The following opinion piece was published in this month’s Adelaide Review (1 August 2015).
Adelaide has undergone an exciting transformation in recent years but we need to resist the temptation to take our foot off the pedal. The challenge now is not to maintain the status quo but to build on this momentum by embracing new ideas and opportunities. So where to next in the revitalisation of our city?
The Royal Croquet Club will remain in Victoria Square for 2016 with some improvements to community access and amenity, following a resolution of Council last night. Given their desire to expand, from 2017 the RCC operators indicated they will look for another venue in the city that better suits their needs.
Last week Adelaide City Council launched an investigation into extending the Frome Street Bikeway from Pirie Street to the River Torrens. The investigation will also look at potential improvements to the existing Frome Street Bikeway (Carrington to Pirie Street) but in a win for cyclists, a majority of Councillors ruled out any major redesign.
Last week Council’s Economic and Community Development Committee recommended that ACC investigate redesigning Frome Street to provide for two driving lanes during peak hours. I voted against this motion and would rather see Council focus on rolling out new cycling infrastructure.
Adelaide City Council has tripled funding for its Solar Incentive Scheme with eligibility criteria expanded to include schools, businesses and office buildings. This provides a real opportunity for Council to work with the business sector to reduce emissions in the city and I was delighted to support the expanded scheme at last night’s meeting. You can read more about it in this article on InDaily.
At the Council meeting on May 26, I moved a motion asking administration to inventigate opportunities for more events in the West End. This was the subject of a story in The City (above). You can read the full text of the motion here.
Council’s $1 Million Greener Streets program (in this year’s provisional budget) will fund demonstration projects for more green walls, roof top gardens and tree planting throughout the city. It’s a chance to really position Adelaide as a leader in sustainability. I spoke to the Adelaide Review about the benefits of the Greener Streets plan and the opportunities that lie ahead. You can read the article here.
It was a a privilege to speak at the community breakfast earlier this month for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT). My speech on the importance of working collectively to combat discrimination was published online at the Gay News Network. You can access it here.
The Committee for Adelaide has floated the idea of returning horse racing to Victoria Park. I’m not in favour of this proposal. While I support more events in the city, I don’t want to see a return to horse racing and think we should look to the future rather than the past. I shared my views with Channel 7 news. You can watch the story here.
I’m proud to support the YWCA’s ‘Rise Above the Pack’ campaign promoting respect for women among men in Adelaide. All too often women are encouraged to change their behaviour to remain safe but it is men who need to change. Check out the Rise Above The Pack website and this article in The Advertiser for more information on this important campaign.
Robert Simms 