Kevin Foley hints at new additions to torrens riverbank plan
TREASURER Kevin Foley has foreshadowed "grander" new additions to Adelaide's riverbank precinct while defending costings for the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment.
The Opposition this morning raised fresh concerns over the credibility of the redevelopment because the Federal Government made no mention of a funding commitment for the project in yesterday's Budget.
Opposition finance spokesman Rob Lucas said the absence of federal money raised "significant doubt" about the project, which he believed could blowout to a cost of up to $600 millon.
However, Mr Foley said the State Government had an offer of $100 million of more "on the table" and would ask for that money in the financial year in which it was needed.
Construction is not due to start for about two years and will take about another two years to complete.
Mr Foley reiterated the State Government would contribute a maximum $450 million to the oval upgrade but would not say if any federal contribution would be counted within this figure or in additon.
He said he was "very confident" the "rock solid" proposal would go ahead and he had received no indication football and cricket stakeholders would not reach a consensus before the July 1 deadline.
In the meantime architects and engineers had been "working away at a rapid rate" to complete designs.
"When we get the go ahead from the codes we will be at an incredibly advanced stage and we'll be able to demonstrate ... that we simply haven't been waiting and doing nothing," he said.
The oval upgrade will be part of a "fully integrated riverbank precinct", linking with Casino, Festival Theatre and upgraded Convention Centre, and Mr Foley hinted "there might be more" to the overall plan.
"The reason I might be trying to hold back some of the excitement I have within myself for this project is that we might be designing other things or we might be changing a few things, we might be making it a grander project in other aspects," he said.
But he ruled out a roof for the new stadium, instead suggesting the additions would be elsewhere in the precinct.
However, Mr Lucas was "sceptical about the prospects" of the oval upgrade and did not believe the July deadline would be met.
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