News & Developments: Bowden TOD

[gnrc_louis]

I wouldn't be surprised if MAB simply walked way to be honest. Why should they bother investing here when Labor seem hell bent on making it as difficult as possible for them so they can score political points with Crowies? Extremely disappointed by Mali. Perhaps there's an ulterior motive at play considering how close he lives to the site...

You can't hint that!

It's only the "other side" that engages in allegedly self-interested interference in the planning process such as not approving a port on Kangaroo Island. 'Everyone knows" that Peter Malinauskas as Premier would not seek to influence development of the former gas works in his electorate of Croydon, any more than Tom Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and transport would try to influence development of a free-flowing freeway through his electorate of West Torrens.

Who has declared that only the "other side" does this? Not really sure what point you're trying to make here, but most people know full well that both parties play politics when it suits them. Clearly this whole gasworks issue is just quasi-populism, hopefully the review finds the process was sound and MAB can proceed.

[SBD]

I wouldn't be surprised if MAB simply walked way to be honest. Why should they bother investing here when Labor seem hell bent on making it as difficult as possible for them so they can score political points with Crowies? Extremely disappointed by Mali. Perhaps there's an ulterior motive at play considering how close he lives to the site...

You can't hint that!

It's only the "other side" that engages in allegedly self-interested interference in the planning process such as not approving a port on Kangaroo Island. 'Everyone knows" that Peter Malinauskas as Premier would not seek to influence development of the former gas works in his electorate of Croydon, any more than Tom Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and transport would try to influence development of a free-flowing freeway through his electorate of West Torrens.

Who has declared that only the "other side" does this? Not really sure what point you're trying to make here, but most people know full well that both parties play politics when it suits them. Clearly this whole gasworks issue is just quasi-populism, hopefully the review finds the process was sound and MAB can proceed.

Both state and federal Labor politicians seem to be arguing that we need an ICAC with powers to catch out the members of teh former Liberal governments. One of the state ones described it as "shameful" that the Ombudsman said Vickie Chapman had not broken the rules.

[gnrc_louis]

You can't hint that!

It's only the "other side" that engages in allegedly self-interested interference in the planning process such as not approving a port on Kangaroo Island. 'Everyone knows" that Peter Malinauskas as Premier would not seek to influence development of the former gas works in his electorate of Croydon, any more than Tom Koutsantonis as Minister for Infrastructure and transport would try to influence development of a free-flowing freeway through his electorate of West Torrens.

Who has declared that only the "other side" does this? Not really sure what point you're trying to make here, but most people know full well that both parties play politics when it suits them. Clearly this whole gasworks issue is just quasi-populism, hopefully the review finds the process was sound and MAB can proceed.

Both state and federal Labor politicians seem to be arguing that we need an ICAC with powers to catch out the members of teh former Liberal governments. One of the state ones described it as "shameful" that the Ombudsman said Vickie Chapman had not broken the rules.

Damn right we need a Federal ICAC! If you think otherwise, just look at how effective the NSW ICAC has been at finding wrongdoing on BOTH sides.

The fact is, the ICAC model the Morrison Government offered was substandard, ineffective, much too secretive and simply not fit for purpose. Add to that how scandal plagued that Government was and it's clear how a Federal ICAC is an important mechanism to stop similar behavior occurring in future governments.

If you genuinely don't believe a Federal ICAC is absolutely essential then you either haven't been paying attention, are incredibly naive or you're such a partisan that you've swallowed the Morrison nonsense of it being a "kangaroo court" etc. Myself, I'll listen to the myriad of legal experts who at this point are pretty much begging for a Federal ICAC: https://www.themandarin.com.au/189772-b ... eral-icac/

Re: Chapman, I think this Tom Richardson piece is good to keep in mind: https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2022/05/ ... she-didnt/

[SBD]

Who has declared that only the "other side" does this? Not really sure what point you're trying to make here, but most people know full well that both parties play politics when it suits them. Clearly this whole gasworks issue is just quasi-populism, hopefully the review finds the process was sound and MAB can proceed.

