Commenting on the story: Adelaide rebounds in world’s most liveable rankings – but still behind Melbourne

If the Premier is genuine in his “ambition for our city to continue to do even better in coming years as one of the most liveable places on earth” then his Government needs to properly invest in public transport infrastructure, culture and the arts.

The focus must be on encouraging well-designed denser housing and creating better public transport access for the masses of urban sprawl we already have. Adelaide has both light and heavy rail systems in much need of serious investment, not to mention our decaying cultural institutions.

Adelaide has so much scope to become even better – but only if this Government expands their priorities and considers the bigger picture. – Louis Rankin

All sorts of criteria are used for this ranking but aircraft noise is not one of them. Where else is there a ‘liveable city’ that has aircraft taking off towards the city centre and flying low over a whole swag of inner city suburbs?

Even 5km east of the CBD you don’t need an alarm clock as the redeye flights will wake you up. – Danny Warren

Commenting on Your views: on upgrading park lands sports clubs

Reading certain reactions regarding the ACC decision to strip funding for facilities upgrades in the park lands, it is an effort to not write something brimming with frustration and anger. On the far end of the spectrum, advocates for completely removing facilities are almost impossible to take seriously.

In a world that is crying out for greater community connection, easier access to sports and generally struggling against an obesity epidemic, I can’t understand objections from those that want nothing more than to look at the park lands rather than actually use them in a completely reasonable manner. I can only assume the majority of those opposed have never actually played team sport, or belonged to a club.

You might like

Archive

The one-legged guide to ageing well

Archive

Reserve Bank tipped to hold interest rates despite inflation fall

I walk through the Park 19 every day. Watching kids, and on the weekends adults, of every age, gender and ethnicity playing team sport brings a smile to my face. I am looking forward to the day my son will be one of them. Expecting teams to use the utterly embarrassing facilities that currently exist is a sad indictment on our priorities and the value we place on being a community.

Additionally, having facilities to run classes, small functions for families and the community, and to provide game-day respite from the rain shouldn’t be seen as exorbitant.

To those opposed, I promise you’ll be able to walk your Golden Retriever three times a week without any concern. – Andrew McKenzie

You might like

Archive

The one-legged guide to ageing well

Archive

Reserve Bank tipped to hold interest rates despite inflation fall

Commenting on the story: ‘Unsaveable’: Council to fund demolition of ‘hideous’ Adelaide Aquatic Centre

Why demolish the pool before the new one is built? This doesn’t make sense as so many children go to learn swimming there each day and will be without classes for a year.

Leave it open please! – Trish Cooper

I find it somewhat bemusing that some suggest the City of Adelaide should continue to operate the Adelaide Aquatic Centre in its current state.

I’ve been a user of the aquatic centre for most of my life: I attended swimming carnivals there with school, remember the occasional visit as a child and more recently had a 12 month “gym and swim” membership.

Here’s the thing though: I have never been a ratepayer of the City of Adelaide and even when I was a resident, the aquatic centre was on the wrong side of town to be convenient.

There’s a reason there aren’t many facilities nearby that provide a gym, fitness classes, two lap pools and a dive pool for $19.55. The aquatic centre site sits on the border of three councils with at least two more practically a stone’s throw away. It’s arguably more convenient for those in the City of Charles Sturt, City of Prospect and the City of Walkerville than anyone in the City of Adelaide south of the Torrens.

Add in the number of people who might stop in on their way to/from jobs in the city and it becomes obvious that City of Adelaide ratepayers are effectively subsiding everyone else (cheers for that, by the way).

If I were a ratepayer, I’d be more than happy to let the State take that subsidy off my hands. – Seamus Brand

That most of the visitors that use the facilities (three times a week for my wife and I) are outside the city council area surely would be obvious.

A figure of 80% has been put up, which means that the majority of the income for the centre comes from outside the council area. Surely this would make the ACC happy? – Rick Burge

It is great to hear that the City of Adelaide is committing to the demolition of the existing aquatic centre and relandscaping of the site. This will prevent it becoming an ongoing eyesore like the area to the west of the Morphett St Bridge and the old netball courts in the south park lands.

The Adelaide park lands are an important community asset for passive and active recreation, and this commitment will maximise the area available for public use. The contingency is also an essential budget inclusion, with ongoing pressures on construction costs due to skills shortages, inflation and the volume of construction work proposed in South Australia.

It would also be wonderful to see the project actively supporting water sensitive urban design and urban tree canopy objectives defined in the State Planning Policies.  Designing the new car park with permeable paving which will minimise stormwater runoff and support establishment of trees throughout the carpark would be a great outcome.  The Adelaide Park Lands Authority should consider making tree cover and permeable paving a required standard for all parking areas in the park lands. – Nicolette Di Lernia

Commenting on the story: ‘Local news in retreat’: Premier calls on ABC to reverse SA news cut

The Premier’s points are all valid, and the ABC has dropped the ball badly on this one. But there’s an elephant in the room, and none of the pollies want to mention it.

The state-based Sunday TV news bulletins are critical to the media managers in the ministerial portfolios. Weekend news drops and other stunts are vital when the government (or the opposition) is trying to set the forthcoming week’s political agenda. Remember too that the newsrooms gobble up all sorts of politically driven media release rubbish on the weekends (much to the delight of the media minders) and it helps fill the Sunday bulletins (satisfying the editors).

The government’s and the news editors’ appeal to respect the machinery of ‘democracy’ is all well and good (and sound). But what did Keating once say? Put your money on self-interest! No doubt, given time, the pollies’ pressure will see the ABC back down. – John Bridgland

Commenting on the opinion piece: Why cash is likely to follow cheques into obscurity

Though I rarely use cash myself, I seriously question the idea that cash will be eliminated, despite the cost of its manufacture, transport etc. rising.

Eliminating cash would obviously seriously impact the back economy, and that’s a good thing. However, anyone who has ever experienced a power blackout, or issues with network connection – that is, probably everybody – would probably like an alternative option to paying for their goods.

This is where cash will remain relevant. As costly and cumbersome as it appears to be seen, it’s your best – sometimes only – option when preferred systems fail. – Tony Dawkins

The use of cash may be annoying to banks and some services. However, once again, the older population’s needs are not being met.

They are the most likely to use cash as they either don’t possess a computer, don’t want to, can’t afford it, or can’t successfully navigate the sometimes difficult sites for paying online bills. Having paid my share of taxes for the last 55 years I would have thought that use of cash for the above reasons would be better considered. – Janice Hutchison