Mountain to climb as MotoGP grievances fly
Will the Christmas pageant be thwarted by the MotoGP or will federal court action stop the race in its tracks? The Premier’s summit to delivery must seem a long way off, Mike Smithson says.
The Premier’s MotoGP dream must be starting to resemble a Mount Everest climb and he’s not even at base camp.
A mysterious legal attempt in Queensland to injunct the parklands redevelopment seems unlikely to succeed in the Federal Court, because no one seems to know exactly who is behind the move.
The walls are further closing in with the global announcement of next year’s official race calendar with the event roaring into Adelaide from November 12 to November 14, which potentially clashes with Adelaide’s iconic Christmas pageant procession.
That tight timeframe leaves construction deadlines going right to the wire and that’s not allowing for any unexpected or unforeseen delays which seem inevitable in a $96 million project.
Documents and grievances constantly flood across my desk about the MotoGP plans from official and anonymous sources.
After community consultation, a feedback report was delivered to the Adelaide City Council Community Services and Culture committee and then supported by full Adelaide City Council last week.
That document will be forwarded to the Premier and the SA Motor Sport Board.
It’s what the government may have expected but not what it wants to dwell on.
Council had reached out to a host of stakeholders, including residents, and traders from all corners of the city and North Adelaide.
It also sought opinions from park lands users, such as cycling groups.
In a short timeframe they received a sizeable 3,664 responses, which is a fair sample size in anyone’s language.
“Strong awareness of the redevelopment is matched by negative perceptions of its impact,’ the report stated.
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Eighty-two per cent were at least somewhat negative, of which 62 per cent believe the impact will be very negative.
“Concerns focus on disruption to daily life, city access and the impact on the natural environment,” they said.
More than six in 10 believed they would make fewer visits to the city to shop, dine or attend events.
The 102-page report has red flags at just about every turn.
It signals a multitude of loose ends which the government has hosed down, but respondents saw as far from being home and hosed.
The report says the Adelaide Circuit Redevelopment Project (ACR) leaves unanswered questions such as a total occupation timeframe of the park lands, specifically the pack down and clean up after the event.
One could presume that it won’t be any faster than current events.
Of major concern is the 412 days of pre-occupation to establish the site, preliminary works and construction for MotoGP bikes and supercars.
It’s a massive 253 day jump from the current occupation time.
So why the massive increase?
The proposed ACR track is 4.13 kms, which is almost a kilometre longer than the current supercars track and even longer than the old Formula One circuit.
The report lists serious concerns about drainage and potential future flooding as the new 50,000 square metres of asphalt takes shape.
“Any and all changes to road geometry, kerb alignments, barriers and associated circuit infrastructure must appropriately account for exiting drainage and flow paths.”
Adelaide City Council fears current stormwater pits, which trap the fast-flowing runoff and then drain it away, will be covered by the new track.
That raises concerns over future cleaning and inspection of stormwater pits and underground pipes.
Council wonders who will pay for that unexpected flooding cleanup should the worst fears be realised?
The report essentially considers the government has been too clever by half in reconfiguring its original plan to mow a path through an historic olive grove, to save significant gums and the nearby Glover playground.
It suggests a rethink of the overall environmental impact, including relocation of the playground equipment.
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Will the kids who use it really care?
That may also save the current and, some say, much loved alignment between Senna chicane and Bartels Road.
Council is also concerned that the ornate Bridgland fountain, relocated to Park 14 in 2017, will need to be moved again.
Another five-page document also landed in my lap with a postscript which read “I apologise for my anonymity, but I hope the above helps.”
In short, the author says a street circuit is not a purposely built MotoGP race circuit.
Rider safety was listed as the number one reason for the park lands identified as the wrong location.
These riders race as fast as F1 drivers with speeds of 340km per hour.
The document says major gravel run-off areas are there for a reason on dedicated circuits, because they save lives.
This document also highlighted the proximity to major power poles and questioned if they are far away enough from speeding riders if a mishap occurs.
It also highlights the potential problem of the redesigned track running alongside an existing creek in the park lands.
“Major engineering works will be required to backfill that part of the creek to the level of the proposed road circuit,” the author says.
“This will only increase the costs of the project as well as irrevocably damaging that part of the park lands.”
These concerns are potentially only a drop in the bucket with plenty more water to pass under the proverbial MotoGP bridge.
It seemed strange the Premier didn’t publicly appear after the MotoGP race date was dropped on Friday night.
The government media unit issued a release at 7am Saturday morning, with no sign of its chief proponent.
He was aware on Friday that all would be revealed, including the Adelaide date, for this groundbreaking major event.
But it was left to the unlikely Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven to comment.
Perhaps the Premier was also letting the AFL Grand Final build up do the talking for eager sports’ fans.
Or perhaps he has growing concerns over the timeframe and didn’t want to commit to any promises he will have trouble keeping.
That Everest summit must still appear a long way off.
Mike Smithson is also a weekend newsreader and political analyst for 7News.
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