Commenting on the story: Government should be park land custodians, not land agents

I hope people take time to absorb what Dr Lomax Smith is saying. Thus far, media reporting has presented this issue as small interest groups (NIMBYS) opposing the arena (progress). This is an inaccurate distortion designed to belittle legitimate concerns.

In truth the breadth of this proposed rezoning is hard to reconcile with any measures necessary and appropriate to facilitate either an arena or a new hospital. You have to question why these developments would require rezoning east of Morphett St at all, let alone a total of 70 Ha. We are not talking some forgotten corner of the parklands but the most high profile, central swathe.

Once rezoned, this green public space loses its parkland character and protection and can be developed, subdivided and sold like any other piece of government owned land. The rezoning removes current parklands uses such as open space sporting field and special events and would allow light industry, residential accommodation, hotels, shops and cafes.

Future proposals to build such would no require any consultation and neither the City Council (the historical custodian), the parliament or the public could object or prevent it.

This is an insidious attempt to use the hype around an arena and hospital to acquire 10% of the parklands for future development, a fact of which I suspect most members of the public are not aware.

This subterfuge fundamentally changes the complexion of the entire rezoning attempt.

The government must come clean on their plans for the land and present them for public scrutiny before any divestment of parkland can be contemplated. – Skye MacDonald

Dr. Lomax Smith has eloquently described and called out the Marshall plan for what it is – a cheap land grab. What a shame she’s no longer at the pointy end of the ship. – Robyn Dollman

Dr Jane Lomax-Smith covers all the bases with this brilliant summary of a dire and unconscionable situation.

I couldn’t have said it any better, except for her suggestion of a ‘land swap’. This smacks of the ‘land bank’ idea of a former Liberal state government in 1999. That proposed legislation died after concerted opposition from the Adelaide City Council, the Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association and many others.

It was clear then and it’s clear now that the Adelaide Park Lands are a diminishing asset that requires continuous protection from greedy politicians and developers. – Gunta Groves

Commenting on the story: Vaccines, choices and regrets: Bobby’s 75-year legacy

What a poignant story. In Australia most of our graveyards and cemeteries do not go back far enough to reveal the true scale of infant and child mortality that was prevalent a couple of hundred years ago.

This has been brought home to me by trips back to the UK where I have visited old churches and walked amongst the graves taking careful note of the inscriptions on the stones. Truly the two greatest steps forward in public health were, and are, treatment and disinfection of drinking water and immunisation. – Christopher Saint

How heartbreaking to read. We are so lucky to have vaccines available today. It’s a shame that so many people today distrust the science that saves so many lives. This story should remind us how we can protect ourselves, and our children. – Philippa King