Sensational-Adelaide.com

Clipsal 'should go west'

Article from: AAP

MATT WILLIAMS
October 16, 2007 02:15am
AN all-new Clipsal 500 racing circuit is the centrepiece of a bold plan to develop a major sport and public events precinct around the city's western parklands.

The independent Civic Trust is pushing for major works in the city's neglected west as an alternative to the State Government's Victoria Park redevelopment and without building on the parklands themselves.

Its blueprint also calls for the Royal Adelaide Hospital to be retained and for the scrapping of the railyards plan for the new Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital, in favour of a new health precinct on the site of the Keswick barracks.

It puts West Tce at the centre of a modernising project that would include a parking station to minimise CBD traffic, an integrated transport hub of interstate and suburban rail, light rail and buses at Keswick, and a seadragon-shaped racetrack for the Clipsal 500 between West Tce and Mile End South.

The motor racing facilities would also be used for other major sporting events, such as a future Commonwealth Games. Permanent and temporary grandstands would be constructed around the track.

The health precinct would include community health facilities, health education and preventive medicine.

Detailing the plans to The Advertiser, trust chairman Darian Hiles said it would make Adelaide "primarily a pedestrian city with emphasis on walkways, bicycle paths and light public transport. "This plan will make Adelaide more people-friendly, (provide) easy access by pedestrians to all facilities, accessible and frequent light public transport, cycle hire, major and safe thoroughfares for pedestrians and cyclists, and much more," he said.

Mr Hiles believes the plan would help any future bid for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games.

Developing the western side of the city would enhance the Mile End South area, resulting in opportunities for investment in sports and health-related facilities and low-cost accommodation. "Thus, this development would become the catalyst for the overall redevelopment of the western suburbs," Mr Hiles said.

The trust is still developing its blueprint, but plans to submit the final version to state and local authorities.

The State Government says it will welcome any "sensible ideas" for redevelopment of the city's west.

Other key elements of the plan are:

HARD-SURFACED sports areas above the Keswick railyards.

A PEDESTRIAN and cycling overpass to link the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, the community health facilities complex, the car racetrack, Santos Stadium and parklands.

ELLIS Park, between Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Adelaide High School, to become Adelaide's major gathering point for major public events.

Mr Hiles said the estimated cost of a new racetrack was $10 million, the main grandstand and corporate area was $30 million, the parking station was $35 million and the transport hub about $45 million.

"This plan is only the first . . . future subjects will include biodiversity, our food sources, governance and strategies to focus the economy on human benefits as the bottom line, for example, wellbeing." he said.

A spokesman for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Pat Conlon said the Government had "made our desire very clear to see major investment in the west end of the city".

tstaylor wrote:Great we need another plan to de-rail the development planned for vic park

rhino wrote:

tstaylor wrote:Great we need another plan to de-rail the development planned for vic park

Yes, and the Elliss Park plan will derail the plans for Victoria Square to become the meeting place of choice

Matt wrote:I'm with you Pants.
Would love a Fed Square type set up/Docklands stadium over the railyards, it's the perfect spot.

Pants wrote:I've thought about having a sporting precinct out there too with a stadium big enough to make AAMI redundant, but I think a much better spot for it is over the railway yards. It's not that far in terms of distance, but an event could come and go at Mile End without the CBD noticing and seeing much benefit. Most people would just bring their car in and take off after the event thinking that the city's too far to walk to or any tram too inconvenient or full to wait for.

A sporting precinct over the railway yards, coupled with something of intererst actually being done with Riverbank would do more to encourage people to first stay in that area and then move towards the middle of the city. The fact that all train lines and the tram go directly there and most city bound buses go close, would also enougrage public transport use.

For me, it's all about making the city centre a more vibrant place. I'd prefer the Marj to be built out at Keswick and a fed. square and docklands like development over the railway yards tbh.