#Supporting Victoria Park Development Petition Thread

[stumpjumper]

I'd like to propose a medal for Howie, for creating what Adelaide needs - an alternative forum to the influence-ridden Advertiser.

I'm in a minority on thnis thread, yet I can still post here.

Compare that freedom with the Advertiser - an issue like Vic Park grandstand arises - does the Advertiser call in some experts on planning for public recreation, or car racing or horse racing? No - it publishes opinions from planning and building experts such as Darren Lehmann and Chris McDermott. What's Rachael Sporn's opinion, or Marg Angove's, for that matter? What do our junior swimmers think of the current situation? And most importantly, what is Nicole Cornes' view?? We need to know.

The Sunday Mail mentioned the name of the forum, but it's sad that becasue of shadowy 'legal advice', there's no debate going on in the place you'd expect it - CBD Development.

Don't waste the publicity, Howie. Tell the guys in black helicopters to fork off and continue to publish without fear or favour.

[AtD]

Congrats Howie. Perhaps you could take advantage of the publicity and throw a message up on the home page directing new visitors to the petition or this discussion?

[Howie]

Thanks to the Renato from Sunday Mail for mentioning our site. I enjoyed our chat over the phone, and hopefully we'll hear more from him here in 2008.

And big props to everyone in the thread, for starting the petition, to editing it, to forwarding it to their friends, and those who are contributing to the forums.

Oh and Adam, bumped the petition to the front page late last night - hopefully they'll see that.

[Cruise]

I just posted this on http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/forum/ a lot of V8 nuts on there so it should get a few more signatures.
The Thread:
http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/foru ... post244337

[Mawen]

Okay - well better late than never. I am not quite sure of (all) the politics and groups associated with the development or lack of. But, i do know - that a development is needed and would be much better than the steal cage that is currently residing in victoria park at present. It is an eyesore!!!

Something needs to be done, more action less talk!

[Cruise]

Just posted it on http://fordforums.com.au/index.php?

Its definently helping to get more signatures

[Howie]

Wondering if you guys have checked out the comments on the AdelaideNow site?
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 82,00.html


Heather Nimmo of Adelaide

I just checked the adelaide sensational website. On December 26th they had 391 signatures to their Vic Park petition and seemed rather dejected. The site seems to be run by people called Howie (VIP member), Pikey and Shuz. Glad to see the Sunday Mail quoting such a reputable source.

Heather Nimmo of Adelaide

A conservative estimate is that there are 400,000 Victoria Park visits each year for active recreation (walking, walking the dog, running, cycling, doing the fitness circuit, running up the steps of the SAJC grandstand). As well there are school sports and other very well-patronised events such as Pedal Power, archery, the soaring club, University sports. Given our concerns with the lack of exercise many children and adults are getting shouldn't we (and leading sportsmen) be applauding the State Government for not letting a well-used urban park become a dedicated motor sport venue that would eventually preclude these activites taking place in the Park? (Tell me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can run around the grass with your kids at the Adelaide Oval) Let's get behind active recreation. That's the way of the future and the young - not horse racing which is not supported by young people (except as an opportunity to party). Get yourself down to Vic Park (early morning and evenings in summer) and see how many young people and young families are using it to relax and keep fit. And think how many more we'd have if the park was developed as a genuine people's park with a fitness circuit (instead of a horse track?) and cycle paths and more shade etc. The presence of the car race in the park for 4-5 months makes this more difficult but not impossible. But of course there's no money to be made from individual active recreation so that's why certain sections of the business and sporting communities have no interest in supporting it. We mustn't let vested interest take control of public land for commercial gain trumped up as civic pride. And re the letter about Perth, let's also remember that Perth recently said no to a car race in its city streets.

Just FYI, Heather Nimmo is from the South-East City Residents Association Inc.
Contact details (courtesy of whitepages.com.a), H Nimmo - 20/233 East Terrace Adelaide SA 5000(map) 08 82234458.
Map courtesy of Google Maps



Obviously being a stone's through away from Victoria Park, she wishes to keep Vic Park as part of her private playground. Her comments are on the public consultation for Vic Park (page 6 i believe).
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/adcc ... esults.pdf

[Cruise]

Shuz helps run this website?

[Howie]

Replied

Heather Nimmo of Adelaide, seeing as you brought me into this discussion let's see if we can get our facts straight. I understand you live on the skirts of Victoria Park racecourse being on East Terrace and you are a member of the South-East Residents Association Inc. Please do not hide being the pretense that you are support outdoor activities by not supporting the redevelopment of Victoria Park and just come out and admit that you consider the east parklands as your very own. Regarding car racing in Perth, you have got to be kidding me? Have you not heard of JTGC, they appear to be first in line of getting the Australian round of this world class motor racing event. You do not represent progressive Adelaide, you do not represent the youth of Adelaide, and you sure do not represent the rest of us who do not happen to live within the city mile. By the way it is Sensational-Adelaide, and not Adelaide Sensational - and we have 439 signatures on our Petition for the redevelopment of Vic Park as of tonight thank you.

