Sign of the apocalypse

Is this Adelaide’s most beaten-up road sign?

The hilariously battered sign at the top of Glen Osmond Rd appears to have survived a nuclear winter. Photo: Dave Eccles/InDaily

Dirty and peeling, with sky and cables visible through a gaping hole, it looms like a gargoyle above traffic at the top of Glen Osmond Rd near one of the city’s busiest intersections and the gateway to Adelaide.

It’s one of those “once seen it can’t be unseen” things, providing wonderment and disturbing but free entertainment for locals and interstate visitors alike.

Do you dare take the challenge and turn left into syllable-heavy RTRUSH RD? Throw caution to the winds and steer right into the mystery of CROSS? Or boldly drive straight ahead and up to Murray Bridge (we think).

Of all the money rained on major road projects in the State Budget and on the South Eastern Freeway just a couple of hundred metres away, perhaps a fraction could be set aside for a new sign. Although InSider has grown rather fond of this classically shit bit of Adelaide.

Gold standard snackery

Speaking of the State Budget, it’s an event much looked forward to by Adelaide media.

Not because the traditional lockup – where you basically are captive to Treasury boffins – is a once-a-year opportunity to pore through state finances and grill the Treasurer about forward estimates and statements of comprehensive income in Budget Paper 4, Volume 1.

No, no, no. Heavens no. It’s because of the lunch.

Nothing excites journos, cammos and togs more than a free feed, and the Budget lockup is one of the best. Bringing your food trophies back to the table and making your colleagues sprint over to get some of that one before it goes is as good as it gets for us hacks.

These little beauties stole the show for us, particularly the deliciously subtle gold leaf. InSider had to wait until the Treasurer’s presser was over due to fear of being caught on camera stuffing it down.

Gold standard snackies at the State Budget lockup. Photo: InDaily

Hold my beer, says Albo

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been making a plea for a more balanced and intelligent debate on nuclear issues in Australia.

He’s having a bit of a bet each way, wanting us to discuss nuclear power openly and calmly but at the same time saying the solutions aren’t economic.

Regardless, his party colleague – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – is having none of sensible, balanced debate, using social media this week to suggest Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s desire for nuclear power stations could see vineyards in the Barossa turned into a scene from The China Syndrome.

But isn’t Albo on board with the AUKUS plan to have nuclear submarine reactors fiddled with down at Port Adelaide within a few hundred metres of suburbia? Does the Sydneysider and his dirt crew not understand South Australian geography? Yeah, no need to answer that.

Council sets speed record

The Adelaide City Council set a new record on Tuesday night, with a special finance meeting taking only four minutes – a feat unheard of in all of InDaily’s time covering Town Hall. 

The special meeting was called for the City Finance and Governance Committee to debate annual fees and charges, a main source of the council’s revenue. After bouncing between the agendas of the past three meetings, the committee voted to endorse the fees with no debate, only Councillor David Elliott saying he was “disappointed” they were having this conversation for a third time with “no real change”. 

Of course, the absence of four councillors – some of whom had disputed the fees in past meetings – helped speed up the vote. 

Now the fees just need final approval at next week’s council meeting, which we can only hope goes just as swiftly.

Uncool city plan

In a longer committee meeting the same evening, a pretty temperamental faux pas was pointed out in the council’s draft city plan. 

Councillor Mark Siebentritt pointed out that an image used under the subheading “a Greener and Cooler City” looked like it had artificial turf, which some might realise is not actually green, or cool. In fact, it’s hot. 

The sizzling turf in question is pictured far left.

Artificial grass is notorious for being even hotter than asphalt when exposed to prolonged sun, with experts finding it can reach a scorching 79 degrees. 

But don’t sweat it, the councillor’s feedback gives staff a chance to double-check and rectify the pic before the council copped heat from any eagle-eyed greening nerds when the plan goes out to public consultation.

Artificial grass is a hot road choice. This photo: City of Burnside 2023