Council hopes to mend ‘broken’ relationship with govt over city events
Adelaide City Council is seeking to repair its relationship with the state government following standoffs over major events in the Adelaide Park Lands.
Council members last night voted unanimously in favour of a motion put forward by Henry Davis to offer an “olive branch” to mend its relationship with the state government.
The motion stated that Adelaide City Council was in favour of hosting major events in the CBD, but was seeking to “be at the table” in the events decision-making process.
“A mud-slinging match between council and state government carried out on the front page and morning radio is not serving our ratepayers well,” Davis said.
“Frankly, if all we do is shout from the sidelines, we should not be surprised that we have been dismissed and sent to the kiddies’ table.
“I think we need to reset a broken relationship between the state government and the City of Adelaide.”
The motion outlined that the council does not oppose, “in principle”, major motorsport and sporting events being held in the CBD so long as the government provides detailed information, manages environmental impacts and prepares the city to successfully host any events.
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It follows months of ongoing disputes between council members and state government over the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment and the felling of 585 trees in the Adelaide Park Lands.
Protests over the MotoGP, which is set to hit Adelaide streets in November 2027, have also been ongoing, with council estimating a further 200 trees would need to make way to facilitate the racetrack.
Speaking at a Property Council lunch earlier this month, Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis was critical of the Adelaide Council, saying he would like to see “councils reform the way they conduct themselves” and “stick to their purpose”.
“Adelaide City Council is saying they don’t want the MotoGP in Adelaide. They will fail in that endeavour,” Koutsantonis said.
“Adelaide City Council say they don’t want to see the Australian Open come to the Park Lands. They will fail in that endeavour.
“When they move away from that purpose, the government needs to act. We are needed to act more and more and more.”
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Davis described the proposal as “pro-Adelaide” and not “anti-event, anti-government or anti-growth”.
“How can we help the event succeed if we are treated as an obstacle instead of a partner?” he said.
“Support does not mean silence, and concern and advocacy does not mean opposition. That is the balance that council needs to get right.”
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith supported the motion, saying council had never “spoken against events generally”.
“It would reassure you to know that I have met or spoken on the phone with more than half a dozen ministers in the last week and talked about matters of common interest,” she said.
“We are still in communication, we still work together and generally we are a very supportive council of all the government’s initiatives, and we’re partners.”
Lomax-Smith will write a letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister for Tourism Emily Bourke and the South Australian Tourism Commission to affirm council’s willingness to work constructively on major events with the state government.
The letter will also seek information surrounding the upcoming MotoGP event and its potential tree impacts, road closures, butterfly conservation impacts and economic benefits.
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