Both state and federal Labor politicians seem to be arguing that we need an ICAC with powers to catch out the members of teh former Liberal governments. One of the state ones described it as "shameful" that the Ombudsman said Vickie Chapman had not broken the rules.

Damn right we need a Federal ICAC! If you think otherwise, just look at how effective the NSW ICAC has been at finding wrongdoing on BOTH sides.

The fact is, the ICAC model the Morrison Government offered was substandard, ineffective, much too secretive and simply not fit for purpose. Add to that how scandal plagued that Government was and it's clear how a Federal ICAC is an important mechanism to stop similar behavior occurring in future governments.

If you genuinely don't believe a Federal ICAC is absolutely essential then you either haven't been paying attention, are incredibly naive or you're such a partisan that you've swallowed the Morrison nonsense of it being a "kangaroo court" etc. Myself, I'll listen to the myriad of legal experts who at this point are pretty much begging for a Federal ICAC: https://www.themandarin.com.au/189772-b ... eral-icac/

Re: Chapman, I think this Tom Richardson piece is good to keep in mind: https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2022/05/ ... she-didnt/

I didn't intend to express a personal opinion on whether a Federal ICAC is required in my previous post. I think having one that is bored and twiddling its thumbs would probably be a good outcome. I expect it would have some investigations to complete first. I make no opinion about whether charges would follow.

I haven't necessarily thought deeply about it, but my quick look concluded that Chapman did not have a conflict of interest in the decision about the port. My reasoning was that the land that supposedly gave rise to the conflict is adjacent to the forest, not the proposed port. The timber would be harvested and exported anyway, causing whatever disruption it will to the use and enjoyment of that land. It didn't matter whether the timber was exported through a new dedicated port, or driven through the main street of Kingscote, or exported through the ferry terminal at Penneshaw. The timber will be harvested and carted away under any scenario.

The Richardson piece is long. I think I have skimmed it, but not properly read it all. Thanks for pointing it out.

[gnrc_louis]

Can someone please post this paywalled opinion piece about the Crows and the Gasworks site: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscrib ... our=append

[Nathan]

This one?

I want to call out this bit:

sporting clubs are crying out for ovals. As revealed by The Advertiser on July 1, an SANFL long-term facilities plan predicts more than 20 new football ovals will be needed across Adelaide within a decade

Almost every fucking green space in suburban Adelaide is a football/cricket oval. An oval, with a tiny kids playground in the corner, a single 10sqm shelter with a bbq, and maybe one of those weird outdoor gyms, is the default park design here. There's almost 3 dozen ovals within the parklands alone. How can we possibly be gagging for more?

Paul Starick analysis: New battle ahead over Brompton Gasworks, site of Adelaide Football Club’s failed HQ plans
The Adelaide Crows are set to be the talk of the town within weeks as controversy reignites over the site of their failed plan for a new base. Here’s Paul Starick’s analysis.

Within a few weeks, the Adelaide Football Club is set to be the talk of the town.

Unfortunately for Crows fans, including this writer, it won’t be because the team is charging through to the AFL finals series.

Rather, the imbroglio of the club’s eight-to-10-year hunt for a home away from West Lakes will reignite.

The trigger point will be the release of an independent review into the land deal for the Brompton Gasworks, where the Crows had hoped to build new headquarters.

The review has been examining the former Liberal government’s decision in January to name MAB Corporation as the preferred proponent for the 5.81ha inner-west site, ahead of the Adelaide Football Club.

The newly installed Labor government fulfilled an election promise by, in early May, commissioning engineering firm AECOM to conduct the review and releasing the criteria that decided MAB’s selection.

At the time, Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said he anticipated the review would take six to eight weeks.

It is understood the review will be handed to the government in late July, ahead of a subsequent public release. By that stage, the Crows will have only three games remaining in the 2022 season – the final one a Showdown against Port Adelaide.

Self-evidently, the findings of the review are not yet known. Any decision to tear up MAB’s deal, however far advanced, will raise sovereign risk issues. The Labor government will have to calculate whether the review provides sufficient ammunition and impetus to attempt this.

