Sensational-Adelaide.com

SRW wrote:

claybro wrote:On the subject of parklands, have just spent the weekend back in Adelaide with a mate from Perth. First time visitor, we spend a lovely day at Glenelg( far and away better than any seaside location in Perth for atmosphere and amenity and without the hurricane force sea breeze of Perth) heading back into the city it was noted how dry and poorly maintained the memorials are. The whole of Anzac highway is a discrace. Worse still the entry to the South westparklands is a shocker, as is the median on west terrace. Come on Adelaide, this route is a major tourist drive. As a memorial avenue, Anzac highway is very poorly maintained. Can't you guys agitate for some irrigation and mowing? Such a minor thing would make such a better impression for locals and tourists alike.

Agreed!

Anzac Highway used to be beautifully maintained. I'm not sure why and when exactly, but it seems that it's been left to degrade ever since the last drought. That was a while ago now, so I can't imagine an excuse. Same goes for the south parklands conduit and Greenhill Road.

The West Tce medium itself has been recently upgraded in a water-wise landscaping fashion and is fine for what it is. The barren tram line garden beds down North Tce/Port Rd are not.

claybro wrote:And further to the rant... Just passed the tram terminus outside the entertainment centre... WTF.!!?? There is just dirt under the lines of pear trees. Absolutely discraceful. For God sakes guys, do you people drive around asleep? Do you realise how this looks to tourists.? Forget spending millions on half arsed tourist attractions,, just landscape and water the damn place! So simple! Who is in charge of this?

monotonehell wrote:This seems to be a common thing across all councils in recent years, they've used the previous period of water restrictions as an excuse to cut maintenance budgets.

phenom wrote:It's very disappointing to me that after all the work putting the recycled water piping through the parklands (which I probably optimistically assumed would be used to keep the entire parklands green all year around) so much of it is left to become desolate and dusty.

Wayno wrote:

phenom wrote:It's very disappointing to me that after all the work putting the recycled water piping through the parklands (which I probably optimistically assumed would be used to keep the entire parklands green all year around) so much of it is left to become desolate and dusty.

+1. i've personally let my local Councillor know about this too. They use the water for playing fields, and watering directly under trees. Period.

monotonehell wrote:

Wayno wrote:

phenom wrote:It's very disappointing to me that after all the work putting the recycled water piping through the parklands (which I probably optimistically assumed would be used to keep the entire parklands green all year around) so much of it is left to become desolate and dusty.

+1. i've personally let my local Councillor know about this too. They use the water for playing fields, and watering directly under trees. Period.

If not everywhere, then at least a plan to strategically green certain areas so as to at least keep up a facade.

Also maintenance of sidewalks and gutterwork around town would go a long way. Most footpaths are made out of a series of trip hazards these days.

Renewed push for Chinese garden in Adelaide parklands

There is a renewed push for the construction of a traditional Chinese garden in Adelaide's parklands.

Advocates have chosen 2016 as an auspicious year to renew a decade-old push to construct a large, traditional Chinese garden in Adelaide’s parklands.

Council, academic and philanthropic advocates believe the time is right for a renewed push, with 2016 the 15th anniversary of Adelaide’s sister city relationship with Qingdao, the 30th anniversary of its sister province relationship with Shandong, and 10 years since the Adelaide City Council last seriously investigated a Chinese garden for the parklands.

This morning, the State Government welcomed Chinese trade delegates to the city, where they will experience Fringe events including the Royal Croquet Club.

Executive officer of the University of Adelaide’s Confucius Institute Aaron Duff has made a submission to the draft Adelaide Parklands Management strategy, calling on the Adelaide City Council to consider a traditional Chinese garden for the south parklands.

Duff said that constructing a traditional Chinese garden in the heart of the city would demonstrate to Chinese investors and governments that “that we’re not only interested in their money”.

“It can be hard for [Chinese investors] to think we want more than just their money,” he said.

He said that China’s image in Australia was often associated with business interests, and that building a Chinese garden in the city would show that South Australians wanted to learn more about Chinese culture, and its people.

He said the garden would also provide “a point of difference” for Adelaide as it competes with other Australian cities to attract Chinese students.

“In the case of Sydney, their Chinese garden is now one of the biggest tourist attractions,” Duff said, noting that the garden had been listed as one of the top “things to do” in Sydney on travel advice website Tripadvisor.

“In my mind, the southern parklands seem to be an area where it would fit in quite well,” he said.

Duff said most traditional Chinese gardens included running water, meandering pathways, multiple levels and a pagoda at the highest point.

He said the south parklands would be ideal for a traditional Chinese garden because the water and the multiple levels were already there.

“I’d like the Chinese garden to be big enough hold reasonable-sized events there [and] to be a meeting place,” he said.

“We could have a group of people [practising] Tai Chi, musical performances, or tea [gatherings].”

The said the Confucius Institute would be interested in contributing financially to building the garden.

However, the Institute would have to be a “minor” contributor.

He said he hoped some of the State Government’s $20 million parklands fund, promised at the last state election – some of which may go towards a new upgrade of Victoria Square – may be used to construct the garden.

Susan Lee, now co-president of the annual Asia in SA charity dinner, spearheaded the push for a Chinese garden in the parklands in 2006, during the tenure of then Lord Mayor Michael Harbison.

She told InDaily that she was interested in supporting the renewed push, and that a garden could host Chinese chess games, group exercise, musical performances and community gatherings.

In late January, South Ward city councillor Priscilla Corbell asked for a report from the council’s administration regarding the possibility of a Chinese rose garden being built in Veale Gardens (which are in the south parklands).

Corbell is also employed at the Confucius Institute, and told InDaily this morning she had been advised that she can no-longer champion the idea of a traditional Chinese garden in the south parklands, because it may be viewed as a conflict of interest.

The south parklands already host a traditional Japanese garden.

SRW wrote:The great shame is that the Government relented on plans to make the parks one place as part of the O-Bahn works, but hopefully we can end up with that result at some point into the future.