[COM] Victoria Park Redevelopment

[Wayno]

Harbison proposes the CBD rate-payers should fund any VicPark redevelopment:
http://www.citymessenger.com.au/article ... _news.html

Rates hike could fund Vic Park overhaul: Mayor
RAISING council rates should be considered to transform Victoria Park into one of the world's best urban parks, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says.

Mr Harbison this week floated the idea of increasing rates over the next three years to fund a $10 million overhaul of the park.

Based on the council's 2007/8 budget, it would mean a 16 percent rate hike over three years on top of other inflationary-led rate rises.

``As a ratepayer, I would be happy to pay more to see Victoria Park as one of the great urban parks of the world,'' Mr Harbison told the City Messenger.

``It's not for me to decide it's how the council and ratepayers feel about it.

``The alternatives are to cut other expenditure ... or to borrow money, which you can't go on doing.''

The upgrade would likely include wetlands, repairing the park's grandstands, more walking and bike paths, new sports fields and better parking.

The SA Jockey Club last week decided to depart Victoria Park after 162 years of horse racing, scrapping its plan to invest $20 million in grandstand and track upgrades.

Mr Harbison believed the council would have to go it alone in improving the park, having rejected the State Government's grandstand proposal.

He said work should start ``as soon as we can'' but not at the expense of other major projects, such as Victoria Square and further upgrades to North Tce and Grote St.

``It's not palatable but (rasing rates) is the sort of thing we might consult on it depends to what degree people want these things.''

Is this a cunning ploy to make CBD rate-payers realise they should pay more if they consider the parklands part of their peronsal domain?

[Mants]

Sounds like don't know much about the sport either, What about the southern hemisphere's biggest picnic meeting and there are other big ones (not as big as Oakbank) like Twilight races at Victoria Park. With the sale with Cheltenham and Victoria Park (though still hope it remains open) they will be able to improve the Adelaide Cup and Morphettville. Plus just take alook at the huge crowds the Adelaide Cup is drawing in , this monday they are expecting 30,000 again compared to just 17,000 when it was last held in May.

Also what about the planned state of art horse racing precinct at Murray Bridge?, which will give the sport in SA a boast aswell as the local area.

You are taking a very negative approach, your basically saying horse racing is dying in SA - which is nonsense. Plus you seem to forget the new events that this state now hosts, such as the upcoming Rugby 7s and volleyball world championships.

well as a matter of fact i do know a lot about it seeing as my grandfather was a bookie, brother a bookie and cousin a jockey, my family also has shares in racehorses.

you fail to understand my argument.

the Adelaide Cup always has been a G1 race. this ranks it with other prestigious races such as the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Golden Slipper, Caulfield Cup, etc. For the first time in the race's 150years history, the race has been downgraded to a G2 race.
What does this say about the state of the Adelaide Cup to you?

sure, Oakbank is a nice day, but there are no races of any significance held there, and it is only used once a year. As for twilight races at Victoria Park, they are no longer being run.

RAISING council rates should be considered to transform Victoria Park into one of the world's best urban parks, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says.

who is this guy kidding? one of the world's best urban parks? so what "wetlands, repairing the park's grandstands, more walking and bike paths, new sports fields and better parking" are going to create this.

[Pistol]

Harbison proposes the CBD rate-payers should fund any VicPark redevelopment:
http://www.citymessenger.com.au/article ... _news.html

Rates hike could fund Vic Park overhaul: Mayor
RAISING council rates should be considered to transform Victoria Park into one of the world's best urban parks, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says.
Mr Harbison this week floated the idea of increasing rates over the next three years to fund a $10 million overhaul of the park.
Based on the council's 2007/8 budget, it would mean a 16 percent rate hike over three years on top of other inflationary-led rate rises.
``As a ratepayer, I would be happy to pay more to see Victoria Park as one of the great urban parks of the world,'' Mr Harbison told the City Messenger.
``It's not for me to decide it's how the council and ratepayers feel about it.
``The alternatives are to cut other expenditure ... or to borrow money, which you can't go on doing.''
The upgrade would likely include wetlands, repairing the park's grandstands, more walking and bike paths, new sports fields and better parking.
The SA Jockey Club last week decided to depart Victoria Park after 162 years of horse racing, scrapping its plan to invest $20 million in grandstand and track upgrades.
Mr Harbison believed the council would have to go it alone in improving the park, having rejected the State Government's grandstand proposal.
He said work should start ``as soon as we can'' but not at the expense of other major projects, such as Victoria Square and further upgrades to North Tce and Grote St.
``It's not palatable but (rasing rates) is the sort of thing we might consult on it depends to what degree people want these things.''

