Letters to the Editor on Festival Tower Two
This week, InDaily readers share their two cents on free public schools and a controversial new tower at Festival Plaza.
Responding to Adelaide at crossroad over 38-storey ‘tower of regret’
The minister claims they are ‘placeholders’ and that the government is receiving much more – “tens of millions of dollars”, to quote him. The Save Festival Plaza group have asked the government for more information about the supposed net benefit to the State and to explain the Development Agreement – if the community is to accept that the $1 per year for a hundred years is no more than a place holder payment, then it needs more than ‘commercial in confidence’ as the answer when it asks for more.
Opponents to the project are not “turning away a major private development in the heart of the CBD” as claimed by the minister – for a start, this development is NOT in the heart of the CBD where it should be, but north of North Terrace. This area was originally proposed as Parklands by Light’s Plan and, as the minister outlined, also inclusive of uses that are in the public good. Nowhere in Light’s plan was private for-profit commercial development advocated for the park lands precinct.
There is a strong body of community opinion opposed to the changes to the originally agreed-upon uses, which would destroy the human scale and character of our city’s most important civic space. If this project proceeds, it will soon be lamented by community opinion. No one thinks the replacement of the old South Australian Hotel was an improvement; nor will this Tower of Regret ever be thought of as a positive redevelopment of the Festival Plaza area. Commercial interest should not trump civic opportunity for that space.” – Dr Reverend Lynn Arnold AO
Tower of Regret indeed!
Both Liberal and Labor governments have successively ignored the custodianship expected of our political leaders. They have shown little respect for the very aspects that have made Adelaide a beautiful City — namely its history, heritage and unique Park Lands. Worse still, deals done without public consultation, alienation of public space and lack of public financial common sense.
High-rise is good in the right place, within the city area, south of North Terrace. It seems we now have a band of legislative wreckers awarding themselves kudos over a planning system that confounds common sense and sound economic management.
SA now has a very short-sighted planning system pandering to the long-term ambitions of wealthy developers. Liz Vines puts the case succinctly regarding what a saga this sorry saga of mismanagement of Adelaide’s Institutional and park lands has been over at least a decade. – Dr Iris Iwanicki
I believe this is a very poor decision by the Labor government. It lacks respect for the city’s original plan and for public space. There is a lack of public consultation and input. Development should stop, and another location should be considered. – Ivan Lloyd
There are so many issues with this development that it is difficult to know where to start. But it does seem that, fundamentally, political hubris and lack of concern for the democratic principle of government for the well-being of the populace are being lost. Rather, a towering monument to powerful persons’ egos seems to be based on the abuse of public funds and resources. Sad. – Dr Janette Young
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Responding to Free public school and cleaner beaches: The latest SA election pledges
Free public schools. What a great idea. Then the parents who, for whatever reason, choose private schools (they’re not all well off) will enrol their children in state schools. The system won’t cope, so the plan won’t work. Another election promise unfulfilled. Why not skip the discrimination and give free education to all kids, if that’s an option? The teachers have the same training whether they teach in state or private schools, so the education system could be a level playing field with a bit of planning. – Karmel Dowd
Responding to Inside Writers’ Week crisis talks: Minutes show why Randa was cancelled
Thank you for the article outlining what you learned via the documents released under FOI requests. I was very pleased to see, after reading the full article, that there was no political interference, as suggested in the paragraph below the headline.
What has upset me most about the whole Writers Week episode is how gutless the majority of the Festival Board were, and the fact that as a result of their stupid, misguided decision, the board, the Festival organisation and the Adelaide Writers Week Board have lost some of their best people.
I hope those individuals will be given the opportunity to return to their positions if they so desire. – Ingrid Vogelzang
Responding to Call to keep motorcycle race off city streets
Agreed 100 per cent. Taxpayers should never have their lives turned inside out in the name of entertainment marketed, primarily, to outsiders.
Interstate visitors will still use city hotels, restaurants, etc., so no losses there.
Local businesses, workers and residents should always be prioritised.
Safety must never be compromised.
Noise and environmental pollution will be off the scale.
There is no place within Adelaide for any street racing except for the Tour Down Under, which has minimal cost and disruptive impacts on the roads, businesses and residents. – Maree Gardiner
Responding to ‘Ten times the cost’: Adelaide University cancels Palestinian literary event venue
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If the event was good enough to plan in the first place, it should have proceeded with the politics and bull dust.
Typical of government and people with little consideration for others.
The merged universities are not off to a good start, but so lucky Flinders is available as a great alternative. – Greg Keep
Responding to Fears over SA greyhound racing deaths as inquiry deadline looms
In the past 20-odd years, my wife and I have had five greyhounds. In that time, all five dogs have been an absolute delight to have. They are caring, gentle, loyal and a real family dog. If the public really knew this, there would be a waiting list to get them! Please consider whether you are thinking about getting a dog. – Mark Weston
Responding to Cocaine, assaults ignite new calls to return Adelaide city prison to public control
The whole concept of privatising prisons is a total mistake.
How can any society justify turning criminal punishment into a profit-making business?
Cost-cutting in prisons guarantees a lack of rehabilitation. When prison management is expected to make a profit, everyone is worse off. – Barbara Fergusson
Responding to ‘Beyond distressing’: Study lays algal bloom mental health impacts bare
I am in my early 80s and have been fishing in this gulf since I was a toddler, and I have always caught plenty of fish, but not this summer, and it’s devastating to see it like it is now. However, it is not all doom and gloom. I have been putting a video camera in my crab net for some years now to see what is happening on the bottom under my boat, and last week there was finally some real activity with many crab fights and lots of smaller fish.
It would be nice to see some of the better species there, but at least it is a start.
I can see where it can have a big impact on someone’s mental health if they are not careful. – Wayne Owens
Responding to Wet weather wipeout: Fringe plea for ticket splash
Also, wouldn’t have helped to have the Motorsport “Festival” noise hijacking the weekend.
Adelaide is regarded as the tourist destination during festival time – the atmosphere is second-to-none. It is absolute lunacy to have the soundscape destroyed, not to mention defacing and fencing off a massive portion of the park lands during this period.
Premier Peter Malinauskas is all for grandstanding his cash support for the Fringe (and it’s certainly a politically savvy funding promise), but the car noise actively sabotages the Fringe’s and Adelaide’s appeal. Tacking this event on is like adding anchovies to a pizza – great if you love anchovies but unpalatable if you don’t. – Nick Patrick
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