rarely stretches past a Hospital, and the SA Health and Medical decade, if we’re lucky. Research Institute building. It is clear that the rate of alienation of There is no widely held sense of the the last decade, if continued, would sacrosanct nature of the Park Lands. Editorial leave little open space amongst all the There are no elected champions of ‘irresistible proposals’ of the next 200 the Park Lands courageous enough to As this 175th anniversary year of William years. oppose the relentless, ignorant assault Light’s 1837 founding of the City of Why do I think that the generations of on the integrity of the Park Lands. Those Adelaide and its Park Lands draws to powers-that-be would not wake up to representing Adelaide should be boasting a close, we thank our members and the situation and reverse the trend before loudly and frequently of the incomparable friends, Park Lands protectors and it is too late? Because for ‘motherhood’ Park Lands. Parliament should expedite contributors for their efforts and goodwill. statements, hollow calls for protection of State Heritage listing and actively push Especial thanks to Gunta Groves the Park Lands, emotional platitudes of for World Heritage. whose term on the Adelaide Park Lands the wonder of the Park Lands, strident Sadly, Labor and Liberal are dubious Authority ends in mid February 2013. claims of how the Park Lands set and nervous of such moves in case Gunta’s advocacy for the Park Lands Adelaide apart as ‘Superb’, and for sheer these give them hurdles to cross before has been exemplary, giving the lead— hypocrisy, the leaders and spokespeople chasing another populist but damaging all too seldom followed—as to what a of South Australia for previous and development on the Park Lands. management body might achieve if it current times fill me with despair! were properly constituted. It is left to us in APPA to enthuse people, We need a majority of people to cherish the media and politicians and get them We are grateful to the Art Gallery of the Park Lands as they would their own on board, so that we will not wear the South Australia for their kind permission garden, to revere the Park Lands as shame of history as the generation and assistance with reproducing, a precious heritage held in trust, with that allowed the Park Lands to slip to on the cover of this issue, William the concept of the Park Lands held extinction. Light’s sublime watercolour, The free of economic exploitation, free of commencement of Colonization in South administration offices. Ian Gilfillan Australia, 1837, and for permission to publish detail from William Light’s self- ISSUES ON THE TABLE portrait which readers can find in colour Adelaide High School expansion on the centre opening. Light’s depiction Adelaide Oval demolition/expansion Season’s of the vista that inspired his selection of Alienated Park Lands the site of Adelaide can be considered Australian Heritage Strategy to be the birth certificate of the City of Biodiversity and dilapidation surveys Adelaide’s Park Lands. Britannia intersection Greetings As a statement of intent by the creative Brownhill/Keswick Creek Stormwater Plan genius, it records the landscape as Light Cirque du Soleil/Park 24 Event Venue The President and Dying elms and other trees; White Cedar saw it, looking eastwards towards the Avenue; War Memorial Oak and Drive APPA Committee hills from Park Lands between North Land grabs at Adelaide Oval, Bonython Terrace and the River Torrens (opposite Park, Park 24, Railway yards, Riverbank thank you for your the Newmarket Hotel). In a short space of Lounder’s boat-building shed time Light was protecting the Park Lands ‘Purple water’ regime and damage he depicted from being misappropriated Riverbank ‘Project’ and $40m footbridge support during 2012 by government, becoming the first Royal Adelaide Show car parking protector of the Park Lands, aided and SACA, SANFL, AFL and Stadium and wish you a abetted by the Resident Commissioner, Management Authority James Hurtle Fisher. World Heritage listing happy and safe Thanks to the assistance of Dr Keryn Cover: Detail of Colonel William Light Christmas season Walshe and volunteers of the South (1786–1839), The Commencement of Australian Museum, in this edition we are Colonization in South Australia, 1837 and a propsperous also able to bring you a special exhibition c.1837, Adelaide, Australia of artefacts salvaged from this area, Gift of Sir E T Smith 1890 New Year unearthed by builders working on the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Park Lands Railyards (New RAH) site.
Park LANDS News December 2012—2 Boycott of Cirque du Soleil Maroonhood Western Park Lands performances native orchids APPA thanks all members, Park Lands protectors and supporters discovered who have indicated their intention to boycott Cirque du Soleil, On 13 August 2012, as part of Adelaide as well as urging relatives and friends to join the boycott. City Council’s ongoing commitment to the natural flora of the Adelaide plains, biodiversity staff discovered an orchid Thanks to SNAP Printing, Frome specimen within the Adelaide Park Lands. Road Adelaide STOP PRESS This orchid was identified as Pterostylis A heartfelt thanks to Gareth and A Cirque du Soleil missive delivered to pedunculata (Maroonhood orchid). This Ian Monro and the team for their local letter boxes puffs about ‘plenty plant was discovered in Park 16 and professional, patient and expert of on site parking for our patrons with will be managed and protected as a assistance for the 2012 editions of traffic management in place to ensure part of Adelaide City Council’s ongoing Park Lands News. minimal disruption to the surrounding biodiversity program. area.’ By ‘on site parking’ Cirque du Soleil really means an ACC UPark James Walsh Park Lands carpark. It seems ‘minimal Sustainability Advisor continued from p2 disruption’ and ‘traffic management’ Adelaide City Council Thanks are also due to the National is Cirque’s take on closure of 100% of Archives of the UK for permission family parking on the Park Lands section to publish original works of art by of Sir Donald Bradman Drive. Enquiries William Light and Henry Nixon, from [email protected], Toll free their collection, and to each and every event hotline number: contributor. Many thanks for assisting 0011 800 1 548 0000 with bringing together environmental 12pm–12am 7 days (from Dec 6) material on various aspects of Or contact ACC Customer Centre on sustainable development and Park Lands 8203 7203. environment for this issue, in conjunction with illustration of Light’s genius. With the release of the Mount Lofty Park Lands Ranges agrarian landscape World Heritage feasibility study and its bouquets predictions of economic benefit to the state it seems timely to revisit the The APA Group (APA), described proposal for World Heritage nomination of as Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business, deserves thanks Light’s Plan and the Adelaide Park Lands. Above: Adelaide Park Lands for cancelling its mooted 8 month As the government digs SA deeper into Maroonhood orchid (Pterostylis occupation of Park 21 (cnr Sir Lewis pedunculata). Photo courtesy of Adelaide debt with Park Lands, and other, pet Cohen Ave and Greenhill Rd) for a gas City Council, 13 August 2012. projects, its clear Light’s Benthamite main replacement works depot. Plan for Adelaide and its Park Lands Top marks for showing how its done! Editor’s note: is the most cost effective international Native orchids often require native bees SA Parliamentarians (the AYES have it) brand available. Nothing else has the or fungal gnats for pollination. They power to deliver an integrated economic, Rachel Sanderson MP, State Member for Adelaide, for tabling in the House can be destroyed or damaged by larger environmental and social strategy for European bees attempting pollination. future-proofing South Australia. of Assembly (17 October 2012) the original motion to disallow the We hope the Premier and Lord Mayor Development (Riverbank Footbridge) If you would like to keep in attend to the world’s Millenium Goals on Variation Regulation 2012. The Hon sustainable development, http://www. Michelle Lensink MLC, for tabling Rachel touch with what the un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml, Sanderson’s motion in the Legislative APLA Board is dealing and invite them to make a joint New Council (Thursday 29 November 2012), with each month, please Year’s resolution to develop a ‘William carried by the State Opposition, Greens, contact Gunta Groves at Light’s Plan and Park Lands’ World and some Independents: Heritage nomination.
