News & Discussion: Squares and Parklands

[SRW]

Eh? The south east corner of Barton Tce / Prospect Rd made much more sense, especially if the tram line ever happens. But even if it doesn't, it would have put the centre in much closer proximity to the shops and businesses along O'Connell St.

I agree, though I can imagine they decided it's politically more expedient to place on an already cleared oval than to axe some more mature trees at O'Connell & Barton. In any event, it'd only be a few hundred metres from any future tram stop. My larger concern is that they work to include carparking within the footprint of the new centre so that more parkland can be restored.

[Nathan]

So it seems the real reason the south west corner was chosen was so they can re-use the existing carpark.
Yet again we let car parking dictate decision making.

(And the existing carpark is fucking awful. If someone parks one of those monster trucks that passes for a ute these days, it makes it nearly impossible for people to drive through due to them sticking so far out into the lane)

The new Adelaide Aquatic Centre will be built immediately south of the existing facility in Park 2 of the northern Park Lands, the government has announced.
Following consultation, Premier Peter Malinauskas, Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis and Adelaide MP Lucy Hood announced the south-west corner of the park has been selected as the location, at the corner of Jeffcott Rd and Barton Terrace West.
However, there will be a minor amendment – where possible, the selected site will allow the existing centre’s carpark to be utilised.

More than 900 public submissions were considered as part of the consultation process of the development before the location was decided, encapsulating views of centre users and local residents.
The centre will remain open while construction is underway for the new site.
The new centre will be designed by Adelaide-based architecture firm JPE Design Studio, who will work in collaboration with aquatic and recreation architecture specialists Warren and Mahoney.
The Government said the new design would not result in a net loss of the Park Lands as the existing site will be returned to the Park Lands once the new one is built.
Mr Malinauskas said choosing a location for the new centre was an “exciting milestone” for the project.
“We asked the community where they wanted the new centre – and they have told us clearly that the south-west location is their preferred option,” he said.
“Importantly, 78 per cent of people who provided feedback on the new site location are users of the existing aquatic centre.”

[PeFe]

So it seems the real reason the south west corner was chosen was so they can re-use the existing carpark.
Yet again we let car parking dictate decision making.

Absolutely agree Nathan....what a lame, uninspired planning decision. Everything in Adelaide is done for cars... or car parks.... or large roads or pseudo freeways (which Joe Average doesn't want to pay for.....the North-South corridor should be tolled, car drivers should basically pay for using it)

Here was an opprortunity to do something different, something out of the box to show that Adelaide is a small (but smart) thinking city.

But no, we will have another "suburban swimming pool".....I'm sorry but that's all it's going to be.

What could we have done instead....well how about an acquatic centre right in the centre of town....in a high rise building...swimming pools with street views, diving towers that are 5 storeys above the city, saunas on a rooftop...all possible....with no carparking, but the location being in the middle of thousands of apartment dwellers (and more to come)

What! No car parking !! You can't do that ! Nothing works in Adelaide without car parking ! Except Adelaide Oval of course....remember there were even people on this forum who advocacted the failure of Adelaide Oval because there was no car parking.....

Sometimes Adelaide's small city mentality results in really pissy planning decisions.....unfortunately we just saw this again.

[bits]

.well how about an acquatic centre right in the centre of town....in a high rise building...swimming pools with street views, diving towers that are 5 storeys above the city, saunas on a rooftop...all possible....with no carparking, but the location being in the middle of thousands of apartment dwellers (and more to come)

Sounds terrible.
I prefer the idea of my personal climate control vehicle driving to a place that is easy to access via car.
I certainly wouldn't want the state to pay $80M for a pool that sounds like a personal pool for an apartment that the apartment residents should pay for.

[Nort]

Reusing the existing carpark seems like a sensible move if the plan is what I assume it is.

I would assume that the plan is to build the new Aquatic Center, open it, then start demolition of the old one.

IF that is the case (and I admit I've not seen confirmation it is) then using the existing carpark is a great solution for minimizing the amount of parklands impacted by this development.

