Casino in Glenelg?

[cleverick]

As I suggested in, "Campaign to Treat Port and Glenelg Separately", I would like to see the casino move to a water-front location in Glenelg.

I think it suits the party atmosphere of the Bay more than the City. Combined with a hotel, restaurants and beach-front licencing, it would be like a little bit of the Adriatic Coast. Everyone says we have a mediterranean climate, so why not use it?
A purpose-built building (as opposed to an old railway station), ocean views, availability of local bars and clubs as well as casino-operated ones, local shopping strip and a ferry from Glenelg to KI for tourists and locals alike leaving from the end of the groyne would be amazing.
Combined with my proposed Glenelg-Airport express train, and the extant Bay-City line, this could work, I think.
Given they've already over-developed the area, I don't think each additional building is going to do much more damage. With appropriate protection of the area's remaining heritage, it might just work.

Your thoughts?

[Omicron]

I'd have to disagree, I'm afraid, based on a number of points. Firstly, to justify moving the Casino to a new location would demand a venue of equal or greater size, and there just isn't the available space without significant property acquisition by a private developer on a scale that would not be tolerated. The only locations that would make any sort of sense for a high-traffic business like a casino are those around Moseley Square, Colley Tce or a short extension of the South Esplanade just past the Grand, but there is absolutely no scope for property acquisition in these locations given the multitude of existing buildings and businesses.

As it stands, a movement exists to limit trading hours for bars and pubs within Glenelg (between midnight and 2am, from memory) - a new casino would not only have to break down this barrier but also apply for 24-hour trade in a suburban area; quite literally within metres of residential areas given the close proximity of apartments to the busiest areas of Glenelg. I very much doubt that any council in the state, let alone the historically-conservative City of Holdfast Bay, would approve any such application, and to be honest, I'd probably agree with them.

In addition, I'd be willing to bet that much of the Casino's revenue, like with any bar or club, comes from passing traffic - it's not often you hear of people deciding to have a night out at the Casino alone and spending all their money in the one place. Certainly, I've heard many first-hand accounts from family members and friends who did just that back in the first decade of the Casino's existence, but that hasn't been the case for a very long time - especially not since poker machines took hold. Consequently, I doubt that Glenelg could offer a new casino sufficent volumes of passers-by - especially compared to the volumes experienced in town on Friday and Saturday nights as people head from one bar to another.

Welcome to the forums, incidentally! Sorry to begin by disagreeing so vehemently, but if you ask nicely I may just bake you some biscuits.

[cleverick]

That makes twice now!
Thanks for the welcome though

Some thoughts:
People also live within metres of the Casino in the city (admittedly, apartments, but they have children too- I know some of them!)
Pokie machines might not be around forever. Governments are addicted to cigarette revenue, too, but look where that's headed. Without Xenophon in the state, the no-pokies movement might suffer a momentary set-back, but I suspect there will always be a desire among citizens to curb pokie numbers. Perhaps the casino will again become the only place licenced for gambling?
The idea of a casino at the Bay fits with my idea of it as a separate city (see various posts of mine). And what's this about Holdfast Bay being the most conservative council? Have you been there lately? Like, in the last decade or four? If current trends continue, they'll have higher buildings than the City! This would tend to attract traffic, incidental and specific.
I agree that the location is a problem. But I don't see it as an impossibility. I see it as something that needs some thought now so that in 15 years when we decide the Bay is a better place for the casino, we own property to build on.

[AtD]

Holdfast Bay is a very conservative council, run by the grey-hair brigade. They have delusions of Glenelg being a quiet sea-side village, and "nightlife" is a dirty word. They've kicked, screamed and cried about every high rise in Glenelg. Holdfast Shores, for example, took years to get approval and only did so when the state government took it out of the council's hands and was scaled back dramatically.

Instead of looking at what they've allowed to be built, have a look at what they haven't allowed to be built. I can think of 4 high-rise apartment blocks and a cinema complex off the top my head from the last few years. Developers were queuing up to invest in the area, and now they've all been scared away.

The last Mayor was elected in on a campaign to "end the economic boom" and halt the "over-development," which they seem to have been successful in doing so when you look at the huge amount of activity elsewhere in Adelaide. On top of that, at least one of the councillors who most vocally opposes more apartments owns one himself, so "the community's best interests" just happen to protect his lucrative beach-side investment. Hmm...

The square is nice though.

(BTW, you might wanna keep threads like this to the "Visions" section)

[Will]

I think a large casino would not work at Glenelg. However a smaller, more boutique, Monte-Carlo style casino may work.

[Shuz]

A casino is not the right sort of development for the area. Glenelg is a primary residential area, and at the moment does not have adequate tourism resources and amenities to warrant such an operation. There are far more tourist-orientated areas in other cities around Australia whom also do not have casinos in their locality.