Park LANDS News December 2012—3 Mozzie menace: 5000 victims a year With a series of wetlands promised in the Media Group magazine this month mosquito control can be problematic, South Park Lands by Adelaide City that urbanisation will bring with it an and local authorities (that’s YOU, Council, it’s timely to report that a Sydney increase in the activity of zoonotic Adelaide City Council!!!), should ensure magazine article by a university lecturer diseases (passed to humans by animals) that there are guidelines for reducing reveals that more than 5000 Australians a by disturbing local ecosystems and suitablity for mosquitoes, with adequately year are struck down by mosquito-borne biodiversity. Which description fits those funded management plans to ensure disease, mostly caused by the Ross River Park Land ponds to a tee. Mr Webb says that wetlands are clear of overgrown and Barmah Forest viruses. that in residential areas close to wetlands vegetation and sediment that may (a cosy cover-up title for swamps) it isn’t increase the pest population. Mozzies delight in stagnant water eco- just the increasing number of mosquito systems, which is exactly what the above bites that are the problem. A lack of Mike Hudson mentioned swamps will be on Parkside’s awareness among residents about the northern boundaries. health risks posed may also increase the Republished with permission from the rate of disease. personal website of Cr Mike Hudson Cameron Webb, a clinical lecturer Parkside Ward Councillor, Unley. and hospital scientist at the University In constructed wetlands designed to of Sydney, says in a Conservation catch and store stormwater runoff, http://grumpyinunley.wordpress.com/ Branding the (Adelaide) Park Lands In December 2009, the Adelaide Park Signage, website, pocket guide and Lands Authority Board (APLA) voted poster layouts were presented to show to engage a consultant to prepare a how the final preferred logo might be marketing plan for the Adelaide Park used. Lands. The plan’s primary objective As of September 2012, the Park Lands was to identify appropriate marketing website was operational at: initiatives for the next three years to 2012. The stated primary outcome was http://adelaideparklands.com.au to raise the profile and increase visitation Above: The Adelaide Park Lands logo. of the Adelaide Park Lands. The Park Lands pocket guide is Adelaide Park Lands Authority (APLA) now available from the Adelaide City Agenda, 11 August 2011. In August 2010, APLA resolved to proceed Council, and consideration is being with the plan’s first four priorities: given to registering a mobile phone Editor’s Note: According to City • development of a dedicated Park application (My Parx) that promotes the Messenger, 6 December 2012, Lands website; Adelaide Park Lands. Councillor Henningsen said unapproved • development of creative artwork Council Administration expenditure of Strangely, the marketing experts that can be applied to all Park Lands $140,000 to counter negative media on omitted the word ‘Adelaide’ from the advertising opportunities; ACC’s Smart Move transport strategy branding material, a curious oversight • advertising in the print media to was ‘spin’ and ‘an absolutely scandalous for a destination marketing and waste of ... ratepayers’ money’. promote opportunities and events in branding campaign seeking to increase the Park Lands, and exposure and visitations to arguably On the APLA logo, APLA Agenda, 12 • development of an Adelaide Park Australia’s most prominent parklands. July 2012, p159: Lands pocket guide. APLA subsequently made a Options A and B present a By February 2011, consultants had recommendation to the ACC that simple and professional image for crystallised the marketing strategy into the Park Lands branding material the governance and administrative the main ‘branding’ message—‘The Park be amended to include the word functions of APLA, as differentiated Lands. Adelaide’s breathing space’ and ‘Adelaide’. from the logo/brand for the public work commenced on a timeframe for face of the Park Lands ... The use implementation of the branding message. The ACC has since endorsed a redesigned Park Lands logo of lower case lettering in Option A The August 2011 APLA meeting saw incorporating the word ‘Adelaide’. provides a contemporary appearance, a presentation of revised branding with the rounded letters, sympathetic concepts from NickNack Branding Members of the Adelaide Park Lands to the Park Lands brand and the because its market research indicated Authority Board are to be commended notion of nature, creating a gentler changes were required. for their branding and marketing feel. At the same time however, the initiatives. Although the budget from the design also commands a sense of By now the branding consisted of ‘The ACC is a small one, it is nevertheless confidence suitable to the Authority’s Park Lands’ with a stylised two-leaf an important first step in increasing status and purpose. design, plus tag lines for particular awareness and respect for Adelaide’s situations, such as ‘Adelaide’s breathing unique and priceless asset. Below: Adelaide Park Lands Authority space’, ‘Adelaide’s play space’, and logo options A, B, C, APLA Agenda 12 ‘Adelaide’s fitness space’. Philip Groves July 2012. Option A (far left) was chosen. Option A
Park LANDS News December 2012—4 ACC Park Lands car park capers Friday, 8 December 2000, and a news Adelaide High School (AHS) expansion War Memorial Drive formalised car release from the office of The Hon Mike Once again, the ACC has supported parking, west of Montefiore Road Rann MP, State Labor Opposition Leader further land grabs for the AHS. Each Ever since anyone can remember, the famously stated ‘We want Adelaide to be time, ACC has stipulated no further ACC has turned a blind eye to hundreds known as a city in a park … not a city in expansion would be allowed! The of cars being parked on the verge of the a car park’. 2012-approved expansion incorporates road or carriageway. The carriageway We are still waiting, after 12 years permanent undercroft car parking and and verge area are entirely Park Lands, of hard Labor, for any of ex-Premier sees a new car park for 21 vehicles and the unregulated car parking is mostly Rann’s extensive list of promises and created to the west of the new building. free all-day parking used by city workers. undertakings concerning the protection Pinky Flat car parking for November Suddenly, the ACC Administration of the Adelaide Park Lands to be fulfilled. 2nd Test against South Africa proposed to regulate and formalise Now appointed by the Federal Labor Once again, the ACC acquiesced to ticketed parking for 425 cars along Government to the position of Australian requests from SACA, Adelaide Oval this roadway, which was established High Commissioner in London (please Stadium Management Authority et al as a scenic War Memorial drive. ACC note the government claimed this was to open Pinky Flat for up to 500 cars Administration has suddenly seemed to not a job-for-the-boys appointment), daily. The message the ACC constantly discover the existence of the Australian Rann will be ideally placed to see how reinforces concerning event car parking Road Rules, which designate parallel the great parks of London are respected in the Park Lands is ‘ask and you shall parking along a roadway, unless and managed, and lament what might receive’, irrespective of the park’s otherwise signed. All manner of safety have been in Adelaide. Community Land Management Plan and Park Lands preservation issues (CLMP) which, in the case of Pinky Flat, have now been identified by Council Segue to The North Adelaide Society called for the phasing out of car parking. Administration, begging the question Inc’s September 2011 meeting where of why Council has been negligent in Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood spoke ‘The Wiggles’ event parking in Tulya ignoring these issues ever since anyone to Society members in a wide-ranging Wodli/Bonython Park can remember. 40-minute presentation. The Society’s On 29 November 2012, The Wiggles—a November newsletter (Number 165) ACC documents reveal an ‘application for privately owned, multi-million-dollar development approval has been initiated, quoted the Lord Mayor on the Adelaide enterprise—staged three performances Oval development: subject to receiving Council consent in at Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre (AEC), its role as landlord’. Council is being coy I am furious and heartbroken that Port Road, in the suburb of Hindmarsh. there will be cars on the Park Lands… about who has made the application, but We are a level of government, not In breach of Bonython Park’s CLMP there will be no prizes for guessing, given a lobby group. But we got the best parking provisions, the ACC opened the area’s location close to McAdelaide outcome. In time there will be no the park for use by patrons attending Stadium and the new RAH. cars on the park lands: that’s my The Wiggles performances. A request This is yet another attempt to annex Park commitment to you. from the AEC CEO to the ACC to allow parking in Bonython Park stated: Lands for private commercial purposes. The Lord Mayor’s commitment on Park It presents Lord Mayor Yarwood with We understand that there will be costs Lands car parking is demonstrably a an opportunity to stand up and be involved in operating the car park and Clayton’s commitment, proving he can counted—just don’t put your house on we are willing to enter into a commercial out-Rann Rann over protection of the him doing so. arrangement with Council to provide Park Lands. The hoisting of the white this valuable community service if Philip Groves flag at the Adelaide Oval by the ACC required … and we feel the staging of sees hundreds of permanent car parks this event is in keeping with the Lord being included in the redevelopment, Mayor’s vision for a vibrant city. with the revenue going to the Stadium Management Authority. Elsewhere in the On the day of the event, the AEC CEO Park Lands, more permanent parking was on ABC radio exhorting patrons has been approved or is proposed, and to use Bonython Park for car parking event car parking is proliferating on Lord to avoid congestion around the centre. Mayor Yarwood’s watch. The following Describing throwing open the Park Lands examples illustrate the point. for car parking to enrich multi-millionaires as ‘a valuable community service’ is Cirque du Soleil event parking in abject nonsense. Tambawodli (Park 24) next to Ellis Park In addition, this writer has personally This Canadian circus company has an checked all of the Lord Mayor’s vibrancy appalling past history of environmental detection devices in the city for 29 vandalism in the Park Lands. November and found no evidence of Notwithstanding this, the ACC embraces any vibrancy leaking from Hindmarsh the circus’s return and, despite the to the City! proximity of nearby city street and private Below: Indecent haste of ACC car park car parking for circus patrons, the ACC As summer comes to the Adelaide Park construction works prior to survey has approved 700 car parking spaces in Lands and north winds blow, prepare for without Tree and Critical Root Protection the Park Lands adjoining the circus Big page one splashes from The Daily Crow Zones, eastern side of War Memorial Top. This is not just 700 cars as a once- (formerly known as The Advertiser) as it Drive adjacent North Adelaide Golf off. Rather, it is 700 cars multiplied by the describes the Park Lands as dustbowls Course, looking south-east towards the number of circus performances between and wastelands, brought about in no City. Photos taken by K Henderson, 8 6 December 2012 and 6 January 2013. small part by event parking approvals. December 2012.
