Adelaide Council to put River Torrens helipad to second round of consultation, no decision on barge
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July 25, 2017 11:25pm
A HELIPAD proposed along the River Torrens will now advance to a second round of consultation, while the council has thrown the rusting Festival barge a lifeline.
A plan to lease the site west of Morphett St Bridge to a commercial helipad operator was last night given Adelaide City Council approval in principle, despite overwhelming opposition during community consultation.
However, it’s now subject to a public consultation process that approves an amendment to Park 27’s Community Land Management Plan, while council chief executive Mark Goldstone continues the lease expression of interest process.
Meanwhile, council has deferred the future of Adelaide Festival’s floating Palais until its next meeting.
Councillors last night supported giving the Adelaide Festival Corporation an extra two weeks to work with council on its plans to “dress” the barge, situated on the River Torrens, and its proposal to activate it as an event space.
FIRST LOOK at how Adelaide Fest barge could look if dressed up and opened to public. Good use of up to $160,000 taxpayer dollars? @theTiser
The Adelaide Park Lands Authority had advised that council would work with the festival to determine the “most appropriate removal method to ensure minimal damage to the Adelaide Park Lands”.
However following a deputation from the Adelaide Festival chairman’s son, Torben Brookman, council agreed to give the Adelaide Festival a second chance and has extended its lease, which ends on Monday, until a decision is made.
Mr Brookman said the festival apologised for council wearing “the brunt of public criticism around the appearance of the pontoon structure”.
“It was never intended and was certainly something that we won’t let happen again in the future,” he said.
Councillors were provided with an artist impression of an aesthetically-pleasing barge, that will take between eight to 10 weeks and cost between $140,000 to $160,000 to improve if approved by council.
At last night’s council meeting, several more deputations about the helipad were made, including letters of support from the Adelaide Casino and Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan.
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex also spoke for the helipad, as an asset “crucial” to meeting the wants and needs of future visitors.
“We have to use this opportunity,” he said.
“It allows people to access our regions if they have a limited amount of time.”
But it was followed by further opposition from residents including Susan Collins, who expressed concern that “compelling arguments (in opposition) have been ignored”.
City of Adelaide Council has approved a five-year lease in principle, to be reviewed after 24 months of operation, on the basis that there was a 12-month break clause in the agreement.
Consultation about an amendment to the Community Land Management Plan will soon go out to the public and stakeholders.
The outcome will then require endorsement from council, and has to be signed off by Planning Minister John Rau.
Commercial operators that express interest in leasing the site will still need to address operational and planning matters in the approval requirements, which include an acoustic impact report as part of the development approval and Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval — before the proposal can be finalised.