Some influential figures were dismayed by the-then Liberal treasurer Rob Lucas’s announcement that Melbourne-based MAB had been selected ahead of the Crows in the process run by state government land agency Renewal SA.

Not least among them was future Premier Peter Malinauskas, a passionate Port supporter whose Croydon electorate includes the Brompton site.

Just weeks before his March 19 state election success, Mr Malinauskas pointedly highlighted that the Crows’ proposal involved 57 per cent open space versus MAB’s 25 per cent.

The Labor leader also stressed that the Crows’ plan would have created $3.1bn in economic activity over 20 years.

“They’ve chosen more high-density housing in what’s already a densely housed community and denied a project that was ostensibly commercially viable and provided more green space,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser in late January.

“Between Port Rd and Torrens Rd in the Bowden and Brompton community there’s no oval for people to kick a footy or play cricket.”

Inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes, a respected and erudite commentator, declared: “Renewal SA should hang their heads in shame. There’s a real chance that developments like that could turn into ghettos.” Their objections, based on the Crows proposal’s superior community and open space aspects, take on even greater significance now.

Not only is Mr Malinauskas running the state, but sporting clubs are crying out for ovals. As revealed by The Advertiser on July 1, an SANFL long-term facilities plan predicts more than 20 new football ovals will be needed across Adelaide within a decade to cater for a growing number of community footballers.

This is largely driven by an “unprecedented” growth in female participation.

Importantly, an oval was planned for the Brompton Gasworks in almost exactly the same spot that the Crows proposed to create one.

A 2011 masterplan document for the Bowden Urban Village, clearly shows an oval on the gasworks site.

A report to parliament’s Public Works Committee in the same year, by the Land Management Corporation (Renewal SA’s predecessor), details expected outcomes from the Bowden Urban Village. These are littered with references to “public spaces and landscaping” and a “high-quality and functional public realm”.

Providing open space and community connections were key components of the Crows’ failed plan. It is likely the AFL club now considers reviving Brompton a remote chance and, instead, is focusing on the Thebarton Oval precinct for planned new headquarters.

The LMC also told the Public Works Committee in 2011 that the state had experience in remediating contaminated industrial sites, like the gasworks. MAB, like the Crows, vowed to fund and oversee the clean-up themselves. It is likely the current Labor government would prefer this be conducted by an experienced state body rather than the private sector.

This is an important, if controversial, parcel of inner-western Adelaide land. It is vital that whatever development goes ahead is in the interests of the entire state.

[gnrc_louis]

This one?

I want to call out this bit:

sporting clubs are crying out for ovals. As revealed by The Advertiser on July 1, an SANFL long-term facilities plan predicts more than 20 new football ovals will be needed across Adelaide within a decade

Almost every fucking green space in suburban Adelaide is a football/cricket oval. An oval, with a tiny kids playground in the corner, a single 10sqm shelter with a bbq, and maybe one of those weird outdoor gyms, is the default park design here. There's almost 3 dozen ovals within the parklands alone. How can we possibly be gagging for more?

Paul Starick analysis: New battle ahead over Brompton Gasworks, site of Adelaide Football Club’s failed HQ plans
The Adelaide Crows are set to be the talk of the town within weeks as controversy reignites over the site of their failed plan for a new base. Here’s Paul Starick’s analysis.

Within a few weeks, the Adelaide Football Club is set to be the talk of the town.

Unfortunately for Crows fans, including this writer, it won’t be because the team is charging through to the AFL finals series.

Rather, the imbroglio of the club’s eight-to-10-year hunt for a home away from West Lakes will reignite.

The trigger point will be the release of an independent review into the land deal for the Brompton Gasworks, where the Crows had hoped to build new headquarters.

The review has been examining the former Liberal government’s decision in January to name MAB Corporation as the preferred proponent for the 5.81ha inner-west site, ahead of the Adelaide Football Club.

The newly installed Labor government fulfilled an election promise by, in early May, commissioning engineering firm AECOM to conduct the review and releasing the criteria that decided MAB’s selection.