Park LANDS News December 2012—5 Right: The amended Community Land Management Plan for Unsustainable secrets Park 22, Adelaide Park Lands Authority 6 December 2012, It should be no secret that remnant native Disregard for natural heritage pervaded Agenda Item 5 with two areas species are hanging on in many areas of the review of the Community Land with management direction the Park Lands—amazing survivors of the Management Plans for the South Park to seek opportunities to natural vegetation of the Adelaide Plains. lands with Council failing to provide achieve additional biodiversity As a member of the Property Council biodiversity information approved by the outcomes in the of Australia (SA Division), Adelaide Adelaide Park Lands Authority for public broarder area. City Council has been spectacularly consultation. Without notice, the APLA- ineffectual at advancing appreciation of approved CLMP draft was altered, and the economic value of ecological systems, released to the public. This drew deserved and opportunities to salvage the last criticism from APLA Board Member 1% of Adelaide Plains grasslands. The Gunta Groves who pointed out staff had vulgar view of Park Lands remnant native ‘deleted biodiversity’ from the CLMP. grasslands as valueless waste sites flies in Council and APLA Agendas fail to the face of international Millenium Goals Right: Biodiversity and Water Quality disclose the true extent of surviving for sustainable development. Action Plan, mapping Park 22 remnant native vegetation in the Adelaide medium quality native vegetation Park Lands. It cannot escape notice that (orange) and poorer quality (pink) Bentham on secrecy large areas of remnant native vegetation for Park 22, Adelaide Park Council have refused to map (native Lands Authority, 6 December In the darkness of secrecy, sinister plant secrecy zones) coincide with 2012, Agenda Item 5. interest and evil in every shape, Adelaide City Council’s UPark Park Lands have full swing ... Where there is no carparking operations, including in Park publicity there is no justice. 22 for the Royal Adelaide Show.
‘Constitutional Code, Book II, ch. XII, sect. XIV.’ Since (at least) 1998, Park 22 (between The Works of Jeremy Bentham, published Goodwood Road and Anzac Highway) has under the superintendence of ... John Bowring, 11 vols., (Edinburgh: Tait, 1843) been identified to Adelaide City Council vol. ix, p. 493. as one of the most important remnant biodiversity sites in the Park Lands. Publicity is the very soul of justice. Fortunately, with basic, inexpensive It is the keenest spur to exertion, Below, left, centre and right: Park 22 Adelaide Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) City Council UPark operated car parking and the surest of all guards against mapping software individuals can now during the Royal Adelaide Show. Parking is improbity. vol. iv, p 316. continued on p 7 across native vegetation mapped at bottom with yellow tags and white areas.
BIODIVERSITY AREAS APPROVED BY APLA ‘DELETED BIODIVERSITY’ version released for Data records from an ACC-commissioned FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION (marked in public consultation by Adelaide City Council remnant native vegetation survey, large areas white); rectangular car parking area (blue) with nil biodiversity areas and many species recorded.
Above right: Mapping of Park 22 (triangle at Above right: Detail from Park 22 Draft CLMP Above centre: Detail from ACC ‘deleted bottom right) and southern Park 23 (triangle at ‘future desired character’ map approved by biodiversity’ CLMP public consultation version, upper left) remnant native vegetation from a the Adelaide Park Lands Authority (APLA) for with all APLA-approved (purple) biodiversity single data source. Data source: Adelaide City public consultation. Source: APLA Agenda 10 management areas removed. Source: ACC Council 2004 Mallen survey data; mapped by May 2011, p154. Draft Park Lands CLMP Chapter 5. by K Henderson, December 2012.
Park LANDS News December 2012—6 ‘Minimal disturbance’ a flying success It was a great thrill to receive some The Common Brown (Heteronympha Butterfly Challenge special news from James Walsh, the merope merope) http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/index. Adelaide City Council’s Sustainability php?option=com_content&Itemid=155&c Advisor. James had discovered the The females of the Common Browns are atid=21&id=66&view=article&limitstart=3 rare, Chequered (or Grassland) Copper larger than, and look very different to, the butterfly (Lucia limbaria) at the now males. Both males and females emerge Butterfly Identification expanded Trees For Life Bush Care from their chrysalis in early summer, but http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/index. Site in Tuttangga (Park 17, near South females go into hiding until autumn when php?option=com_content&Itemid=155&c they emerge again to start egg laying on Terrace). This is in addition to the initial atid=21&id=66&view=article&limitstart=2 new grass produced by autumn rains. discovery of this butterfly (Park Lands Butterfly Watch News, June 2011, p 8) in Victoria Park/ Butterfly Conservation SA Inc. http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/ Bakkabakkandi on 21 February 2011. http://sabutterflies.org.au/bcsa.htm whatson/exhibitions/butterfly In Tuttangga (and at other biodiversity Common Brown sites) the gradual, skilful removal of Heteronympha merope - weeds, using minimal disturbance This widespread butterfly methods, by the hard working is common in the hills face zone and in the Biodiversity Team and volunteer Bush Adelaide suburbs. The Carers, enables remnant plant species caterpillars feed on native to regenerate. This has included Lucia and introduced grasses. limbaria’s host plant, Native sorrel (Oxalis Wingspan - perennans). In addition, reinstatement female 64 mm; male 56mm. of indigenous plant species of this ‘Black Forest’ (Eucalyptus microcarpa Woodland) vegetation community Chequered or provides habitat for more butterfly and Grassland Copper fauna species. Lucia limbaria - Rare, occasionally seen in Once the remnant grasses had undisturbed fringe urban regenerated, the Common Brown areas, or in meadow areas butterflies (Heteronympha merope and reserves. Caterpillars merope) returned to their larval food eat native sorrel. Wingspan 23–25mm. plants. It was there that one of these large and beautiful butterflies brushed Above: Copper or Grassland Butterfly, see http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/assets/files/ my cheek while another flew between my whatson/exhibitions/butterfly/butterfly-id_brown-orange_md.pdf. Fact sheet available legs. from www.butterflygardening.net.au/PDFs/factsheets/ChequeredCopper.pdf. Top: What priceless assets are the flora and Common Brown Butterfly, see http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/assets/files/whatson/ fauna to the Park Lands of Adelaide, and exhibitions/butterfly/butterfly-id_brown-orange_sm.pdf. Fact sheet available from to their human visitors. www.butterflygardening.net.au/PDFs/factsheets/CommonBrown.pdf. For information on the five butterfly families see http://www.butterflygardening.net.au/butterflies/index.htm. Janet Subagio Images, information and fact sheeets courtesy of Butterfly Conservation SA Inc. continued from p 6 do for themselves what the Corporation’s Scraping What’s it multi-million-dollars of rate-payers’ resources and several hundred staff have the surface for? been unable to achieve. Published at left is the first of these ‘Citizen Science’ We could give the Park Lands a helping At a conservation site in Wikaparndo Wirra mappings, before the next Royal Adelaide hand with natural regeneration, just by (Park 22), hardly noticeable in among