ml69 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:46 am
I don’t understand all the hate, especially on a development forum!
People on this forum have been crying out for years for a CBD-based multipurpose arena.
Now the government is seriously proposing one on the riverfront, and there’s a tidal wave of whingeing!
In really simple terms, this arena is effectively a massive expansion of the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC). It is this convention component that makes it economically feasible. No convention component, and the arena DOESN’T GET BUILT!
Therefore, it has to be located next to the ACC. A good outcome in my opinion, as the riverfront land west of Morphett St bridge is completely wasted at the moment.
Most people here I'd say are all for a new city arena, especially an indoor & multi-purpose arena..but what exactly are we going to get for $700 million? When Adelaide Oval's redevelopment (55,000~ capacity) cost less?
We have an ambulance service that's struggling, we have a fire brigade that's struggling (it hasn't been as well publicised as the ambos plight), we have an under-resourced CFS.
The full redevelopment of Memorial Drive arena, the concept renders posted in the other thread, was estimated to cost $250 million.
What are we getting for an extra $450 million with this new proposal that just seems to be for Premier Marshall's own legacy?
We don't need a $750 million minor arena, when the $250 million proposal would be more then sufficient.
That extra $450 million could be better spent on better equipping the CFS, the SA Ambulance Service (I see the MFS has won some extra funding and new resources last month), continuing to improve our hospitals. They could put some of that money into specialized care, like that specialized care unit for babies that was removed previously that now sees babies flown to Melbourne. I think only cost as few million to have here, but we can find $450 million extra to spend on a ridiculously unnecessary stadium build for our premier to have a legacy?
How about spending some of that $450 million on expanding the tram network?
How about all those bridges in South Australia that were in need of urgent repair?
How about the backlog of general road maintenance?
How about improving rural roads?
How about even just providing funding for our rural communities for things they need instead of the continual overall general neglect they see from their state government compared to their city counterparts?
How about providing funding for school sports programs so we don't end up with an obesity epidemic like America?
How about providing funding for an actual beautification program across the whole of Adelaide, so that there is not only consistency but our city actually improves visually and with more greenery around we can actually help lower the overall temperatures, and even energy use by home owners?
How about a bigger scheme for solar and battery storage for homes and businesses?
How about extending or increasing first home owner grants?
How about providing funding for new apprenticeship programs? We keep hearing how there's always a skills shortage, well why not fucking do something real about it?
Or how about just not wasting a full $450 million on Marshalls personal legacy, and instead offering South Australians some tax relief and even cutting fees instead of always raising them every 12 months?
This is a gigantic waste of money and resources when there are bigger priorities for South Australia.
This is all about the premier having a legacy. So he can say look, I spent $700 million building a new indoor arena with a roof that can be raised and lowered. Yay Steven.