Adelaide Park Lands makeover funds yet to be spent

Less than $1 million of a $20 million pre-election commitment by the South Australian Government has been paid to revitalise the Adelaide Park Lands.

In the lead-up to the March 2014 South Australian, Premier Jay Weatherill and Planning Minister John Rau announced the money would be spent over four years on projects to attract more people into the parklands.

This included improving lighting and gardens, and introducing more walkways and ‘pop up’ cafes.

The South Australian Government had released a YouTube video in November 2013 promoting "a new vision for the Adelaide Park Lands".

However, according to an ABC report, in the two years since, the South Australian Government has spent just $830,000 on projects, including:

•$235,000 for a temporary ice skating rink for a winter demonstration event
•$90,000 on Riverbank events associated with football at the Adelaide Oval
•$24,000 on outdoor music events
•$375,000 for a temporary city skate park to replace the now demolished city skate park on North Terrace

Opposition youth spokesperson and Member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson said the Government should use the fund to build a permanent skate park facility.

Sanderson told the ABC “they've got $20 million set aside for rejuvenation of the parklands and we've gone months now without a skate park, so why not use that money that they've already allocated?"

"They've already promised to come up with a solution - a permanent skate park for our young people in the city area."

Sanderson is advocating for the under-utilised south-western corner of the Park Lands, near Anzac Highway, to be considered as a skate park site.

She added “I think it's quite accessible with the new Wayville train station.

"We also have a bikeway that rides right through here. It's highly visible. There are thousands of netballers and families just adjacent to here on the weekend. So I think this is certainly a solution."

A spokesperson for Minister Rau said the Government would make further announcements about park lands projects soon.

The spokesperson told the ABC “it's disappointing that Rachel Sanderson, who took no policy about improving the parklands to the last election, is criticising what is very good news for a much under-utilised public asset.”

15th October 2015 - DESIGNS REVEALED FOR TEMPORARY ADELAIDE PARK LANDS SKATE PARK

27th May 2013 - ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL PLAN FOR A MORE ACTIVE CITY AND PARK LANDS

4th July 2012 - ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCES NEW FITNESS ACTIVITY PERMIT SYSTEM

23rd April 2012 - BIENNIAL PARKS FORUM HEADS TO ADELAIDE