Melbourne risks becoming 'a backwater like Adelaide': Brumby

[AG]

The Gold Coast region is home to fewer than 500000. Many of those commute to Brisbane each working day for employment. About 4-5 years ago the population growth rate was in excess of 4 times that of Adelaide. These days the population growth rate is still in the range of 2-3 times that of Adelaide and lowering. Gold Coast is still quite a young city, and it's importance is still well down on Adelaide although it's contribution to the SEQ Economy is quite significant. Adelaide's economy is still more diverse than to that of the Gold Coast. Adelaide has a lot of work to do but there needs to be a willpower in order to make progress. There needs to be great leadership, both from the Government and the businesses who contribute to the city.

I'm sure most of you have heard of the tall poppy syndrome. Across the country in our major cities, I don't think I've seen more cases of this syndrome than here in Adelaide. Rather than trying to improve our situation, we find ways or excuses to rip down the successes of other places in order to make ourselves feel better. Let's focus on improving our city rather than finding excuses not to.

[SRW]

And no its not the people of Adelaide who make the place a Backwater, its geographical & population reasons why we are a backwater. We aren't on the East Coast, we are at the bottom of the continent ( not many freights will make the trip) & we have a small population.

Whats to say we aren't a backwater? We aren't booming, we don't have alot of power, we don't get huge tourist numbers, nor do we attract huge investment. Sounds like we are just an ordinary city. Something Melbourne doesn't want to become.

Like I said though, we can change this. Hopefully we follow the WA pattern, emerge from our shell.

We're also in the centre of the continent, more-or-less halfway between developed East and booming West, and that places us in an unrivalled position to become the hub. Besides that, we are placed within the traditional boomerang shape of urban development (Adelaide along the coast through to Brisbane) in Australia, which, if closeness to the East is a factor, should be favourable to development.

How do you expect Adelaide to not be a backwater if the prevailing psychology of the city is this negative, 'little Adelaide syndrome' (a la Downer's 'little Australia syndrome'). Adelaide's base is quite good relative to the rest of the world, and things are, as we type, getting better. People need to drop their conservatism, their pessimism, and seize onto the positives and run with them. Only then will the city progress lastingly, and drop this unfair tag of 'backwater'.

[Will]

Heres a question, why do people think Adelaide is a backwater?

Because Adelaide isn't a backwater, maybe a few years ago but not now. Some people (including Brumby) need to get their facts straight.

Dude. It is.

The ladder of Australian Cities.

Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane- Perth
Adelaide- Gold Coast

We are probably on par if not about to be over taken by the Gold Coast in terms of imporantance. Effectively we have no power. WHY because we have little popualtion growth, below par econmic growth & below average income.

We are a backwater of the Australian cities. Its not that he is PAYING out Adelaide, Its just fact.

I suspect that you do not fully understand what being called a 'backwater' represents. Simply because we are a smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne does not mean we are a backwater. Furthermore, only an ignorant person would expect a city the quarter the size of Sydney and Melbourne to have the same level of investment, night-life, and international events.

[Bulldozer]

You know, geographically speaking, Brumby is right... Gulf St Vincent is a backwater

People in Adelaide need to just stop giving a shit what others think of the place and realise just how bloody great it is. I'm always counting down the days until my next visit. My god, my trip over Christmas was wonderful - the pubs, the food, the beaches (Adelaide's beaches SHIT over every other city's!), the women, the fishing!

I can't tell you how obscenely great it was to wake up 15 minutes before sunrise and to have the boat launched off the beach at Moana and be cruising down south on the glassy crystal clear water as the sun rises over the hills. To see the hills and the colours of the cliffs, the pristine sandy beaches, feel the crisp clean air blowing in my face, see the dolphins swimming along with the boat and gazing into the water and clearly seeing the bottom and the fish. Being able to bag out in a few hours and be back home with it all cleaned up in time to cook some for lunch! Then to head back down to the beach at Seaford with the dog and just float and snorkel in a sun-warmed lagoon while the dog just amuses himself chasing fingerlings along the shore for a few hours. Then heading into the city or Bay at night to enjoy an icy cold pint or two of Pale Ale with mates in fantastic old pubs soaked with character and spirits and cocktails in swanky bars. Chatting to random friendly people and gorgeous girls. Capping off the night with a mouth-watering fresh hot pizza, yiros or even a pie floater and crashing at a mates place just a $15 cab ride from the city.

