Law passes for new multimillion-dollar Adelaide park lands despite ‘resort’ fears
Legislation to create a more than $50m northern suburbs green space “equivalent in size to 31 Adelaide Ovals” passed in State Parliament on Wednesday despite warnings it could give the state government new powers to acquire land and build hotels. See the map.
New laws enabling the creation of a the new green space in Adelaide’s northern suburbs passed both houses of state parliament with cross bench support this week.
Dubbed by the government as “one of the biggest investments in public open space in South Australia’s history”, the Northern Park Lands will be located within and adjacent to the Kudla Growth Area, identified in the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP) as a focus area for urban growth over the next three decades.
It could cover up to 1000 hectares near Gawler and would transform northern Adelaide, the government hopes, with 13,500 trees to be planted within the first four years of the Northern Park Lands being established. The government hoped to acquire 400 hectares of land in stage one, and has committed $53 million to this part of the process.
At its heart will be a Village Green including a community, recreation and sports hub, equivalent in size to 31 Adelaide Ovals.
Despite across party support, Greens MLC Robert Simms warned the Northern Park Lands Act gave the government a “blank cheque” to acquire land across the state without the consent of councils.
He warned the act included provisions which “potentially enable the government to construct hotels and resorts on these new parklands”.
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“People who live in the northern suburbs deserve green open space that they can enjoy, but this bill should not include a back door that allows the State Government to seize public space against the wishes of councils and local communities, nor should it support commercial development that requires ratepayers to pick up the bill,” said Simms.
“The Upper House has given the government of the day a blank cheque to seize public space for development and pass the bill on to councils and their ratepayers.”
He moved a series of amendments to the bill in a bid to exclude high-risk commercial developments such as hotels and resorts, but those changes did not get up.
The precinct was expected to feature ovals, courts, clubrooms and other multi-use community facilities, accommodating a range of local sporting clubs and other community groups.
More than 40km of interconnected linear parks featuring shared-use pathways encircling Gawler was also envisioned to align with the regional plan.
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Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said the Northern Park Lands project was “one of the biggest investments in open space in our state’s history”.
“I am grateful for the support of my parliamentary colleagues that backed in this bill and who have given northern suburbs communities a place that will allow them to enjoy all the health and wellbeing benefits that being active outdoors offers,” he said.
The state government said it would develop a Northern Park Lands Masterplan over the next year, with consultation from the local community.
It would be delivered in two stages, the government said, with the first involving the acquisition of land identified in the legislation that connects state and local government parcels within a five-year timeframe.
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Additional land would then be secured along the Gawler River and the South Para River, with implementation scheduled between 2030 and 2040.
A Trust will be established to govern the Northern Park Lands, modelled on the West Beach Trust, and will oversee the administration and development of the large site.
It will comprise seven members, three appointed by the Housing and Urban Development Minister, two nominated by local government, one First Nations representative and one nominated by the Climate, Environment and Water Minister.
The bill passed through the Legislative Council with the support of independent MLC Tammy Franks and SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros on Thursday, and the Lower House yesterday.
“The Northern Park Lands will finally give the people of the northern suburbs their own green space that they can have pride in and enjoy for generations to come,” Franks said.
