50th Anniversary
September, 2020
50 Years Strong – Happy 50th!
It all started with a state government proposal to solve metropolitan vehicular transport congestion problems with the “MATS plan”, driving into the city with 7 lanes, LA style, straight through North Adelaide! So, our story begins with a community coming together to oppose a ‘mad MATS plan’ by the government of the day.
So, to today, the Society continues to grapple with governments about community involvement in matters such as heritage protection, planning, the character of development, being listened to and knowing the Society is serious in its endeavours.
Beginning with MATS, the Metropolitan Arterial Transport Plan, the government of the day intended to “fix” the problem of traffic delays with a huge array of large multi lane traffic corridors to service the ever growing outer suburbs of our fair city. While the North Adelaide Society was formed fifty years ago to oppose the plan and to provide a responsible voice in the community on civic affairs, the prime motivation was to provide a forum for mounting a protest to the government of the day.
A constitution was written and approved at the outset with 12 guiding principles and a succession of committees were formed with Chairman including Peter Stevens, John Coates, David Fox, Ed Breidis, Ben Walters, Geoff Goode and lastly our present chairman Elbert Brooks, to name a few. Ed Breidis was the longest serving and most influential of the many chairman, and while many secretaries have kept the Society well organised, the longest serving and most effective would have to have been John Bridgland, sharing more than fifteen years with Ed, in running the Society’s affairs and producing four highly detailed and informative newsletters, each and every year, up to Ed’s death in 2017.
Back to the story of the Society in North Adelaide, its members have been passionate about the character, history, and future of where they live. The times dictate measures adopted by groups such as ours. When we were being listened to and, we think, taken seriously, many “wins” were achieved where tolerance and respect were afforded by state and local government to alternative and diverse opinions and voices. The Society, for instance, looked at the Colonel Light Gardens example of heritage listing and protecting property and sought, with ultimately great success, a result: The North Adelaide Historic (Conservation) Zone. The MacDougall and Vines survey was “pushed” by the Society, without which there is serious doubt that this extensive expansion of “streetscape” nominations would have been formalised without our ever-present demand that heritage protection be taken seriously and be enforced.
Very many Lord Mayors over the last fifty years have listened and we had our say on several matters that supported local government moves. We supported Wendy Chapman’s measure to stop Mr. Borthwick from exploiting Brougham Place; we were involved when Steve Condous redressed suspect decisions on the streetscape nominations. We were strongly in favour of Alfred Huang support for the local City bus services, which was the idea and initiative of our current chairman, Elbert Brooks, and is now under threat from current local and state administrations of stopping on 31 December 2020. We were cheering when Michael Harbison cemented in place the Conservation zone for North Adelaide and like previous lord mayors, he listened to and often acted upon our submissions on development applications about proposed built form. After Stephen Yarwood, listening has been replaced by what seems now to be mere ‘lip service’ at best.
It seems the times were no longer right for community groups such as ours to be allowed to have a “local” voice. For too many years, the previous government decided that any development is good development, as much private investment was sought to develop our city and suburbs. Large institutions could now be “complying” with almost no bounds on height and lateral expansion into our “green and pleasant lands”; suburban allotments were and still are, under threat; and so-called catalyst sites on major thoroughfares have already been sanctioned, with up to twelve stories in height allowed. So, what’s next?
New planning and development legislation has now arrived in the form of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016; linked in with this is a proposed Planning and Design Code to replace 67 local government development plans, and this Code is formulated to fit the constraints of an exceptionally large central data base system, one size fits all! Where does “local” fit in now and is anybody even listening anymore?
The changes in the new Planning Act will remove third party appeals from neighbours and community groups such as ours, from being heard when assessments come before planning panels and commissions for consideration when outrageous development plans are submitted by developers with appeal rights to the Environment Resource and Development Court. “The times, they are a changing” is a given, but that ought to be in favour of communities, not denuding them and deluding us. We find ourselves in a position such as the one that Woody Allen mentioned (in regard to the threat of nuclear Armageddon to the world we live in): “We are at a fork in the road, one path will lead to utter devastation and death, the other to misery, let us hope we choose wisely”.