And let's not forget christmas day! Beautiful weather, chilling out with rellies I haven't seen for ages and feasting on big SA prawns, oysters, crayfish, turkey, beef, beer and wine - the produce the rest of the world pays big bucks for because it's the best!

If Adelaide is a backwater then so be it! All I know is that there's billions of people out there who'd kill us all in a heartbeat to be able to live that life.

[crawf]

I know this is just pathetic that its made the front page, though you have to just have to lol



Hes going to be regretting this, because he has made a joke of labors plan of the states getting on better

[Norman]

The Advertiser's journalism at it's best

[Shuz]

Nothin' like a good ol' sledging between SA and VIC.

I'll sit back and enjoy the show, go on kids - throw them punches.

[Edgar]

This is what ex-Melburnian had to say about the criticism:

http://blogs.news.com.au/adelaidenow/mi ... _backwash/

MICHAEL HARRY IS A MELBURNIAN WHO MOVED TO ADELAIDE – YES, THEY DO EXIST. HERE’S HIS TAKE ON JOHN BRUMBY’S INSECURE TIRADE AGAINST THE CITY OF CHURCHES.

Wahey! John Brumby! Settle down! You realise that calling Adelaide - and by proxy, Adelaidians - backwater hicks will spark outrage, derision and a PO Box full of hate mail? I’d be careful a horses head doesn’t come careering through your window in the near future.

You know what it is? It’s that thing where I can call my sister a bitch, but if you agree with me you’ll get a short sharp slap across the face.

Anyone who is actually from Adelaide is allowed to complain ad nauseaum about the City’s less appealing aspects, and often does. But you have to earn the right to whinge about the place…

The trams are always late, the government is a farcical boys club, the trains are flat out cruddy, the suburbs are totally scary, the shops are open weird hours, big-name bands fly right over head, friendship groups are cliquey, general growth is sluggish, tumbleweeds roll through the CBD after 8pm, almost every sparkly young thing between 24-40 has fled the state, there’s only one newspaper (ahem), and the town legend is a retired football player.

John Brumby probably doesn’t know all this first hand. He’s only trying to scare those trendy, latte guzzling Melborings into doing things his way. And it’s working. Right now approximately 4.6 million of them are gasping: ‘Melbourne, become like Adelaide??? GOD FORBID!’

But the thing is, most Melburnians haven’t even been to Adelaide. They just drift through life with the smug knowledge that they are the best city in the country. But like a ADHD-addled toddler, they need constant reminding. Because Melbournians are very insecure.

I mean, look at their obsession with being better than Sydney? It kills them that they don’t get the same international wrap as the Harbour city. And, well, Adelaide doesn’t even rate, because the population is under 2 million.

It’s true that Adelaide has plateaued while other cities like Brisbane and Perth boom and prosper. It is a shame. But fighting against the tide, there is a solidarity amongst Adelaidians that is thoroughly charming.

It’s a bit of a secret, this city. Great beaches, accessible airport, first class market, thriving festival scene, desert on the doorstep, wineries for days, cheap cost of living. What’s not to like?

So cheer up, Adelaide. We might be a backwater, but what’s wrong with that, anyway?

[Shuz]

So cheer up, Adelaide. We might be a backwater, but what’s wrong with that, anyway?

[Edgar]

Another one:

http://blogs.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sa ... ictorians/

Samela Harris
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 03:13pm


For some reason the Vics have always had a fairly un-neighbourly attitude towards Adelaide. Indeed, one could say they are simply the pits as neighbours. The F1 pits.
They do border raids to steal our ideas, our events, our talent… They don’t want to share water with us.
And now, out of the blue, they throw insults at us.
Again.

We’re a backwater, eh?

Victoria, where are your manners?

Then again, maybe we should forgive them their boorishness because of their convict background. Were they abused when they were young?

Of course, Martin Hamilton-Smith does not turn out to be much of a local hero in defending our state against this latest insult from the east.
The SAS superhero wants a bigger boy to defend us for him.
Mike Rann should tell Brumby where to go, says Marty.
At the same time, he says it is all Mike Rann’s fault that Victoria’s John Brumby has called us a backwater. Huh?
Buck-passing and finger-pointing all at once?
I, for one, expected better of our Marty.

But I guess he is just upset.
We have to get used to it, Marty.

