Railyards... what do you want done to them?

[Shuz]

April 10, 2008


Premier Mike Rann says the Liberal Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith has revealed that should he ever win Government, he would likely make a decision on whether to build a new stadium within 20 years.


“Here is a man of words, not action,” Mr Rann said.



On radio today he said in answer to a question about what happens to Football Park and Adelaide Oval if there was a brand new stadium:



“.. I don’t think we can sustain three [stadia] … I think this is a decision we probably need to make, not now, but probably in five to six years time, possibly even further away … I don’t think we can have three … if the AFL ultimately decides it wants to stay at West Lakes then the decision might really become between Adelaide Oval and West Lakes …



“And then moments later in the same interview he said:

“..I just think sometime over the next 20 years we need to bite the bullet and decide which pathway we’re gonna follow … [after the 2018 World Cup is over].



“At some time over the next 20 years, Martin Hamilton-Smith is going to have to narrow down his positions and find one that he can point to and say that’s what the Liberals stand for and that’s what he stands by.



“Mr Hamilton-Smith and his Liberals now hold multiple positions on a range of issues.



“For instance his position on the location of the new Marjorie Jackson Nelson Hospital has become so mobile it’s like a hospital on wheels.



At first Martin Hamilton-Smith said on building the new hospital on the city west site:

“Look we won’t oppose the hospital being built.”



Then a few weeks later he said:

“Building the new state-of-the-art RAH at its current site on North Tce, saving between $300 million and $700 million on the current proposal to shift the RAH to the other end of town.”



Then he said a year later:

“If you have signed something before an election, it is locked in concrete and they have started work, we are going to get the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital; there is no doubt about that”



“Then the following month he said the new hospital should be sited on land at Bowden and said:

“It is a prime piece of real estate which the Government should put careful consideration into…”



“Two days later he was back to:

“We want a new Hospital but we want it at the RAH site. We think there is a better vision for City West and I think the Government has made a major mistake. The public don’t want it there.”



“Now on the issue of the $1.1 billion stadium he wants to build on the city west site instead of the Marjorie Jackson Nelson Hospital, he has revealed that Adelaide cannot sustain three ovals.


“In the meantime this Government is getting on with the job of building a brand new state of the art $1.7 billion hospital on the city west site and a new desalination plant.



“This Government is not committed to building a $1.1 billion football stadium in the city centre – and that’s a promise,” Mr Rann said.

[Brando]

Which part of building OVER the railyards don't people understand. Like Federation Square the rail lines would stay at the same level and the stadium would be built ABOVE.

The stadium would NOT be built next to the rail lines.

The rail lines would NOT be tunnelled under the stadium.

FFS....
Thank you Urban. It's driving me nuts hearing certain people say 'it wont fit' or 'tunnel the railyards'. Professional opinions are of that it will fit plus more!!!!!!

[AG]

It takes a little bit of lateral thinking to figure out that there's still plenty of space to build around the hospital if it gets built. Not only could you throw in a stadium on the remaining space, but there'd still be space for a small waterfront district. That hospital would fit in that area at least 3 times over or more.

[Brando]

From Adelaide Now.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

Love him or hate him, i am glad to see more people weighing in on this debate. I see it as pointless in a band aid solution for AAMI stadium for the next 10 - 20 years. If we are to believe Rann in how busy, great, rich, successful South Australia will be with the impending boom, than time to invest in the real future of this state and scrap the Marj, build a stadium/entertainment precinct and watch the city of Adelaide come to life ten fold.

Sam Newman says SA needs a new footy stadium
April 11, 2008 03:10pm
SAM Newman says Adelaide needs a new football stadium, but the SANFL would rather not hear him say it.

Speaking at the SANFL President's Lunch at AAMI Stadium today, Newman said Adelaide needed to "get with the 21st century" and build a modern stadium like Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

But he also told the 600-strong audience that the SANFL had given him "strict instruction" not to discuss the stadium debate.

"But now I'm going to talk about the stadium," he said.

"All things balanced, I reckon you should build a new stadium like they have at the Docklands.

"It should be an intimate theatre stadium where patrons can look down on the action.

"Sometimes, football is just incidental to these people."

Weighing into the controversial debate, Newman said AAMI was not inferior to other football grounds throughout the nation, but thought Adelaide could capitalise further through a new stadium.

"It should be a stadium that people want to go to," he said.

SANFL president Rod Payze opened the function by discussing the stadium options and said the organisation planned to "retain the home of football of the state" at AAMI Stadium.

"Sure, there will be a challenge to meet the requirements of patrons, players and clubs," he said.

"But we are confident as a league we can stay at AAMI."

[Wayno]

i have an hour spare tomorrow and could draft a 1-2 page letter to Rann et al about this. What are your thoughts?
As cruel_world00's lucidly states, this is not a "stadium vs hospital" debate but is rather an issue with using prime waterfront land for the wrong purpose.