At the time, Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said he anticipated the review would take six to eight weeks.

It is understood the review will be handed to the government in late July, ahead of a subsequent public release. By that stage, the Crows will have only three games remaining in the 2022 season – the final one a Showdown against Port Adelaide.

Self-evidently, the findings of the review are not yet known. Any decision to tear up MAB’s deal, however far advanced, will raise sovereign risk issues. The Labor government will have to calculate whether the review provides sufficient ammunition and impetus to attempt this.

Some influential figures were dismayed by the-then Liberal treasurer Rob Lucas’s announcement that Melbourne-based MAB had been selected ahead of the Crows in the process run by state government land agency Renewal SA.

Not least among them was future Premier Peter Malinauskas, a passionate Port supporter whose Croydon electorate includes the Brompton site.

Just weeks before his March 19 state election success, Mr Malinauskas pointedly highlighted that the Crows’ proposal involved 57 per cent open space versus MAB’s 25 per cent.

The Labor leader also stressed that the Crows’ plan would have created $3.1bn in economic activity over 20 years.

“They’ve chosen more high-density housing in what’s already a densely housed community and denied a project that was ostensibly commercially viable and provided more green space,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser in late January.

“Between Port Rd and Torrens Rd in the Bowden and Brompton community there’s no oval for people to kick a footy or play cricket.”

Inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes, a respected and erudite commentator, declared: “Renewal SA should hang their heads in shame. There’s a real chance that developments like that could turn into ghettos.” Their objections, based on the Crows proposal’s superior community and open space aspects, take on even greater significance now.

Not only is Mr Malinauskas running the state, but sporting clubs are crying out for ovals. As revealed by The Advertiser on July 1, an SANFL long-term facilities plan predicts more than 20 new football ovals will be needed across Adelaide within a decade to cater for a growing number of community footballers.

This is largely driven by an “unprecedented” growth in female participation.

Importantly, an oval was planned for the Brompton Gasworks in almost exactly the same spot that the Crows proposed to create one.

A 2011 masterplan document for the Bowden Urban Village, clearly shows an oval on the gasworks site.

A report to parliament’s Public Works Committee in the same year, by the Land Management Corporation (Renewal SA’s predecessor), details expected outcomes from the Bowden Urban Village. These are littered with references to “public spaces and landscaping” and a “high-quality and functional public realm”.

Providing open space and community connections were key components of the Crows’ failed plan. It is likely the AFL club now considers reviving Brompton a remote chance and, instead, is focusing on the Thebarton Oval precinct for planned new headquarters.

The LMC also told the Public Works Committee in 2011 that the state had experience in remediating contaminated industrial sites, like the gasworks. MAB, like the Crows, vowed to fund and oversee the clean-up themselves. It is likely the current Labor government would prefer this be conducted by an experienced state body rather than the private sector.

This is an important, if controversial, parcel of inner-western Adelaide land. It is vital that whatever development goes ahead is in the interests of the entire state.

Thanks. Fucking hell, these quotes in particular piss me off:

“They’ve chosen more high-density housing in what’s already a densely housed community and denied a project that was ostensibly commercially viable and provided more green space,” Mr Malinauskas told The Advertiser in late January. “Between Port Rd and Torrens Rd in the Bowden and Brompton community there’s no oval for people to kick a footy or play cricket.”

[Nathan]

What I don't get is there's plenty of space to kick a footy — you don't need a full size oval unless you're playing a full 18 per side game. Josiah Mitton Reserve, Tarband Avenue Reserve, Albert Greenshields Reserve, and Thomas Harkness Reserve have sufficient room. Even somewhere like Emu Park has enough for a smaller game of kick to kick. And if you really need to boot it, then there's oodles of unused flat fields on the other side of Park Tce.

[gnrc_louis]

What I don't get is there's plenty of space to kick a footy — you don't need a full size oval unless you're playing a full 18 per side game. Josiah Mitton Reserve, Tarband Avenue Reserve, Albert Greenshields Reserve, and Thomas Harkness Reserve have sufficient room. Even somewhere like Emu Park has enough for a smaller game of kick to kick. And if you really need to boot it, then there's oodles of unused flat fields on the other side of Park Tce.

