Commenting on the story: State Govt lodges bid for National Park City status

I feel like I’m living through an episode of Yes Minister. As the State Government seeks to rezone 10% of the parklands (70 Ha) to give them the power to develop, subdivide or sell this green public space at will, they trumpet their belated lodgement for National Park City Status.

Given one of the metrics for assessment is that the city has “meaningful policies” in place to “protect, increase and enhance nature, culture, heritage, the environment and public space”, is the Minister on the level? In similar news, Minister Spiers is quoted as supporting grants “to green and cool [certain] areas through planting trees and other plants” in the Adelaide CBD since “heat and tree mapping had revealed problem areas in need of intervention”.

Apparently it is a way to reduce heat impacts where there is little space for parks. At the risk of stating the obvious, why not retain and protect the parks? – Skye MacDonald

I trust that David Spiers et al will be prepared to shoulder some or all of the responsibility if the Committee rejects the National Park City bid due to the Government’s degradation of our parklands?

The Park Land Association’s opposition may be ‘very disappointing’ to Mr Spiers, but his and the Government’s attitude to the park lands is certainly very disappointing to many of Adelaide’s citizens. – Darryl Pinch

Commenting on the story: ‘Virtual’ treatment for COVID-infected SA children

I’d be interested how you’d measure a blood oxygen level in a ‘virtual consult’. – Steve Parker