Show or netball parking, foreign circus, scraping away surface weedy areas, remnant understorey plants of the Mallee sporting club, event, UParking operation, assisting vast reservoirs of seeds in the (Eucalyptus porosa) Woodland, TLC is or other works, can damage further subsoil to naturally regenerate and get assisting regeneration of a small, remnant remnant native vegetation. the upper hand once again. herb species with a big name, Wingless bluebush (Maireana enchylaenoides). The area where this trial is carried out For the edification of APLA, Elected Maireana enchylaenoides has a Members of Council, ACC UPark, should be relatively flat. Conservation Status of Uncommon in the Lutherans’ netball, the Royal Agricultural Southern Lofty Botanical Region. Minute, Darrell Kraehenbuehl AM and Horticultural Assocation Inc, ETSA bisexual yellow flowers are followed by and ElectraNet, future destruction relatively large, curiously shaped fruits. by means of car parking, trenching, Editors note: Who can tell us about the ecological role horticultural conceits, tree-planting, Werribee Open Range Zoo, is in an area of this plant? weed-infested mulching, recycled-effluent west of Melbourne ‘once covered by watering, fertilisers, herbicides and vast grasslands’. They scraped back top A count of 97 plants (now accompanied rubbish dumping will be carried out with soil heavily infested with Carpet Weed by many seedlings) makes it one of the the public knowledge that it is impacting (Galenia pubescens) to reduce weed largest known occurrences of this plant on precious remnant native vegetation. load. ‘Fact Sheet: A Grassland Haven’, species in the Park Lands. Gardening Australia (Series 23 Episode Kelly Henderson 34, 1/12/2012), ABC 2011. Janet Subagio Park LANDS News December 2012—7 Park Lands digs Index to artefacts on page 9 Depicted on the facing page are a few of On 3 September 2009 the Adelaide Park set up tents on the ground sloping down the thousands of Park Lands artefacts Lands Preservation Association Inc. to the River bank and witnessed territorial unearthed by building contractors in the lodged a new State Heritage nomination battles in the vicinity. Adelaide Park Lands during excavation of the Park Lands, recommending Copies of APPA’s State Heritage of the Railyards (New RAH) site, North the Park lands be protected as an nomination were provided to Adelaide Terrace. Salvaged by the South Australian archaeological site. City Council staff and several Elected Museum, some items were displayed Urgent provisional entry on the State Members accompanied by supporting during History Week 2011. Thanks to Dr Heritage Register was sought for areas material sourced from indepdendent Keryn Walshe and John Hughes. facing imminent threat, including Light’s studies, research reports, observations 1A. Broken bottle found containing a Camp in the Park Lands Railyards and recommendations. Victorian-era c1870s gold earring inset opposite the Newmarket Hotel, between Adelaide City Council have long known with a ruby. North Terrace and the River Torrens. This the Park Lands contain relics and 1B. Detail of front of gold earring with site was occupied by William Light, the artefacts that can date back to the city’s square ruby at the centre of a gold Resident Commissioner James Hurtle earliest days. Council dumps in the Park five-petalled flower hung below a tier of Fisher from early 1837. Settlers arriving Lands have previously yielded a rich two (decreasing in size) upwardly rolling leaves; six-petalled flower decorates the continued on p 13 base of the hook. 1C. View of reverse side. 2A. W Baker & Co English pottery c1860s; ‘Jessemine’ pattern stamp. 2B. Detail of W Baker & Co ‘Jessemine’ pattern stamp. GOVERNMENT NOTICE. GOVERNMENT ORDER. 3. Ship’s crockery; mark on plate’s base depicts a square-rigged sailing ship Colonial Secretary’s Office, (No. 9.) Colonial Secretary’s Office, at sea encircled by the name ‘Acadia’ 14th May, 1838. August 17, 1838. (built in Glasgow in 1841; sailed the UK to America route in the 1840s). arties having now acquired NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 4. Clay pipes. possession of their Country in conformity with the preceeding P 5. c1860s English pottery chamber pot Sections, the Government order in Council, all persons with blue base mark ‘BERRY & GALL, considers that there no longer exist occupying the Park Lands will be 83 RUNDLE St ADELAIDE’. any necessity for appropriating the required to remove therefrom on or 6. c1860–1870 English pitcher pottery. Park Land to purposes so foreign to before the 15th day of November 7. Stone implements: hammer stones and which they were originally reserved next ensuing, and that persons stone flakes. for : remaining thereon after that day will 8. Blue willow pattern serving dish, Notice is therefore hereby given, be dealt with and proceeded against c1860–1890. to those persons who are at present as wilful trespassers. 9. Hindmarsh Pottery; the smaller occupying portions of the Park By His Excellency’s command, bottle in front is from the first batch Land, that the Government requires W. NATION, manufactured by the company at Hindmarsh, 1838. them to remove therefrom, at or Chief Clerk, Colonial Secretary’s Office. before the expiration of Two Months 10. American glass bottles: square (left) South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, ‘Florida Waters, NY’ (New York); (right) from this date; and that in default of 18 and 25 August 1838, p1. sarsparilla bottle, NewYork. such removal, a weekly increasing 11. Various bottles: (standing) c1850s- ground rent (to be assessed by GOVERNMENT NOTICE. 1880s ginger beer, wine / champagne officers to be appointed for that seem the commonest); (lying in purpose,) will be charged for the (No. 10) Colonial Secretary’s Office, foreground) Maugham’s patent round- Land they occupy. Adelaide, September 8, 1838. ended bottles, including rare early Maugham’s Patent Carrara, and Permission will not in future be t having been reported to the examples of J Lewin, Crowder (1865), given to occupy the Park Land, IGovernment that the trees on the Hall and Sons, Norwood, and Billin and nor shall any existing tenement park land are daily being destroyed Wright, Flinders St Adelaide. be reinhabited upon its present by parties occupying dwellings 12. Maugham’s patent round-ended bottle, occupant quitting. And parties thereon ... his Excellency the Acting these were designed to ensure they carrying on any works that are Governor directs it to be notified, that were stored lying down. destructive to the Land ... are all parties offending from this date 13. Hamilton (Torpedo) bottles, c1860s. expressly warned that on the will be prosecuted for misdemeanor: 14. German porcelain 1860-1880, ‘Frozen expiration of Two Months they and all constables and peace officers Charlotte’. Based on American story will on no account be allowed to are hereby directed to use their of a little girl who went out in the snow continue such works... utmost exertions in preventing such inadequately dressed and froze to death. Left: collector’s example; right: By his Excellency’s command, injurious practices, and in bringing Park Lands artefact. T. BEWES STRANGWAYS, parties so offending to justice. 15. Clay pipe bowl, human head shape. Colonial Secretary pro tem. By His Excellency’s command, W. NATION, Photo no. 7, © Keryn Walshe, February South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, Chief Clerk, Colonial Secretary’s Office. 2012; nos. 11, 13 © Keryn Walshe, 19 May 1838, p 1. September 2012. Courtesy of Keryn Walshe. South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, Photos 1A-C, 2A-B, 3-6, 8-10, 12, 14, 15 © 8, 15, 22 and 29 September 1838, p1. K Henderson, December 2012.