Exactly! I walk fairly regularly through the parklands around there and very rarely are they used for ball sports besides the soccer club which trains there. Surely people can walk/ride/drive/catch the train the extra 1km or so to them. It really just seems like a mix of opportunism/pseudo-populism from the now Premier. I would love to see what Bowden residents actually want for the site - I bet for most it isn't the dogshit Crows proposal. If this government decides they're going to be anti-density NIMBYs more broadly because they think that's the "popular" approach, then god help us as a city - we're going no where quick.

[A-Town]

Mali is nothing more than a populist clown. Anyone who thought nothing would come from this politically-driven review was sorely wrong. Not only will we lose a great opportunity to increase the population density of the TOD, investment confidence in this city from the private sector will be affected due to the reckless actions of the Malinauskas Labor government.

[gnrc_louis]

Mali is nothing more than a populist clown. Anyone who thought nothing would come from this politically-driven review was sorely wrong. Not only will we lose a great opportunity to increase the population density of the TOD, investment confidence in this city from the private sector will be affected due to the reckless actions of the M alinauskas Labor government.

Let’s wait and see I guess. Surely the ultimate populist (name a populist politician not short on substance) act would be to complete the review and then nothing further comes from it. Fingers crossed that’s how it pans out here. Also not certain the crows still want this site and that they might be happy with Thebarton? Not sure how advanced their negotiations for there are.

[A-Town]

Mali is nothing more than a populist clown. Anyone who thought nothing would come from this politically-driven review was sorely wrong. Not only will we lose a great opportunity to increase the population density of the TOD, investment confidence in this city from the private sector will be affected due to the reckless actions of the M alinauskas Labor government.

Let’s wait and see I guess. Surely the ultimate populist (name a populist politician not short on substance) act would be to complete the review and then nothing further comes from it. Fingers crossed that’s how it pans out here. Also not certain the crows still want this site and that they might be happy with Thebarton? Not sure how advanced their negotiations for there are.

I believe the SANFL are proving to be a big stumbling block for the Crows at Thebarton.

[NTRabbit]

What I don't get is there's plenty of space to kick a footy — you don't need a full size oval unless you're playing a full 18 per side game. Josiah Mitton Reserve, Tarband Avenue Reserve, Albert Greenshields Reserve, and Thomas Harkness Reserve have sufficient room. Even somewhere like Emu Park has enough for a smaller game of kick to kick. And if you really need to boot it, then there's oodles of unused flat fields on the other side of Park Tce.

It's the same as the Torrens pedestrian bridge matchday vs any other day problem - 5 days a week there's enough oval space for everyone and their dog, and plenty of parks to have a bit of a kick. Then suddenly on Saturday and Sunday, with countless amateur clubs that need to support A+B+C Mens, A+B Womens, an U18 Girls, an U17.5 boys, an U16 girls, an U15 boys, an U14 girls, and an U13 boys, there aren't enough ovals across the metro area, and pushing their limits turns the ovals to mush through overuse before the end of the season.

[[Shuz]]

TBH - this is just poor scheduling trying to fit so many games on the weekend. I don't see why the junior grades can't play on weeknights?

Also, football training needs a massive rethink. Very rarely is a full field utilised. I don't see why training can't be undertaken in other parks for runs and drills other than main football grounds.

It's not a planning issue, it's an administration and cultural issue that has rigidly existed for decades that could stand to benefit from a different perspective and change.

[SBD]

TBH - this is just poor scheduling trying to fit so many games on the weekend. I don't see why the junior grades can't play on weeknights?

Also, football training needs a massive rethink. Very rarely is a full field utilised. I don't see why training can't be undertaken in other parks for runs and drills other than main football grounds.

It's not a planning issue, it's an administration and cultural issue that has rigidly existed for decades that could stand to benefit from a different perspective and change.

I don’t have kids for personal experience, but I suspect that winding down from a weeknight match then a good nights sleep ready for school the next day would be a challenge.