Its purpose as an entertainment venue can only be justified in an high-scale entertainment precinct, where such liquor licensing and 24-hour trade regulations apply. The CBD, technically a CAD (Central Activity District) is such place where the operation of a Casino can be suitably carried out.

I would vehemently oppose any such development should it take place at this time. Let time unravel, and if the area has developed enough to warrant such potential, then I will consider my stance.

[Pistol]

Its not just a case of 'lets move the casino' for a start.
SkyCity holds the only Casino license in South Australia and part of this license stipulates that they are not able to have any of their gaming operation outside their existing premises.

So even if they bought say next door (The Hyatt) they would not be able to have any of their gaming operation in the hotel.

South Australia currently has legislated that there can only be one casino license in the state. Therefore you are asking the whole of the SkyCity Adelaide organisation to move down to the bay. Some serious cost benefit analysis would have to be done here but you can see that there is no real business sense in moving an established casino just because it might be better in another location.

[aussie2000]

it would be pretty cool, having a smaller one on moresly (whatever it is ) sqaure, but only if it were a second casino, not a move

[Omicron]

I think a large casino would not work at Glenelg. However a smaller, more boutique, Monte-Carlo style casino may work.

Such a business would be at least as expensive to construct as a larger casino, because you'd have to spend far more on interior design and materials to encourage more wealthy guests to attend, or one would just end up with an overinflated RSL club that has priced itself out of the market. I doubt the beer-swilling, thongs-wearing clientele of the Jetty Bar nearby quite fits the criteria, either.

[adam73837]

My Proposal:
Get the Government to give the Mayor of Holdfast Bay a cup of tea with a few sleeping pills in it so that they can approve the twin towers (and possibly make them a bit taller... ). Then build the latitude (except make it be about 80-odd meters high and add a few lighting displays around it as to make it like an iconic 'Emblem for Glenelg' which, along with the beach and Jetty Road, will make Glenelg a huge tourist attraction). Then get the government to sit back and watch the mayor wake up to discover that his seaside village has become a popular mid-rise tourist attraction (I am saying mid-rise, because 80 meters is not very tall in comparison to the City and Surfers). He will then run away with the retirement home residents down to an area between Aldinga and Cape jervis where they will establish their own settlement where there will be parklands, tea shops and of course, last but not least, a good-old resting place for them to have their afternoon nap without the intrusion of younger generations enjoying their time on the beach.
The Outcome:
Dear Adam,
I would like to state my digust at you proposal and that I believe that if you are 80 meters above the ground, you will need to have an oxygen mask in order to keep your lungs functioning properly. And as for your twin towers, I believe that they should never have been proposed in the first place because they destroy the quiet and peaceful character of Glenelg.
Yours sincerely,
The Mayor of Holdfast Bay (Not to be confused with Don Dunstan).

[SRW]

My Proposal:
Get the Government to give the Mayor of Holdfast Bay a cup of tea with a few sleeping pills in it so that they can approve the twin towers (and possibly make them a bit taller... ). Then build the latitude (except make it be about 80-odd meters high and add a few lighting displays around it as to make it like an iconic 'Emblem for Glenelg' which, along with the beach and Jetty Road, will make Glenelg a huge tourist attraction). Then get the government to sit back and watch the mayor wake up to discover that his seaside village has become a popular mid-rise tourist attraction (I am saying mid-rise, because 80 meters is not very tall in comparison to the City and Surfers). He will then run away with the retirement home residents down to an area between Aldinga and Cape jervis where they will establish their own settlement where there will be parklands, tea shops and of course, last but not least, a good-old resting place for them to have their afternoon nap without the intrusion of younger generations enjoying their time on the beach.
The Outcome:
Dear Adam,
I would like to state my digust at you proposal and that I believe that if you are 80 meters above the ground, you will need to have an oxygen mask in order to keep your lungs functioning properly. And as for your twin towers, I believe that they should never have been proposed in the first place because they destroy the quiet and peaceful character of Glenelg.
Yours sincerely,
The Mayor of Holdfast Bay (Not to be confused with Don Dunstan).

:wank:

[SRW]

*double post*

[adam73837]

In case anyone's wondering, when I stated (Not to be confused with Don Dunstan) I wasn't putting him down, I was trying to say that Don Dunstan did a heck of a lot for the state.

[Omicron]

In case anyone's wondering, when I stated (Not to be confused with Don Dunstan) I wasn't putting him down, I was trying to say that Don Dunstan did a heck of a lot for the state.

He stopped the tidal wave!

[monotonehell]

In case anyone's wondering, when I stated (Not to be confused with Don Dunstan) I wasn't putting him down, I was trying to say that Don Dunstan did a heck of a lot for the state.

He stopped the tidal wave!

Don't forget the pink shorts! Phroooowwwrrrrrrr! *cat whistles*