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9 8 7 6 5 Park LANDS News December 2012—9 Surveying world heritage Key principles evident in William Light’s can have no excuse for unsustainble sensitive urban and regional plan remain projects that dig the state deeper into relevant today, as an exemplar for debt, ignoring public outcry, whilst World sustainable development of outstanding Heritage benefits beckon. Three levels of universal value: government have been in denial about • distilled from centuries of interchange World Heritage (WH) nomination of Light’s of ideas on settlement and planning, legacy. Despite this, the WH campaign from Vitruvius to Jeremy Bentham; to win the Premier a cost effective (!) • a physical manifestation of the genius internationally recognisable brand, and of Bentham, Light, and others, and secure the City of Adelaide membership of an elite international forum—the • a model for the future, if we are to Organisation of WH Cities—received achieve the world’s 2015 Millenium further impetus from a recent University goals for sustainable development. of Adelaide WH feasibility Study of the According to Vitruvius (c80-70BC–c15BC, Mount Lofty Ranges. This identified Roman writer, architect and engineer), significant potential economic benefits. Order, Arrangement (locating things in According to Professor Stringer, seeking Above: Detail of Colonel William Light their proper places), Eurythmy, Propriety, WH status is ‘a no-lose proposition, (1786–1839); self portrait, c1839, Symmetry and Economy (proper site whether or not it succeeds.’3 The Study Adelaide; oil on canvas, 58.1 x 42.2 cm; and materials management and thrifty confirmed Wakefieldian ‘systematic Gift of G.G. Mayo on behalf of his father, balancing of cost and common sense colonization’ can form a strong basis for the late George Mayo, F.R.C.S., 1905. in constructions) are the fundamental WH nomination. This is equally applicable Courtesy of the Art Gallery of South principles of architecture. For instance, to Adelaide’s case, and was part of the Australia, Adelaide. siting a hospital on the opposite side 2010 brief seeking the involvement of of the City to prevailing winds (south- the International Federation of Surveyors Left: westerlies in Adelaide) respects time- (FIG). The FIG had succeeded with their Light’s Statue, honoured principles of healthy planning. Struve Geodetic Arc WH listing project, Montefiore Hill, Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832, renowned UNESCO’s first surveying inscription. English philosopher and ‘the Legislator of Park Lands, To recap, Professor Jan De Graeve, North Adelaide. the World’) voiced an essential constraint on government in Light’s lifetime—the aim Director of the (FIG) International Photo taken by Institute for the History of Surveying and K Henderson, of ‘government for the greatest good’, equally relevant today. Measurement (IIHS&M), visited Adelaide 16 December in 2010, at the invitation of the Surveyors 2012. Former Federal Foreign Minister of South Australia, and he: Alexander Downer’s April 2012 prediction Right: • studied the Archives and identified of South Australia spiralling towards dire Hammerfest various original instruments; worse-than-State-Bank-debt levels by Struve Geodetic Arc 2015–16 makes it clear the Railyards • explained procedures for submitting World Heritage Site, hospital heralds deficit—as well as a case to UNESCO and gave a public http://whc.unesco. Park Lands—doom. NRAH, SAHMRI, lecture on Struve Meridian, the first org/en/list/1187/. Riverbank, Adelaide Oval and Victoria surveying heritage inscribed on the Image from Square breach cost and common sense World Heritage List; ‘Surveying World principles known since Vitruvian times. • was introduced to the Lord Mayor of Heritage: Struve Discarding knowledge and principles of the City of Adelaide, met with Rachel Geodetic Arc and previous generations is neither ‘progress’, Sanderson MP, State Member for William Light’s nor sustainable. On 7 December 2012, Adelaide and other Members of the Plan of Adelaide’ InDaily Opinion reported South Australian Parliament, and Public Forum flyer, Where Rann and Foley were derided attended Parliament’s opening, and 6 May 2010. as arrogant and out of touch, • had a two hour audience with His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Below: Professor Jan De Graeve, Director Weatherill and his cohorts are seen as AC CSC RANR, Governor of South of the FIG IIHS&M, examining William incompetent and furtive. Australia. Light’s Dumpy Level in the Rooms of the Whilst we may sympathise with Premier Royal Geographical Society of South Weatherill and Lord Mayor Yarwood for In 2012, in Rome, Italy, he reported on his Australia, North Terrace. Photo taken by K inheriting regrettably ‘disrespectful’ and visit and on Light’s Plan of Adelaide World Henderson, 4 May 2010. ‘disastrous monolithic buildings’ like the Heritage nomination proposal to the FIG National Wine Centre, David Lloyd Leisure 35th General Assembly Working Week. Centre, and the ‘unneighbourly’ ‘bully boy’ Convention Centre, there can be Kelly Henderson no sympathy for more of that ilk on their 1. ‘They’re my three failures, says Jane’, The watch, ‘too close to the water, too tall, too City Messenger, 1 September 1999, p3. 2. Ibid. bulky and ... to the detriment of the Park 3.‘Study supports Mount Lofty Ranges World Lands’,1 Former Lord Mayor and State Heritage bid, Media Release, 1 June 2012, Member for Adelaide, Dr Lomax-Smith, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news53202. noted ‘there was consultation with the html; R Stringer et al, Exploring UNESCO council and the public but only after the World Heritage Site listing for the Mount Lofty Ranges agrarian landscape, University buildings had been designed.’2 Premier of Adelaide, 2012; https://www.box.com/s/ Weatherill and Lord Mayor Yarwood d7dc985efd585a3df6b7.
Park LANDS News December 2012—10 Above: Detail of Sketch of the site of Adelaide, c Feb 1837, Colonel William Light (1786– 1839), watercolour on paper, Adelaide, South Australia; top left: detail of William Light’s handwritten annotations on his Sketch, showing ‘B & C The Town Adelaide’ and ‘The dark green round the Town I proposed to the Residt Commissioner to be reserved as Park grounds’. Reproduced by courtesy of the National Archives of the UK. CO 700/SOUTH AUSTRALIA2/1. Above left: Dr Lynn Arnold AO, the Association’s Patron, presenting Professor Jan De Graeve with a copy of William Light’s 1837 ‘Sketch of the site of Adelaide’. Photo taken by K Henderson, 7 May 2010. Below: Detail based on Plan of the Preliminary Country Sections in the District of Adelaide, South Australia, from the Surveys by Colonel Wm Light Esqr Survr Genl and Assistant Surveyors. Drawn by Henry Nixon late Lieutenant 96th Regiment; below left: detail of Plan of the Preliminary Country Sections showing the Port of the City of Adelaide. Reproduced by courtesy of the National Archives of the UK. CO 700/SOUTH AUSTRALIA2/Pt1 (4), as amended by K Henderson, 2008.
Above: His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia, with Professor Jan De Graeve, Director of FIG IIHS&M; audience at Government House, North Terrace, Adelaide. Photo taken by K Henderson, 6 May 2010.
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6 Water pilfering: the west Water Proofing The West Legend 14.6ML/a 50ML/a Linking & Distribution Main 9.2ML/a Council 9ML/a Identified Demand Irrigation - Immediate & Medium Term 6ML/a (7 to 10 year) Private 40ML/a 24.1ML/a 50ML/a 110ML/a December 2011 Customers 250ML/a Transfer Main 300ML/a - Stage 1 162ML/a 26.1ML/a 50ML/a 70ML/a Stage 2 30ML/a 17.5ML/a Stage 3 130ML/a 140ML/a 10ML/a Stage 4 30ML/a Stage 5 38.7ML/a 23ML/a 10ML/a Stage 6 10.9ML/a 6ML/a Stage 7
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Proposed Pump house, Bonython Park, Park Lands X Park LANDS News December 2012—12 Park Lands digs continued from p 8 return of historic finds, most notably Torrens are also expected to be of during excavation of the stormwater cultural and archaeological significance, drain in Park 23 (south of Sir Donald layered above with items associated Bradman Drive). with the temporary habitations from the As a site of aboriginal battles, burials earliest years of European settlement. and ceremonies the banks of the River As John Stuart Mill noted, South Australia was founded on entirely new principles. 1. Remnant native grass Chloris truncata One of these was ‘no settlement prior to (Windmill Grass), Park 24 plateau, now survey’. constructed upon by Cirque du Soleil. Whilst awaiting completion of the survey, 2. Exotic Road Plant (Ignoramus circus settlers erected makeshift habitations, var canadienne) invading Park 24 ranging from small tents and rude huts to remnant native vegetation (foreground). the substantial establishment of the Land 3. Preparation of the Cirque du Soleil site, and Survey Offices and William Light for over an hectare of bitumisation. and James Hurtle Fisher’s Park Lands 4. Blind-sided by a rogue Cirque du residences, depicted in William Light’s Soleil shipping container. Traffic exiting watercolour The commencement of Top: Holloway’s ointment, and a glass Park 24 and Park Lands Trail south to colonization in South Australia, 1837. syringe, from the Adelaide Park Lands Sir Donald Bradman Drive have their Railyards (New RAH) work site. vision of traffic streaming off the Hilton Kelly Henderson bridges blocked by a Cirque du Soleil Below: View from Light’s Vision. Photo shipping container-cum-advertising- taken by K Henderson, December 2012. hoarding. 5. ‘Just not cricket’. Adelaide City Council UPark toll booths in Park 24, north of Sir Donald Bradman Drive charge for Park Lands car parking whilst nearby on-street bitumen carparks are closed to the public. 6. Adelaide City Council operated UPark in Park 24, during Cirque du Soleil performance. Photos taken by K Henderson: no.1 (2011); no. 2 (October 2012); nos. 3–6 (December 2012).