[1NEEDS2POST]

Are there any renders of this? The tram needs to be extended to North Adelaide for people to have an alternative to driving there.

[PeFe]

The North Adelaide tram extension is slated to go up O'Connell Street nowhere near the swimming pool.

[1NEEDS2POST]

The North Adelaide tram extension is slated to go up O'Connell Street nowhere near the swimming pool.

Which is only a block away...

[Nathan]

The North Adelaide tram extension is slated to go up O'Connell Street nowhere near the swimming pool.

Which is only a block away...

Yes, on paper it's only a few hundred metres difference, but the reality is that the walk across to the other side of the park will be a barrier (especially when you can guarantee the entrance will be oriented towards the carpark).

[Llessur2002]

It'll be about 300m from the corner of O'Connell Street to the edge of the site but as Nathan suggests, the main entrance is likely to be on the other side of the building - about 400m away. Not a massive distance in the grand scheme of things, especially if the route is shaded and lit but it will still be a barrier to lots of people.

[claybro]

Tram and PT aside- there is a perception that the parklands act as psycological barrier for people from the inner suburbs using facilities/shops in the city. Here was a good opportunity to activate a dark and brooding corner of the parklands by making this a continuation of the O'Connel Street strip at no net loss of park. I get that it is only 400 odd meters, but it would have activated that corner, and returned an relatively inactive part back into parklands. Also if it is directly on the proposed tram route, it would encourage more people residing in the city to use the facilities. Im not sure if I was a young female student residing in the city I would walk across that park at night to access the center.

[claybro]

Tram and PT aside- there is a perception that the parklands act as psycological barrier for people from the inner suburbs using facilities/shops in the city. Here was a good opportunity to activate a dark and brooding corner of the parklands by making this a continuation of the O'Connel Street strip at no net loss of park. I get that it is only 400 odd meters, but it would have activated that corner, and returned an relatively inactive part back into parklands. Also if it is directly on the proposed tram route, it would encourage more people residing in the city to use the facilities. Im not sure if I was a young female student residing in the city I would walk across that park at night to access the center.

Happened to spend the weekend in Adelaide, and was great to see activity in Bonython Park...some kind of fair?...and people using the tram stops. The redevelopment of the brewery site I think will make this a really busy little corridor. A friend took me to a couple of the cafes in the Thebby precinct ...all very busy and buzzing-as was plant 4 and surrounds. Great to see Adelaide! On a negative however...WTF is with the 2m high weeds in the middle of the tram line on Port road? C'mon...not only embarrasing..but I would have thought a fire hazard. Someone needs their butt kicked.-I assume some sort of argument over if it is ACC, CCS or Department of trnasport issue....just get it sorted guys..the gardens adjacent to the Entertainment center tram stop however are much improved and maturing nicely!

[bits]

WTF is with the 2m high weeds in the middle of the tram line on Port road? C'mon...not only embarrasing..but I would have thought a fire hazard.

I think lots of rain has everything growing much faster than typical right now.
Many councils appear to have a backlog of work to mow down very high weeds.

[claybro]

WTF is with the 2m high weeds in the middle of the tram line on Port road? C'mon...not only embarrasing..but I would have thought a fire hazard.

I think lots of rain has everything growing much faster than typical right now.
Many councils appear to have a backlog of work to mow down very high weeds.

Ah..you guys let your councils off way too lightly. Adelaide doesn't get "lots of rain", even in a somewhat wet year. The councils are always complaining about 1. too much rain-the grass grows too quickly or 2. Its a drought and the grass is dead.
You should all be demanding a much better standard from councils who are awash with extra funds from the exorbitant property price increases in recent years-but it seems if its not in someones front yard behind their fence, it gets overlooked. That unfortunately is one of those peculiar Adelaide things even from my time there living in the Charles Sturt Council.

[[Shuz]]

Agreed. I used to live in Campbelltown Council and honestly I don't know what their rates go towards... all those subdivisions and soaring property values... yet they have verges with nothing but dirt, footpaths on one side, potholes everywhere. I'd expect that of Playford, but not the eastern suburbs. It was a joke.