MAKE IT A PARK!
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| Not making an
Urban Ghetto in the name of a quick dollar If our descendants since 1895 had
known that open space was essential to life, and God
knows that too, then why do we have the arrogance and
ignorance to question that collective wisdom. As the vast
majority of local and state politicians only seem to care
about their own agendas and getting re-elected, it is
little wonder that many people are somewhat cynical of
politicians as a species. Only two local councillors,
Robert Grant and John Howland are showing any backbone
and standing by their principles despite the upcoming
Council election. They are to be admired and supported
for their stand, and any other councillors could do worse
than to follow the example they are setting. As for our
State politicians, they seem to think that their next
election is too far away to effect their ambitions. They
would be well advised to recall that people have a long
memory for the wrongs of the world, especially those with
a long term effect like the one it seems is about to
occur. Should this occur, then there is no way I would
even consider voting for anybody in favour of this
appalling proposal, and would actively oppose them for as
long as I am able in addition to spreading the word of
their actions or lack of by any means available. Also,
the obvious principle and actions of current Federal MP
soon to stand for State election Rod Sawford are
admirable. |
Please
don't sell Cheltenham Racecourse! There is very little open space in Cheltenham and we need to preserve what there is for future generations to enjoy. If the Jockey Club no longer wants the site then it should be purchased by the Government for Community use. |
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Remember
these promises:
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| My partner
and me certainly support Cheltenham Race course being
100% open space and NOT sold. I further suggest Victoria
Park Race track be returned to parklands as Colonel Light
envisaged. The Morphettville Race Course needs to be
further utilized. If money is the root of this exercise
(and we know it is) - then perhaps it is a management
issue (look at the basketball) or lack of. Name and Address Withheld |
I think
that the sale of Cheltenham park Racecourse should not be
facilitated by the govt and in fact vigorously opposed by
all means available. The reasons for this are many but
the key ones that I see are: It is one of the very few remaining opportunities to retain open space within the suburbs, especially the western suburbs. Studies have well documented a range of health issues that are prevalent in the north-west, along with the equally well document emerging obesity problems, and any opportunity that presents itself to preserve and open up space that has the potential to improve lifestyles cannot be squandered. The opportunity to provide a wetlands area as a means of mitigating the flood risk that is a known fact within the vicinity. Rezoning the area to ensure that the SAJC make maximum profit from the sale to ensure a viable and healthy racing industry should never be a driving force. The racing industry, despite what they would say about creating thousands of jobs etc etc, is not an industry that we necessarily want or need to see thriving. As a participatory sport horse racing is not accessible to the average person or family. As a spectator sport it is a dismal failure attracting only handfuls (by sporting event standards) of people to even high profile racing events. I am not a football fan but I am sure that if you totaled the entire attendance at every Adelaide metro race meeting for a year it would not equal a single AFL match. What racing does promote, and relies upon for its very existence, is gambling, a well documented social problem that is surely not to be encouraged. Sale by the SAJC will prop up an industry that has very little public support, appeal or opportunity for involvement. They will invest money in Victoria Park infrastructure, a race course that they don't even own. The SAJC could go bankrupt tomorrow and 99% of the SA population wouldn't even notice, let alone care. AR Woodville Park |
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The SAJC have dismissed out of hand, the option of pushing hard to have implemented the same type of arrangement that Victorian racing has with their government. The arrangement is that a small percentage of gross poker machine revenue is given to racing in Victoria and as a consequence, racing in that state has and continues to boom. The SAJC's negative position on this sustainable means of revenue is hardly surprising when one considers, that the CEO of the SAJC is the same CEO of the South Australian Clubs Association. The vast majority of members of the South Australian Clubs Association have and rely heavily, upon poker machines to "make a buck". The last thing that the members of the South Australian Clubs Association want to hear, is their CEO stand before them and tell them that there will be a levy imposed upon them and what's more, their CEO agrees with the imposition of this levy ! This is the way that business is done in Adelaide and the chaps of the SAJC are at the forefront of grubbiness. The people who will pay for their empire building is us through the destruction of our open space both here at Cheltenham and in our parklands. The Liberal Party and the SAJC brought racing to it's knees and the Labor Party with the SAJC is about to hammer the last nail in racing's coffin. The Charles Sturt Council and the Mayor had better fight to preserve Cheltenham or they will be out ! "Matrice-for-ever" |