Once upon a time the City of Charles Sturt for stormwater havesting and reuse’ whilst Charles Sturt water sales business would had a stormwater management project visiting Cheltenham with the then Premier be the Cheltenham Park Racecourse/ named the ‘Port Road Rejuvenation Mike Rann.4 St Clair development, for a ‘sustainable Project’. This changed its name to ‘Water sanctuary in the making’: The City of Charles Sturt was allocated Proofing the West—Stage 1’.1 As recently $20 million for its Water Proofing the St Clair will be Adelaide’s first large as 14 June 2011, this was discussed in West—Stage One project: scale, inner metropolitan ‘water-wise’ an open Council meeting when receiving residential address with aquifers Involves developing infrastructure an aborist report on removal of 110 trees creating an evergreen landscape and 2 capable of capturing, treating and (including 28 Significant Trees). Charles waterways fed by the Torrens River6 Sturt Council confirmed it was committed supplying stormwater to replace to ‘an extensive landscape upgrade ... potable water for irrigation and St Clair is marketed as ‘Waterside with 1172 trees, including 450 large tree industrial use. To offset approx. 555 Premium Land’, ‘exclusive lots with species (River Red Gum, SA Blue Gums million litres/year.5 panoramic lagoon and waterway views’ 3 for ‘living in a parkland oasis’.7 and Spotted Gums)’. Commercial take from the Torrens Your own little exclusive piece of the The Australian Government commenced Rather than ‘capturing stormwater’ the Torrens, pumped direct to your door. a competitive grants round in October project intends to: 2009. On 2 November 2009, Senator the • construct a pumping station in Kelly Henderson Hon Penny Wong announced ‘$86 million Bonython Park, Adelaide Park Lands on the Reiver Torrens’ north bank; 1. http://www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/ Left: City of Charles Sturt ‘Water Proofing • pump water uphill to take it out of page.aspx?u=610. 2. City of Charles Sturt the West’—Stage One Project; map Council Meeting 14/06/2011Agenda Item of the Linking and Distribution main the Torrens Catchment and into the Port River Catchment, thence to run 6.109. 3. Ibid. 4. http://www.climatechange. network, December 2011. Irrigation of gov.au/~/media/Files/minister/previous%20 Council parks (marked in green) and for downhill through Charles Sturt Council to Port Adelaide/Enfield Council areas; minister/wong/2009/media-releases/ Private Customers (marked in yellow). November/mr20091101.pdf. 5. Ibid. 6. Based on Water Proofing the West • to sell the majority of the water, commercially, to ‘private customers’. http://stclair.net.au/index.php/about/ mapping, Walbridge and Gilbert/Charles environment. 7. http://www.stclair.net.au/. Sturt Council, December 2011. A major ‘private customer’ of the City of Park LANDS News December 2012—13 Carbon fraud and tree deceit Research on carbon cycles in trees Association, Sir Edwin Smith promised by world-leading expert Ernst Detlef- Telling people to plant trees ‘the trees would be kept alive’.5 Schulze (Max Planck Institute for makes about as much sense as Where are they now? Biochemistry) among others, has suggesting they drink more water Unlike the SACA’s transplanting of exposed the tree deceit and carbon to offset rising sea levels significant trees in their Oval expansion, fraud of politicians and government- DTEI takes the unsustainable route of funded ‘green’ organisations. Oliver Rackham, historical ecologist, Cambridge University, UK kill and ‘replace’. At the current rate of In 2006, Gerald Traufetter’s article attrition in the tree-promise count (from ‘Planting Trees to Atone for our Million Trees program, Park Lands ‘about 350’ now down to ‘about 250’), 1 DTEI is unlikely to plant any trees at all., Environmental Sins’ observed that: Digging up and destroying cost-free but should be billed for the lifetime value ‘Telling people to plant trees makes carbon-sequestering remnant native of each tree removed. about as much as sense as suggesting grassland species and soils is wasteful, they drink more water to offset rising and unsustainable. Unlike Burnside’s On 3 November 2011 Chief Executive sea levels,’ says Oliver Rackham, a recognition of natural services, Adelaide of DTEI, Rod Hook said he’d told a historical ecologist at Cambridge City Council removes remnant native Parliamentary Committee about 55 University. vegetation as a partner of Rann’s Million trees would be removed of which 16 were Significant trees, ‘but we will Ernst-Detlef Schulze, a director Trees program. These ill-conceived plant something like about 350’ and at the Max Planck Institute for activities litter the Park Lands with ‘construction teams will not be touching Biogeochemistry ... is one of the weed-infested political plantations, any tree that did not need to be knocked world’s leading experts in the study of increasing carbon cost: down to complete the upgrade’6 and carbon cycles in trees ... and arrives • soil disturbance and damage, reportedly he said more than 300 trees at a sobering conclusion for a typical releasing soil carbon; would be planted in the Oval precinct to tree growing outdoors in a moderate • removal of carbon-sequestering replace those cut down.7 climate: “It would have to be at least native grasses and replacement with 60 years old before it became a net carbon-generating young trees; Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood’s consumer of carbon dioxide from the absolutely sad comment to media on • carbon cost of tree planting materials, atmosphere.” government destruction of significant weed-infested mulch, volunteers, etc. trees at Adelaide Stadium? ‘Not happy’: ... a typical tree ... Transport tree fiascos It is absolutely a sad day when any tree Hundreds of trees, planted with great gets cut down, let alone a significant ‘would have to be at least 60 fanfare in Bonython Park along Port one so it’s not something we’re years old before it became a net Road, invested with thousands of particularly happy about.8 volunteer hours of maintenance effort, consumer of carbon dioxide from On 1 August 2012, after ACC refused lasted less than 6 years! the atmosphere.’ to cut down 40 trees (Pennington Road-widening and the tram extension, Park’s White Cedar Avenue), Hook was Ernst-Detlef Shulze, Max Planck Institute from City West to the Adelaide reported as saying Government’s plan for Biogeochemistry Entertainment Centre, ensured zero was to plant ‘about 250 extra trees’.9 survivals, and replanting with young eucalypts, and now dead native grasses Kelly Henderson Schulze’s work highlights a fact that of non-Park Lands provenance (contrary is too often overlooked: Although a 1. Gerald Traufetter, Spiegel Online to biodiversity principles and policy). tree absorbs carbon dioxide from International, 30 October, 2006, the atmosphere through its leaves, it As part of that same tramline extension, DER SPIEGEL 44/2006, http:// also releases the carbon stored in the the Department of Transport, Energy en.scientificcommons.org/55459679; http:// www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/ ground from its roots when it absorbs and Infrastructure (DTEI) also applied the-climate-indulgence-market-planting- nutrients. This is especially true of to remove 25 Significant trees from trees-to-atone-for-our-environmental- younger trees. Whether a tree will Park Lands between North Terrace sins-a-445836.html. 3 actually last 60 years or be harvested and the former Railyards fenceline. 2. ‘Managing Forests After Kyoto’, Science much earlier is something no one can DTEI proposed to plant 50 semi- journal, 22 September 2000, Schulze pp predict. mature ‘compensation’ trees, two 2058–2059. “Reforesting the world,” says Schulze, for every significant tree removed. 