[Ash-SV6]

Would you like me to post a link to the petition on the V8 Central and Conrod forums? Both are V8 Supercar forums, and I'm sure there are many motorsport fans accross Australia that would support the redevelopment.

[Howie]

Thanks Ash-SV6 that'd be great mate.

[Shuz]

Shuz helps run this website?

I think she was mistaken, whilst I would be honored by the thought - I'm happy being a regular member at the moment. I was the one who actually set up the petition, but was given a helping hand by some of the others from here regarding our petition statement.

[Omicron]

Some thoughts:

A conservative estimate is that there are 400,000 Victoria Park visits each year for active recreation (walking, walking the dog, running, cycling, doing the fitness circuit, running up the steps of the SAJC grandstand).

An estimate, indeed. By whom? From what source? Based on what research?

As well there are school sports and other very well-patronised events such as Pedal Power, archery, the soaring club, University sports. Given our concerns with the lack of exercise many children and adults are getting shouldn't we (and leading sportsmen) be applauding the State Government for not letting a well-used urban park become a dedicated motor sport venue that would eventually preclude these activites taking place in the Park?

Ms. Nimmo seems to be of the belief that the entire grounds of Victoria Park will become off-limits to the general public if the new development were to take place - that one could no longer run around the track or stroll across the grass. I was always under the impression that Victoria Park would remain open; realigned yes, but still part of the freely-accessible parkland space. Yes, it is true that the most recent proposal would take up a portion of land that is not currently being utilised, but the construction of a building in one location does not automatically result in the banning of public access to the rest of the land. I believe that the permanent Grand Prix pit structures in Melbourne are essentially in the middle of Albert Park, yet their existence does not mean that Albert Park becomes a no-go zone to any extent - in fact, I'm sure that aside from entering the buildings themselves, visitors have just as much freedom of access as they did before.

(Tell me if I'm wrong but I don't think you can run around the grass with your kids at the Adelaide Oval)

That is correct, Ms. Nimmo, you cannot. You can, however, run around the grass with your kids on the grass at the Cresswell Gardens, Pennington Gardens, Light's Vision, Pinky Flat, Elder Park, Angas Gardens, Pioneer Women's Memorial Gardens, Grundy Gardens, Palmer Gardens, Brougham Gardens, Botanic Park, Botanic Gardens, Rundle Park, Rymill Park, Hindmarsh Square, Victoria Park (in both pre and post development forms), Hurtle Square, Veale Gardens, Osmond Gardens, Lundie Gardens, Kingston Gardens, Light Square.....

Let's get behind active recreation.

Most certainly.

That's the way of the future and the young - not horse racing which is not supported by young people (except as an opportunity to party).

I should like to know how horse racing will survive without a shift in that direction. There is a reason why the marketing focus behind the horse racing industry of South Australia has been shifted towards creating a more youthful party atmosphere, and it has a hell of a lot to do with people simply becoming bored with traditional horse racing and betting. I am also intrigued by this belief that 'active recreation' makes up the entire future of the young - a part of it, yes, but by no means all of it. There is far more to recreation than going for a run in one particular park of Adelaide.

Get yourself down to Vic Park (early morning and evenings in summer) and see how many young people and young families are using it to relax and keep fit. And think how many more we'd have if the park was developed as a genuine people's park with a fitness circuit (instead of a horse track?) and cycle paths and more shade etc. The presence of the car race in the park for 4-5 months makes this more difficult but not impossible. But of course there's no money to be made from individual active recreation so that's why certain sections of the business and sporting communities have no interest in supporting it. We mustn't let vested interest take control of public land for commercial gain trumped up as civic pride. And re the letter about Perth, let's also remember that Perth recently said no to a car race in its city streets.

Will then the cycling, athletics, archery, University sports and soaring clubs, as well as the Parklands and Residents' Associations put in the money for the new fitness circuit, cycle paths, additional shade and seating, rubbish bins, appropriate lighting for safety, demolition of existing buildings and landscaping (as well as the labour costs) desired by Ms. Nimmo? In effect, are these organisations who clamour for the restoration of Victoria Park as entirely open parkland willing to pay for this, or are they merely going to demand payment from elsewhere because, as Ms. Nimmo has pointed out, there is no money for them to make from individual recreation?

With proper development at the site, not only can the track remain a well-kept, grassed area for the use of all Adelaideans, it becomes a useful facility for both the SAJC and the Clipsal 500. It is not going to be a large, privately-owned, fenced-off, restricted area, and that is a damaging misconception.

[JamesXander]

How pathetic by heather. 400,000 a year use Victoria park.

thats what just over 1000 a day. Or 41 an hour.

41 people an hour. And ofcourse you have to remember this number is probably INFLATED. This is a huge park we are talking about. I hardly EVER seen anyone there. I cannot understand how a Grand Stand built on the land that is used for a horse racing/car racing track is going to have any impact of the 40 people an hour who use this park.

[crawf]

Most of those so called 400,000 people go there for the Clipsal 500, race meets and events.

Victoria Park is a disgrace, shes a typical anti-progress Adelaidian.