Sensational-Adelaide.com

stumpjumper wrote:Basing policy on the preservation in a location of a species without proper knowledge of its existence in other places isn't really defensible, imho.

As to the increased use of Vic Park, I'm all for it.

The grandstand idea had a few serious problems. Here's a quick retrospect, as I see it:

1. The 'grandstand' was to be built at public cost for private use, which lowered support. At a cost of $55 million the structure was to be used for 4 days of the Clipsal race and according to SAJC between 8 and 20 days of horse racing. SAJC ruled out any continuing use as a licenced function premises, perhaps doing so under pressure from various quarters as a result of rumours of proposals for a 'Lucky Horseshoe' style facility like those operated under CEO Steve Ploubidis at Morphettville and Cheltenham. This meant that even a bank rate return on the investment of $55 million would require an imputed rent of about $220,000 per day in use, which was obviously not on the cards. This made the $1 million pa cost of erecting and breaking down the temporary stands more palatable.

Aidan wrote:....... IMNSHO.

Aidan wrote:
The main benefit would be that it would be likely to attract Formula 1 back.

...why would a permanent stand be so much more expensive than temporary ones?

Aidan wrote: ...it would be not very likely to attract Formula 1 back.

Vic Park's $10m shortfall

Feb 12 @ 08:00am by Alice Higgins

MORE than $10 million is needed to complete Victoria Park upgrades or the project will remain unfinished indefinitely - the latest in a growing list of unfunded City Council projects.

The council has spent $7.1million on Victoria Park works since its masterplan was released more than three years ago, including planting trees, installing benches and building a fitness track.

But it is now seeking $1.7 million in external funding before it will allocate $8.5 million from its own coffers to fund further upgrades, including an adventure playground, barbecues, picnic areas and toilets.

The project is the latest in a string of unfunded Town Hall projects.

The council has allocated $24 million to its $100 million Victoria Square masterplan, unveiled in mid-2010, and has unsuccessfully attempted to attract State and Federal funding for the facelift.

The City Messenger last December reported the project needed $10 million in government funding before the first sod could be turned - the latest roadblock in the long awaited overhaul.

The council’s contribution to its Rundle Mall masterplan, revealed last October, also falls $30 million short of the project’s estimated $60 million price tag.

Similar to Victoria Square, the council is also relying on $10 million in external funding from the State Government and private investors to upgrade the mall.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the Victoria Park masterplan was “absolutely not” another ambitious council project it could not afford.

“This is a project we can stage, this is a project we can do incrementally,” Mr Yarwood said.

“It does not have to all be done in one fell swoop.

“You are not going to wake up one day and it is all going to be finished.”

He also said there was “never any expectation” a council masterplan would be fully funded.

“It is important to stress masterplans are misrepresented as being definitive when it is an indicative vision of where we want to go,” he said.

The council could also seek to strip much-needed money from rural communities to help it fund the remainder of Victoria Park upgrades - despite unsuccessfully attempting to secure money from the same grant for Victoria Square.

The council failed in its bid to snatch an estimated $25 million of the $1 billion Regional Development Australia Fund last July before deciding against reapplying in round two last December.

“We are not certain at this stage if there are going to be more rounds, when they are going to be and what the allocation of money will be,” Mr Yarwood said.

“(But) we will always lodge a submission for regional development funds and we will always be pursuing Federal Government funding.”

The council has spent $7.1million on Victoria Park works since its masterplan was released more than three years ago, including planting trees, installing benches and building a fitness track.

[Shuz] wrote:Council just needs to drop its funding and commitment to Victoria Square and just focus on North Terrace, Rundle Mall and what's left of Victoria Park.

[Shuz] wrote:Council just needs to drop its funding and commitment to Victoria Square and just focus on North Terrace, Rundle Mall and what's left of Victoria Park.

[Shuz] wrote:Council just needs to drop its funding and commitment to Victoria Square and just focus on North Terrace, Rundle Mall and what's left of Victoria Park.