3. DA No. 020/0003/09, correspondence “is unlikely to save us.”2 The Development Assessment received by DAC on 18 December 2008, Commission (DAC) required DTEI to 28 January and 4 February, 2009. Burnside City Council’s Biodiversity lodge a landscape plan identifying the 4. DAC Agenda No 398, 12/03/2009, pp 3-4. Strategy grasps the fact that the location of these replacement trees 5. The Advertiser,9 Dec 1903, p 5. environment provides services saving ‘prior to the operational use of the tram 6. ABC 891 Adelaide, 3 November ratepayers funds. extension from City West to the Adelaide 2011, http://www.abc.net.au/local/ 4 stories/2011/11/03/3354877.htm. These services include the Entertainment Centre’. 7. ABC News, Interview by Ian Henshcke, maintenance of the gaseous Adelaide Oval rubbery tree figures 3 November 2011, http://www.abc.net.au/ composition of the atmosphere, control On 8 December 1901 the Hons Lionel, news/2011-11-02/significant-trees-to-go- of regional climates, generation and Aubrey and Harold Tennyson each for-adelaide-oval-upgrade/3615108. maintenance of soils, waste disposal, planted a Ficus Australis on the south- 8. Ibid. nutrient cycling and pest control. eastern mound of Adelaide Oval where 9. AdelaideNow, 1 August 2012, http:// JH Lawton and VK Brown, two others had earlier been planted www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south- ‘Redundancy in Ecosystems’ p 266 in by their Excellencies Lord and Lady australia/tree-decision-leaves-adelaide- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, 1994. Tennyson. On behalf of the SA Cricket oval-parking-stuck-in-the-mud/story- e6frea83-1226440689887. Park LANDS News December 2012—14 Town Hall honour reality Did you check know? An ACC media release of 30 October The Lord Mayor was quoted in The Most common 2012 announced Council had decided to Advertiser of 31 October: ‘A decision has Park Lands remove Lance Armstrong’s name from its been made and it’s time to move on’. bi-annual Key to the City honour board. No doubt the Lord Mayor (and members flowering of the Weatherill Government) would like The decision is apparently an plant us to ‘move on’ from their appalling lack ‘administrative change that will see his River Red gums of judgment. name removed from the board and does (Eucalyptus not seek to physically retrieve the Key’, Doubtless, we will move on when camaldulensis) says the release. ready to do so. In the meantime, just do not flower Despite his previous defence of Lance as the ACC has expunged Armstrong’s every year. Their Armstrong, Lord Mayor Stephen name from its Town Hall honour board, small fruits Yarwood voted to remove the Armstrong it should clean out Bonython Park’s develop very name from the honour board, saying Armstrong/Livestrong plaque and slowly, taking them two years to flower that Armstrong’s actions haven’t been signage forthwith. The objects should again, hence they are bi-annual. Some of honourable, thereby putting the Lord then be forwarded to Australia’s new the Adelaide Park Lands River red gums Mayor at odds with former premier High Commissioner in London as a are not due to flower until next season. Mike Rann, an Armstrong worshipper, reminder that his slavering admiration for For the ones flowering already, if you who considers Armstrong to be ‘an Lance Armstrong will not be forgotten by miss seeing them now you’ll have to wait honourable man’. South Australian taxpayers. another two years. Philip Groves Is there a ‘Mo-poke’ near you? The Southern Boobook Owl (Ninox novaehallandiae, also known as the Mopoke) nests and hunts in Adelaide’s Park Lands. Its call sounds like ‘mo- Rebadging poke’. Boobooks have been heard calling throughout (South) Adelaide, near West Terrace, around Hutt Street, and in the Danthonia eastern Park Lands. Expect fledgling Boobook Owls to sound like crickets and There are many species of the genus emerge from their nest hollows in January. Austrodanthonia (commonly known as Harming ants nests = harming Wallaby grass) recorded in the Adelaide native bats Park Lands, for example: Native bats feed on flying ants and Austrodanthonia caespitosa insects, but flying ants are only produced (Common Wallaby-grass) by healthy (undamaged) ants nests. Ants nests harmed by vehicles and other Austrodanthonia carphoides var. damage cannot provide the flying ant carphoides food that bats rely on. (Short Wallaby-grass) Park Lands Yellow-tailed Black Austrodanthonia eriantha Cockatoos need weeds (Hill Wallaby-grass) Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos Austrodanthonia linkii var. linkii Above: Austrodanthonia sp. (Calyptorhynchus funureus) have been in (Leaf Wallaby-grass) Below: Ground-foraging amongst rapid decline because of native habitat Austrodanthonia sp. Park 6, North clearance and loss of their food supply Austrodanthonia racemosa var. Park Lands; photos taken by K and nest sites. racemosa Henderson, December 2012. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos enjoy (Slender Wallaby-grass) feeding on Pine trees in the South Park Austrodanthonia setacea var. setacea Lands and have been sighted in the South (Small Flower Wallaby-grass) Park Lands this season. They are roosting at dusk in sugar gums near Beaumont International collaborative research on Road and feeding in Park 24, north of Sir this genus is set to change the genus Donald Bradman Drive. name from Danthonia or Austrodanthonia Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos need the to Rytidosperma.1 exotic introduced Pines (considered to The change has already been adopted in be ‘weed’ species), because there are NSW, Tasmania and Victoria. not enough native pines to satisfy their appetite. If the ‘weed’ pines are cut down Kelly Henderson they will lose this food source and go Top right: River Red Gum (Eucalyptus hungry, or go elsewhere. They also feed 1. Linder et al, ‘Classification of camaldulensis) in flower in Park 6, North on native Sheoak (Allocasuarina sp.), Danthonioideae’, Annals of Missouri Park Lands, near Kingston Terrace, North but Adelaide City Council has also been Botanical Gardens, Volume 97 Number Adelaide. Photo taken by K Henderson, removing these. 3, 2010 p 306-364. December 2012. Michael Sando Park LANDS News December 2012—15 Boiling frog syndrome In April 2012, former Federal Minister billion estimated non-government Alexander Downer noted SA’s state debt construction costs); was already about $9 billion and expected • an assets expense of $30 million to climb back to a State-Bank-disaster recognised in 2011–12 associated with debt level ($11 billion) by 2015-16:1 the SA Health and Medical Research • SA’s debt could reach $27 billion by Institute for construction costs; 2015–16 (taking into account unfunded • $435.1 million for a Stadium (p41), and superannuation and Workcover • $85 million grant to SACA, and an extra liabilities $2 million SACA/SANFL grant. and future borrowings for the new RAH; • we’ve ‘too many public hospitals’; In a Media Release on 16/12/2012, Community Alliance SA President Tom • the SA Government’s ‘policy settings Matthews said are unsustainable’, with insufficient The community should not be paying revenue to fund them, requiring major for badly designed and planned increases in taxes, and developments ... nor for white • boiling frog syndrome. elephants...South Australians can’t afford to fund development money pits.3 Plaque commemorating Australia’s A quick look at the Budget2 finds political first Town-planning conference, luxuries figure largely, as government Kelly Henderson Adelaide, SA, 1917, affixed to the digs deeper and deeper into debt with northern face of Colonel William doubly unsustainable Park Lands major 1. ‘Downer: SA’s perilous state debt’, The Advertiser, Light’s Statue plinth, Light’s Vision, projects: 15 April 2012. Montefiore Hill, North Adelaide. • $2.8 billion finance lease liability for 2. SA Government 2012-13 Budget Statement, p40. 3. http://communityalliancesa.org.au/2012/12/20/ Photo taken by K Henderson, 2011. the new Royal Adelaide Hospital ($1.8 what-would-colonel-light-do-what-will-john-rau-do/
Signs of the times ‘Zoo Open Every Day 9.30am–5.00pm’
ADELAIDE ZOO, FROME ROAD (right), and ZOO / CAFE ENTRANCE (left) 19/12/2012 8:45 PM
WRONG WAY GO BACK
‘Directional’ sign, Park 20, Unley Rd (19/12/2012)—the sign clearly says “Adelaide City Council’s ‘management’ of signage is going in the wrong direction!”