OK as most of you already know I live in the city.
My rates currently are $1129 pa for a 2 bedroom apt (exorbitant already). He expects me to pay $1310 pa so that people in Dulwich and Rose Park can walk their dog around "one of the great urban parks of the world."
Harbo you are so out of touch with the ratepayers of this city it is not funny anymore.
Plus I thought that Harbo lived in Medindie anyway so he won't have to pay for this through council rates anyway - although I could be wrong.

[Omicron]

Harbison proposes the CBD rate-payers should fund any VicPark redevelopment:
http://www.citymessenger.com.au/article ... _news.html

Rates hike could fund Vic Park overhaul: Mayor
RAISING council rates should be considered to transform Victoria Park into one of the world's best urban parks, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison says.
Mr Harbison this week floated the idea of increasing rates over the next three years to fund a $10 million overhaul of the park.
Based on the council's 2007/8 budget, it would mean a 16 percent rate hike over three years on top of other inflationary-led rate rises.
``As a ratepayer, I would be happy to pay more to see Victoria Park as one of the great urban parks of the world,'' Mr Harbison told the City Messenger.
``It's not for me to decide it's how the council and ratepayers feel about it.
``The alternatives are to cut other expenditure ... or to borrow money, which you can't go on doing.''
The upgrade would likely include wetlands, repairing the park's grandstands, more walking and bike paths, new sports fields and better parking.
The SA Jockey Club last week decided to depart Victoria Park after 162 years of horse racing, scrapping its plan to invest $20 million in grandstand and track upgrades.
Mr Harbison believed the council would have to go it alone in improving the park, having rejected the State Government's grandstand proposal.
He said work should start ``as soon as we can'' but not at the expense of other major projects, such as Victoria Square and further upgrades to North Tce and Grote St.
``It's not palatable but (rasing rates) is the sort of thing we might consult on it depends to what degree people want these things.''

OK as most of you already know I live in the city.
My rates currently are $1129 pa for a 2 bedroom apt (exorbitant already). He expects me to pay $1310 pa so that people in Dulwich and Rose Park can walk their dog around "one of the great urban parks of the world."
Harbo you are so out of touch with the ratepayers of this city it is not funny anymore.
Plus I thought that Harbo lived in Medindie anyway so he won't have to pay for this through council rates anyway - although I could be wrong.

Mr Daly's idea in today's Advertiser that so-called 'corporate' businesses nearby should help pay for the redevelopment because 'their office is so close to the parklands' is so quaintly juvenile, too.

[Howie]

Mr Daly's idea in today's Advertiser that so-called 'corporate' businesses nearby should help pay for the redevelopment because 'their office is so close to the parklands' is so quaintly juvenile, too.

I think he should pay out of his own pockets and same with the SE Residents association... truly showing what idiots they are.

[crawf]

Exactly what a joke, I don't expect any of these so called nearby 'corporate businesses' to pay for any development in the parklands. They already have enough costs and issues, without paying for something they will probably hardly use.

I think this Victoria Park saga, could now give the libs a good chance for the next election and might mean the end of the ACC having planning powers in the city. Because by 2010 so many people will want horse racing returned to the city and there is now a growing number of people (young and old) that want Adelaide to 'change'.

the Adelaide Cup always has been a G1 race. this ranks it with other prestigious races such as the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Golden Slipper, Caulfield Cup, etc. For the first time in the race's 150years history, the race has been downgraded to a G2 race.
What does this say about the state of the Adelaide Cup to you?

Ever thought that now the Adelaide Cup is a much bigger and better event now (including better prize money) that it will eventually regain its G1 status.

[Wayno]

What's the criteria for achieving G1 status?

[omada]

Since the SAJC are leaving, then surely it would be their responsibility to demolish all the shitty buildings? (Except for the lovely grandstand)

Adelaide Council ratepayers should not have to pay for this.....

[Howie]

Since the SAJC are leaving, then surely it would be their responsibility to demolish all the shitty buildings? (Except for the lovely grandstand)

I don't think there's a precedence for tenants to demolish the buildings their vacating compulsorarily, unless it's for public safety or something. So SAJC legally at least won't have to foot the bill.

[urban]

I think it is actually part of their lease conditions to maintain the heritage grandstand in good condition and to remove all of the other buildings. The fence and old grandstand should have been demolished by the SAJC years ago but they have been reluctant to comply with their lease conditions for financial reasons. I believe that the rate charged for leasing the site was fairly minimal in return for higher than normal maintenance and development requirements.

[Mants]

Ever thought that now the Adelaide Cup is a much bigger and better event now (including better prize money) that it will eventually regain its G1 status.

crawf, the Adelaide Cup does not have increased prize money, this was one of the reasons why the Cup lost its G1 status in the first place. Basically, to be labeled a group one race, prize money has to be $250,000+ or it must be a state oaks/derby race. (hope that answered your question too Wayno).