Today, some 50 years after taking on the battle for our North Adelaide community, the Society continues to be confronted by local governance that will not listen. How on earth could a council such as ours offer developers the freedom of “giving” Council unsolicited bids for opportunistic, private large scale development in precious Adelaide Park Lands? Foolish in and foolish out: the Adelaide Aquatic Centre debacle; “pubs in the park lands” such as at Adelaide Oval and Adelaide University’s next to MacKinnon Parade; the ‘still on the books’ want of the Adelaide Football Corporation to acquire the Adelaide Aquatic Centre; over-scale ‘change-rooms’ for Prince Alfred College on Park 9, and so on. The Adelaide Park Lands have often been referred to as Adelaide’s “jewel in the crown”, but for how much longer if this sort of exploitation and erosion continues?
So, what is our future? Well, the Society was born from political stoushes fifty years ago. If politics means the public debate about the activities of government, it seems that fifty years later we need to continue politicking, debating, and impacting those who rule, or would seek to rule, our lives and those of our community.
We live in a democracy, but single voices resonate more effectively when joined in a Society such as ours. Yes, sometimes our voice is not listened to. However, as it has been for fifty years, the Society and its members are up for that challenge.
The proposed Planning Act could be changed for the better. The Planning and Design Code implementation for metropolitan Adelaide has finally been deferred (hoorah!) for further rounds of discussion (listening?). Hopefully the bulldozing that has marked the process will give way to reasoning, negotiation and a new governance spirit to enable the building of communities with local character, and for local voices to be heard both within our State seat of Adelaide and our City.
The current committee of the Society wishes to formally acknowledge all past office bearers and committee members of Society. The Society cannot function and address the multitude of issues and circumstances without those who contribute their time and efforts, nor without the support of its members and the collegiality of other community organisations.
The Society has proudly worked for 50 years for our community, locale and the City and its environs.
Happy 50th!!
After the COVID pandemic, we will
find time to meet and celebrate.
WHILE WE TURN 50
A VALUABLE VOICE TURNS 25
Councillor Anne Moran has been a voice of courage, commitment and contribution to the Adelaide City Council, the City of Adelaide, and to North Adelaide. Her many contributions include local expertise on planning and assessment committees (possibly the longest serving; certainly the most representative and ‘down to earth’ knowledgeable). She has supported residential and commercial improvements that add character; created a useful heritage fund to support conservation; is a true custodian of the Park Lands; vigorously pursues transparency; and doesn’t shirk from engaging in robust public debate in the public interest.
The issues with which Cr. Moran has had to contend, the personalities that she has endured, and the administrative millstones that have weighed upon her, have not lessened her resolve and capacity to represent people living and working within the city square mile and North Adelaide.
The overwhelming support of electors for 25 years speaks volumes for the extent of public support and confidence in Cr Moran’s work advocating for the qualities that give the City of Adelaide its unique character.
Finally, Cr Moran’s tenacity and plain speak is legendary, all the while retaining a sense of humour and capacity to not take herself too seriously.
The North Adelaide Society Inc. extends to
Councillor Anne Moran
our congratulations and appreciation
for her tireless efforts and her representative voice during 25 years of exemplary service to the City.
We look forward to Cr. Moran continuing to speak up for ratepayers and electors, for the life, heritage, and character of business and residential precincts, and for the City of Adelaide and its Park Lands.
In our 1st year, in our 50th year, and in the years between, The North Adelaide Society Inc. has been speaking up for the rights of people to be heard and to advocate for where they live or work.
The North Adelaide Society inc. will continue to speak up about the future, and issues of concern to its members, of concern to North Adelaide and its diverse precincts, and of concern to the City.
As it has for the last 50 years, The Society will continue this year and next, and for this decade, as a responsible voice of, and advocate for, our local community.
Your membership makes all the difference.