Adelaide has been the brunt of the east’s limp idea of humour for aeons. It is all rather childish and ignorant – and there is a doubtless a lot of jealousy in much of the ribbing and japing we cop.
Whatever we have, they seem to want it – even our history. I have watched with absolute astonishment as so-called historians in the east simply make up the eastern-oriented “truths” just to escape mentioning South Australia. There is barely an arts administrator left here, so keenly do they steal them - not to mention festivals and car events, food and wine events…

And, as they plunder our wealth of ideas and talent, they have gratuitous digs at us.
It is all very irritating and disappointing from one’s fellow countryfolk.

What can we say?
Surely we would never sink to their level?

Well, I suspect we have to, if we are to be understood.

So, perhaps we should say to Victoria, very politely and in our poshest Adelaide accent:

We may be a backwater but at least we are not water hogs.

[duke]

I like the comment on sky news last night. It even had the presenters smiling.

"Adelaide has balls *insert picture of the malls balls*, Melbourne has Cory and Brumby"

[Punishment466]

More than half of voters in an Adelaide newspaper's online opinion poll agree with Victorian Premier John Brumby - the city is a "backwater".

The poll had attracted more 2090 votes before 10am today, in response to the question: "Is Adelaide a backwater?"

Forty-eight per cent said Adelaide lagged behind the eastern capitals and another 15% agreed it was a backwater but said that was part of the appeal. Twenty-eight per cent said Mr Brumby was "just a jerk", and 6% based their defence on the number of major events on in Adelaide at this time of year.

The remaining 3% were unaccounted for by the News Limited poll.

Mr Brumby sparked a verbal joust yesterday when he said that unless Victoria pushes ahead with channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne will end up a "backwater", like Adelaide.

The Premier was defending the controversial $1 billion dredging project, after the head of shipping company ANL said the dredging should not include the mouth of the Yarra River.

"If you want Melbourne to be a backwater, if you want Melbourne eventually to be an Adelaide - as someone described it the other day - well, don't do this project, and Melbourne will just die a slow death," he said.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann responded by saying Mr Brumby just needed to get on with the job, adding that the comment could just be a bit of pre-season football sledging.

"I guess its borne of Victoria's insecurity. They announced plans to dredge their port back in early 2002, but they haven't got cracking with it," Mr Rann said.

"We've actually finished ours. We started dredging Port Adelaide in 2005, just after we won the Air Warfare Destroyer project against Victoria, and finished it two years ago.

"They've been talking about it year after year while we got on with it, and we did it without stuffing up the environment."

The News Limited website also carries more than 300 comments on the topic.

with Reko Rennie and AAP

[Tyler_Durden]

Adelaide is a backwater in many ways there's no denying that. And in a world sense, Australia as a whole is a backwater.

The furore that this comment has caused is quite embarrassing. Just let it go.

[ozisnowman]

We'll in if you look at it that way Brumby, the whole of Australia including
Sydney, Melbourne etc is a backwater in respect to the US, Europe and
much of Asia. So get your head our of your ass because from where the
rest of the world see's us it all smells like shit.

Mr Brumby however wants to feel like a GIANT by standing at the top
of the SHIT PILE

[Brando]

At the end of the day, do we really care what they think of us? We know that Adelaide is not the most vibrant and 'happening' city in Australia, but we certainly don't claim to be either. I have spoken in prevoius threads about our need to be more vibrant and alive and i stand by my comments and wishes, yet i don't ask for us to be 'better' than anyone. I lived in Melb for a couple years and i experienced first hand some of the negative comments about our city. A lot of it used to make my blood boil and i would bite back. Now, in light of Brumby's comments, i just smiled and had a chuckle to myself. we know what is in store for this state, we know the secerets, we know our problems, we know were getteing better every day. The Vics know they can't win against the Sydneysiders, yet they shit themselves at how good we go about our business in this 'backwater' state. It's like the middle child syndrome, Big brother Sydney is the Golden Child, Middle Kid Melbourne is doing very well, but not quite where he wants to be, the youngest child Adelaide, that always gets picked on by Melbourne is just starting to come of age and do well for itself. Maybe one day take some shine from that middle child that Melbourne, that is now looking a little scared.

Just smile guys and don't get nasty or defensive. We still have a long way to go, but we will get there, sooner than what most realise.
For the record i still have Vic mate's and they love the city. It make's a difference having someone that knows the city and can show it off, according to them.