[Wayno]

Ever thought that now the Adelaide Cup is a much bigger and better event now (including better prize money) that it will eventually regain its G1 status.

crawf, the Adelaide Cup does not have increased prize money, this was one of the reasons why the Cup lost its G1 status in the first place. Basically, to be labeled a group one race, prize money has to be $250,000+ or it must be a state oaks/derby race. (hope that answered your question too Wayno).

Total prize money is supposedly $400,000 this year (over the $250k amount stated above). Maybe 1st prize has to be $120,000? That seems to be the common thread across australia's major races. I believe the Perth Cup is also G2. It has the same 1st prize of $90k as Adelaide.

[Omicron]

I'll say this; there are other areas in town that have far greater potential than Victoria Park. My life will go on if VP becomes a large open area, and temporary stands must be built each year for the Clipsal. I would much rather see attention paid to the Festival Plaza, the railyards, Riverbank, or Victoria Sqaure, because they are areas right at the core of our city and will actually be used by large numbers of people (as opposed to Mr. Daly's sweet little claims that eleventy zillion people patronise Victoria Park).

These areas, too, are more conducive to more radical solutions - they can have the restaurants, the public art, the bars, the statues and the like that Victoria Park, even in the new grandstand form, would not have to any large extent. If Victoria Park is to become just a park, then so be it. Make it a sustainable park with a series of wetlands that extend into the horrendously barren South Parklands, which can then supply any nearby underground aquifers and water the gardens, following the example of Salisbury Council. Include the sporting ovals and walking trails; include some kind of fenced area for dogs that is so lacking in the Adelaide metropolitan area; and include appropriate signage and information along the way so as to encourage patronage within the Park as opposed to little areas around the sides. Please ignore the strange man who wrote a letter to the Advertiser demanding a Kings Park-esque bushland approach - the last thing we need is just another dead, under-utilised area with little relevance to modern lifestyles.

I shan't lose sleep because of this decision, but I shall lose sleep if attention is not focused upon other areas that need our attention.

[Mants]

Total prize money is supposedly $400,000 this year (over the $250k amount stated above). Maybe 1st prize has to be $120,000? That seems to be the common thread across australia's major races. I believe the Perth Cup is also G2. It has the same 1st prize of $90k as Adelaide.

sorry, i meant first prize has to be $250,000+ to constitute a G1 race (actually i might be wrong, ill get back to you )
however, you are right in saying that the 2008 Adelaide Cup is worth $400,000

[Ho Really]

I'll say this; there are other areas in town that have far greater potential than Victoria Park. My life will go on if VP becomes a large open area, and temporary stands must be built each year for the Clipsal. I would much rather see attention paid to the Festival Plaza, the railyards, Riverbank, or Victoria Sqaure, because they are areas right at the core of our city and will actually be used by large numbers of people (as opposed to Mr. Daly's sweet little claims that eleventy zillion people patronise Victoria Park).

These areas, too, are more conducive to more radical solutions - they can have the restaurants, the public art, the bars, the statues and the like that Victoria Park, even in the new grandstand form, would not have to any large extent. If Victoria Park is to become just a park, then so be it. Make it a sustainable park with a series of wetlands that extend into the horrendously barren South Parklands, which can then supply any nearby underground aquifers and water the gardens, following the example of Salisbury Council. Include the sporting ovals and walking trails; include some kind of fenced area for dogs that is so lacking in the Adelaide metropolitan area; and include appropriate signage and information along the way so as to encourage patronage within the Park as opposed to little areas around the sides. Please ignore the strange man who wrote a letter to the Advertiser demanding a Kings Park-esque bushland approach - the last thing we need is just another dead, under-utilised area with little relevance to modern lifestyles.

I shan't lose sleep because of this decision, but I shall lose sleep if attention is not focused upon other areas that need our attention.

Those are the areas where we should be concentrating on and investing money not on a grandstand for the corporates and politicians that will eventually turn into a white elephant. A grandstand was always a stupid idea. What they should have done was propose a building with garages and corporate facilities that was big and wide enough to accommodate conventions, exhibitions, etc. The building should have been proposed on the boundary with Fullarton Road at the edge and not in the middle of Victoria Park. The V8 circuit would have been reconfigured and the rest of the stands to remain removable. Simple solution that would have probably suited most people. Of course, I've omitted the SAJC who would have wanted a grandstand. To me, all along, they should have concentrated on economics and consolidate Morphetville. The rest of Victoria Park in my opinion, besides being used for 3-day horse events, soccer, aussie rules and other field sports, should be used for activities such as bmx racing, cyclocross, cross-country running, motocross, etc. Wetlands and small lakes would be a bonus, even a Mediterranean Pine forest would be nice. In amongst the trees they could include picnic areas and other facilities for people to enjoy since there will be more highrises built around the area in future.

Cheers