I posted the above recently, but only one person thought it was worthwhile - what are your thoughts? is it worthwhile writing an official S-A letter to Rann letting him know that 1200 people believe the hospital should be placed elsewhere, and the prime waterfront land be put to better use?

i'll happily do nothing here if that's the group consensus.

[Brando]

i have an hour spare tomorrow and could draft a 1-2 page letter to Rann et al about this. What are your thoughts?
As cruel_world00's lucidly states, this is not a "stadium vs hospital" debate but is rather an issue with using prime waterfront land for the wrong purpose.

I posted the above recently, but only one person thought it was worthwhile - what are your thoughts? is it worthwhile writing an official S-A letter to Rann letting him know that 1200 people believe the hospital should be placed elsewhere, and the prime waterfront land be put to better use?

i'll happily do nothing here if that's the group consensus.

I think so Wayno. It seems the only people beating at the premiers door are those here to complain and hold back South Australia.
A voice in the opposite direction may not fall on deaf ears. certainly the topic is heating up. Sadly i feel Rann would be too 'proud' to admit other alternatives and listen to his people.

Certainly worth a try, so i'll support you Wayno.

[urban]

I'm with you

[Shuz]

As am I...

So to clarify, are we merely detailing the pros and cons of having a stadium/hospital on the site, or shall we delve into greater detail and explore the other options, eg: Keswick, Clipsal sites for RAH and other Parklands for the stadium?

[Cruise]

hang on, how did a $1.1 billion stadium become a $400 million dollar stadium?
in my signature oversimplicaticion methods:

$350 million for sale of west lakes

$400 million for new stadium?

with state and federal funding (as well as the sanfl contribution) wouldn't that mean it would be cheaper than upgrading footy park?

i'm confused now

[adelaideguy88]

If the railyards are cleared, I'm pretty sure there is a law that states they must be returned to parkland. I think a hospital would be a good investment for the future and help retaining healthcare workers in the state. What does everybody find so bad about AAMI stadium? I don't have a problem with it, but I would like to hear why people hate it so much or if this is just The Advertiser blowing things out of proportion again

Also, how would the city cope with the extra people coming and going to the new stadium as North Terrace is already choked?

[Wayno]

If the railyards are cleared, I'm pretty sure there is a law that states they must be returned to parkland.
<snip>

omg! hope that's not true - can anyone confirm?

[cruel_world00]

If the railyards are cleared, I'm pretty sure there is a law that states they must be returned to parkland. I think a hospital would be a good investment for the future and help retaining healthcare workers in the state. What does everybody find so bad about AAMI stadium? I don't have a problem with it, but I would like to hear why people hate it so much or if this is just The Advertiser blowing things out of proportion again

Also, how would the city cope with the extra people coming and going to the new stadium as North Terrace is already choked?

problems with AAMI, where to start...

Well firstly, if you have watched footy anywhere else in Australia, or namely the closest capital to us, Melbourne, you will understand why AAMI pales in comparison.

Secondly, location location location....AAMI in it's present form is of no use in terms of a tourist feature in the slightest. I couldn't imagine someone flying over from another country and trying to work out, let alone even stumble upon going to the footy..

[Cruise]

If the railyards are cleared, I'm pretty sure there is a law that states they must be returned to parkland. I think a hospital would be a good investment for the future and help retaining healthcare workers in the state. What does everybody find so bad about AAMI stadium? I don't have a problem with it, but I would like to hear why people hate it so much or if this is just The Advertiser blowing things out of proportion again

Also, how would the city cope with the extra people coming and going to the new stadium as North Terrace is already choked?

problems with AAMI, where to start...

Well firstly, if you have watched footy anywhere else in Australia, or namely the closest capital to us, Melbourne, you will understand why AAMI pales in comparison.

I have been to stadiums in melbourne, and i perfer footy park

[cruel_world00]

If the railyards are cleared, I'm pretty sure there is a law that states they must be returned to parkland. I think a hospital would be a good investment for the future and help retaining healthcare workers in the state. What does everybody find so bad about AAMI stadium? I don't have a problem with it, but I would like to hear why people hate it so much or if this is just The Advertiser blowing things out of proportion again

Also, how would the city cope with the extra people coming and going to the new stadium as North Terrace is already choked?

problems with AAMI, where to start...

Well firstly, if you have watched footy anywhere else in Australia, or namely the closest capital to us, Melbourne, you will understand why AAMI pales in comparison.

I have been to stadiums in melbourne, and i perfer footy park

Waverley doesn't count

[Wayno]

voila! an hour later and here's my 1st draft.

railyard-entertainment-precinct-v0.1.doc

(312 KiB) Downloaded 189 times

I'll be without internet access starting in a couple of hours. Should be back online to collect/collate your feedback by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest!

I was not sure whether to include a list of alternate sites for the hospital, and i could only think of the ex-Clipsal site, the Keswick barracks, or rebuild on the current RAH site. Any others? what about at cheltenham surrounded by wetlands?