Once again, I am astounded by the lack vision of South Australia's leaders. Presented with all the possibilities of a large block of land with an equestrian related history, our leaders seem to have come up with the usual answer - a housing estate with a swamp in one corner and a bike track along the edge. Once again when given the opportunity to add to and enhance the quality of public life they head for the nearest high rise. Are these intellectual pygmies again going to miss the boat and refuse to recognise that there is still enormous economic potential in equestrian and allied industries? Who else remembers the failure to buy the land used by the Gawler 3-day event - a far cheaper option than continually rebuilding a course around the Adelaide Parklands? Who else remembers the abandonment of the promise to use the Linear Park to establish a route to enable people to ride their horses from the foothills to the sea? Who else is suspicious about the real reasons for wanting to move horses off the lower Torrens? What do our leaders have against horses? It is still possible to save the Cheltenham Park Racecourse site and turn it into a viable public open space, while at the same time incorporating a multi-purpose equestrian park as a home for the Adelaide International 3 day event. Let us not forget that the State Government still seems determined to turn Victoria Park into a permanent car racing venue. The SAJC only has a lease on that area and I cannot understand a decision to leave property it owns in favour of a leasehold area which is substantially degraded by other actives. With all the money recently handed out to major sporting organisations, I have no objection to some of my taxes being spent on Cheltenham - even covering the SAJC debt if that is what is needed to end this madness! Eliza Bagley Bowden |
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| Opposition to sale We would like to register our
opposition to the sale of Cheltenham Racecourse, we
support the idea of a wetlands and that it be open to the
public for recreational purposes. Duped? The public of South
Australia, along with the racing community, have been
duped by the SAJC if they believe that bulldozing
Cheltenham will save The only people that would benefit from the destruction of Cheltenham will be the developers and their mates and the "cocktail set"; the "beautiful" people who will sit in the new, hermetically sealed grandstand in our parklands, sipping their martini's without having their hair mucked up by the "frightful wind" whilst looking out over our parklands and saying things like, "remember when that ghastly horseracing used to be here". Not only will it be the final nail in the coffin for racing in this state but it will also have a devastating effect on our local community with the taking away of an open space. A place where we can go to have our own space, away from the confines of suburbia. A place that we can take in deep breathes of air. That place Cheltenham is our lungs and we must not let Ploubidis and Co. take that away from us. "Matrice-for-ever", |
Letter
to Editor (The Portside Messenger) Dear Editor, I have dire concerns for the fate of Cheltenham Park. Since the racecourse has been destined for sale, development of any kind must be based on the following non-negotiable conditions:
Otherwise the space will become concrete-filled. Car parks and pre-fab buildings will create a 'heat sink'. Further, sardine-packed housing will undoubtedly consist of multi-storey housing each comprised of the obligatory 2-3 bathrooms and toilets. What a drain! Sydney-based property developers Stockland have already purchased the Sheridan site adjoining the racecourse, and if sold to them, they will have ultimate control over one vast area. Quoting Anthony Toop “It would be the single most significant sale in South Australia in the past 10 years” (The Advertiser, 4/8/04). A suggested figure of $450m would be closer to the true value of this site and this is what developers will reap in a couple of years. A Z (Amended from the original Letter to the Editor, 13th Sept 2004, post-SAJC members meeting.) [Twice this letter was
not published.] |
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| Boycott the pokies! Let's declare a "no pokies
zone" if the Racecourse is sold and developed - the
SAJC can't have their cake and eat it too ...! If they
sell up, then they get out. |
If the SAJC owned Norwood Football Oval, they would sell this to developers too. |
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| Dear Editor, (The Advertiser, The
Messenger) Please
note very carefully that the sale of Cheltenham Park
Racecourse is in intention only. The State Government
would be most wise to be very wary of allowing the SAJC
to make such detrimental short-term financial decisions,
considering both the TAB debacle and attempt to redevelop
a leased property such as Victoria Park. |
Protected
Parklands The Parklands should have always been protected from any development. This was the vision for Adelaide, and should never be questioned or debated. For everyone else, we have to fight for our bit of land - a space to allow us the sanity and freedom from heavy traffic and manufacturing. The last vital place in the entire western suburbs - Cheltenham Park Racecourse - is worth fighting for, and this, also, should never be questioned, debated or fought for. It should also be a given. |
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| Racing
industry. What horse racing industry? I thought the Jockey Club in South Australia was now the Pokies industry. |
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| "I thought Cheltenham Park Racecourse
was doing well financially?" (Name and address
withheld) We thank you for your concern. Yes, it was. However, a $10m debt was transferred from the Morphettville Racecourse and placed on Cheltenham Park. No further investment has occurred at Cheltenham since. In fact, members have been forced to train their horses at Morphettville, so the sale will proceed unheeded. Many trainers have protested and were ignored by their Club. The SAJC have also made a profit this year (2005). This is a feat in itself, despite holding Cheltenham Park, and predicting losses of $1m every year for the next 5 years. This is clearly not the case. If the TRSA are holders of the debt to Government, then the SAJC is surely doing financially better than they claim. However, Members at the Special General Meeting voted down Resolution 2 to provide financial visibility. I hope this updates you on the current situation. |
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