Park LANDS News December 2012—16 What’s in a title? The distinction of At the time of his election to the Lord to appoint any additional Lord Mayors to being the youngest Mayoralty in 2010 at the age of 39, colonial cities. At that time only Sydney person elected Stephen Yarwood pronounced himself and Melbourne had Lord Mayors. to the office of the youngest ever Lord Mayor of It was not until after World War I that the Adelaide. Mayor/Lord Mayor ... Agent General for SA in London made a clearly resides with A lazy Adelaide media has reinforced successful application for Lord Mayoralty that claim, with the Lord Mayor repeating status for Adelaide. The decision was John Lavington his ‘youngest ever Lord Mayor’ at every largely influenced by SA’s war efforts, Bonython available opportunity and, by inference, which saw great numbers of South that this ‘fact’ confers some sort of Australians enlisting, and large sums of The rightful ‘youngest ever’ Mayor/ meaningful distinction. money raised for the war effort. Lord Mayor of Adelaide History records that in 1911, the then s of the timeCharles Glover, already If an office bearer’s age on entering office Mayor of Adelaide, Lewis Cohen, in Mayor of Adelaide from 1917, became is of any interest or relevance, then other London for the Coronation of King the first Lord Mayor of Adelaide in 1919. comparisons between office holders are George V, took that opportunity to apply The only effect of the 1919 name change equally relevant. to the British Government’s Secretary of from Mayor to Lord Mayor was a change State for the Colonies to plead Adelaide’s to the stationery. The duties attaching to In 1901, John Lavington Bonython was case to become a Lord Mayoralty. It the office remained the same. Arguably, elected to the Adelaide City Council was reported that Cohen’s application the office of Mayor of Adelaide is not as a councillor. In 1907 he became an was not well received, as the British distinguishable from the office of Lord alderman, and then Mayor of Adelaide Government had previously decided not Mayor of Adelaide. between 1911 and 1913. Born on 10 September 1875, he was 36 years of Victoria Park—don’t miss this race So says an advertisement appearing under The areas available for lease are: Apparently, the ACC prefers to promote the commercial properties section of The • the enormous ground floor of the the site as some kind of commercial hub Advertiser in recent times. heritage grandstand; to be exploited because of its ‘prime We are told by the ACC’s property agent • the former Bookmakers League position’ on the Park Lands. The ACC four unique and very special offerings building; concedes significant funding is required are now leasing on prime Park Lands • the Grandstand Entrance façade, being to bring the buildings up to a tenantable positions with direct access from Fullarton the former racecourse ticketing and standard, a standard not enforced by the Road and that these flexible offerings will turnstile area, and ACC during the travesty of the SAJC’s previous occupation of Victoria Park. be keenly sought after. • the stand-alone timber kiosk, of some Uses and combinations of uses that heritage value, unused for many years. Large hoardings advertising the proposed leases have been placed in the Park Lands may be considered, subject to various The agent states ‘the Adelaide City on the Fullarton and Wakefield roads’ consents, include but are not limited to Council is keen to have the buildings frontages, contravening the ACC’s own hospitality, licensed restaurant, cafe, retail, leased to viable and exciting businesses Park Lands advertising policy. tourism, cultural, or other associated that encourage use of the Park Lands, commercial uses. with excellent access via bike, car or foot.’ Philip Groves
Top: Victoria Park adjacent Britannia Roundabout, Wakefield Road. Inset, top right: Artsign Outdoors sticker, on rear of signage. Left: The Kiosk commercial advertising signage adjacent Britannia Roundabout and along Fullarton Road. Photos taken by K Henderson, 30 October 2012.
Park LANDS News December 2012—17 For the record What’s in a title? It is timely to revisit statements and If Jay Weatherill wants to see a greater continued from p 17 promises made by Jay Weatherill perception of independence on the APLA when, as Minister for Environment and Board, why are the other five members age when he was appointed Mayor of Conservation, he attended the February Ministerial appointments? Adelaide. Later, he became Lord Mayor 2010 Adelaide Park Lands Authority The APLA Board remains as it has been of Adelaide (1927–1930), received a (APLA) Board meeting. since its formation: a heavily conflicted knighthood in 1935, and died on 6 November 1960. The distinction of being Minister Weatherill was invited to present structure consisting of council and the youngest person elected to the office a summary of Labor Party policies for state government appointees, with of Mayor/Lord Mayor, therefore, clearly the Park Lands, as were other political some members demonstrating very resides with John Lavington Bonython. parties. little knowledge of, or affinity for, Park Land matters. In practice, the APLA It is unlikely the current Lord Mayor In her News from the Adelaide Park Board remains a committee of the ACC, Stephen Yarwood will threaten the Lands Authority of 19 February 2010, with ACC councillors, to all intents contribution made by Lavington APLA Board Member Gunta Groves and purposes, providing advice to Bonython to the Adelaide City Council. reported on Minister Weatherill’s address: themselves. Bonython’s commitment to heritage conservation and protection in both the Jay Weatherill reviewed Labor’s Weatherill’s promise to return the old city and the state was renowned. The contributions to the Park Lands, RAH site to Park Lands also needs to immense contribution he made to the including introducing the Park Lands be considered in the context of other civic and business life of Adelaide is a Act, money provided to the ACC, ‘promises’ made. As Member for matter of public record. and returning alienated Park Lands to Cheltenham, Weatherill made promises open space. He stated that the Park to his electors and the people of South A modest man, Sir John Lavington Lands were not just cheap land to be Australia over two election campaigns Bonython spent all of his lifetime doing, passed on to developers. that he would not support the re-zoning rather than talking about himself and his He justified building the new RAH on of Cheltenham Park Racecourse, which achievements. the Park Lands by saying that Light had been proclaimed as open space in This contrasts with the incumbent Lord has always intended a hospital to be perpetuity (prohibiting subdivision). Mayor, who appears to be using the built in the Park Lands. A promise was He subsequently and controversially office for the purpose of boosting his made to return the old RAH site to reneged on those promises, supporting own profile, perhaps for a tilt at a higher Park Lands. He also commented on the state government’s re-zoning of office. Any guesses? the ACC appointments to the APLA the Racecourse which allowed the SA The ‘youngest ever’ mantle Lord Mayor and intimated that non-Councillors Jockey Club to reap massive windfall Yarwood uses could more accurately be should be included to create a greater profits subdividing the land for housing described as the youngest ever Mayor/ perception of independence. development. It also denied the residents Lord Mayor to roll-over to the state Jay Weatherill’s comment to the meeting the only significant open space remaining government on Park Lands issues. that non-Councillors should be appointed in the western suburbs. During his leadership, the Park Lands to the Board has fallen on deaf ears, What store can South Australians place have been under relentless pressure from witnessed by the re-appointment of four on any ‘promises’ or commitments made government and business. ACC councillors, and remembering that by now Premier Jay Weatherill? There have been more secret meetings the legislation requires that the Lord and ‘deals’ concerning the Park Lands Mayor is the Board’s Presiding Member. Philip Groves than at any other time, despite his claims to care about them. Philip Groves 2006 - Structure Plan commissioned by LMC 2007 - draft Minsterial Development Plan 50% (24.3ha) open space including a regional Amendment (DPA) 35% (17.3 ha) open space park of 21 ha still with a NW-corner regional park
2008 - Final DPA 35% (17.3ha) open space reconfigured eastwards
Above: Jay Weatherill ALP Candidate for Cheltenham opposes subdivision of Cheltenham Park Racecourse in pre- election material “Only Labor will fight to 2012 - 35% (17.3ha) no regional park; save the racecourse”, c 2001. minimal useable open space in NW corner; Left: The erosion of Cheltenham Park open space reconfigured eastwards, open space design for premium ‘water-side’ promotions Racecourse open space promises. Park LANDS News December 2012—18 Committee 2012–2013
President: Ian Gilfillan
Secretary: Brian Mitchell
Treasurer: Luciana Larkin
Committee members: Jonathan Harry Kelly Henderson Luciana Larkin Damian Mugavin Kyle Penick SA HEALTH Dept of Premier DPTI ACC Hamish Ramsay & Cabinet Michael Sando Shane Sody
Auditor David Carver, BK Partners
Editor/Web administrator Kelly Henderson
‘WHO TOOK THE PEOPLE’S PARK LANDS?’ ... ’TWAS HIM DISCLAIMER The information in this publication is presented in good faith to members of APPA Inc. While the information is Above: Adapted by K Henderson from ‘The Two Questions’/’Tammany Ring’ by believed to be correct, APPA Inc takes no responsibility for its accuracy. No liability is accepted for any statements Thomas Nast (1840-1902), originally published in Harper’s Weekly (A Journal of of opinion or any error or omission. Although advertising Civilization) New York, August 19, 1871, p 764. material is accepted for this newsletter, such acceptance does not imply endorsement by APPA Inc.
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Park LANDS News December 2012—19 Contact News, comments, articles and Next newsletter copy deadline: Web site suggestions: 25 January 2013 Ian Gilfillan (President) Telephone: (08) 8333 0534 The Editor Membership: Mobile: 0429 0429 50 c/– PO Box 7334 Membership of the Association is open Hutt Street SA 5000 to all who support the objectives of the Brian Mitchell (Secretary) Mobile: 0432 989 676 Association. Members receive the Park Telephone: (08) 8263 5168 E-mail: [email protected] Lands News four times a year.
Detail: Colonel William Light, Australia, 1786–1839, The commencement of colonization in South Australia, 1837 Location Key c.1837, Adelaide, watercolour on paper, 34.2 x 58.9 cm View depicted in Gift of Sir Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG, 1890 Colonel William Light’s ‘The commencement of colonization Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide in South Australia, 1837’ Park LANDS News December 2012—20