Commenting on the story: Supreme Court bid to overturn Adelaide Hills gold mine knockback

If the government approval process does not require the Minister to take into account the wishes of the adjoining businesses or the wider Woodside and Hills community, or the balance the longer term risks to existing business over the short term benefits of one company, then it would be the approval process that needs to change – not the outcome.

Koutsantonis has made the right decision for our community. – Kathy Mickan

Commenting on the story: ‘Poor investment’: City programs questioned in review

It has been my position since retiring as Chair of the now defunct Rundle Mall Management Authority to not make comment on its operations, either positive or negative. Now seems an appropriate time to go against that principle.

These “consultant” reports are valuable if taken in context, but should not be taken as a sign of poor performance in the practical application that the Economic Development Authority now has to operate under.

It was my view that the proposal to bring the RMMA under a city wide authority was always going to end up being subjected to criticism for bias. As rightly pointed out by the Chair though, the landlords (who then on-charge to the traders) pay a significant levy to promote the Rundle Mall precinct, unlike the rest of the city. So it is fair that they get a fair proportion of exposure and expenditure in return but, of course, it probably also takes a disproportionate amount of time of the Authority.

It should also be in context that not many people visit the city in the days of electronic transactions and suburban retail centres. Retail and hospitality, apart from those not working from home, are still the major contributor to city visitations for locals residents of the broader Adelaide community. Without locals attending their city centre to add vibrancy and consistency to retail/ hospitality, tourists would find a dead and boring place not to be recommended to attract further visitations. You only look to Melbourne CBD to see how this is a self-evident outcome of not maintaining vibrancy.

The AEDA adds a significant component to bringing this together and they should be encouraged to know that they are doing a very good job of it under difficult circumstances. Of course, mistakes will be made and not everything works, but they deserve credit for the things they do well and for “having a go”.

Articles which appear to only focus on the negative without the balance of reporting positives do not help public perception of maintaining a vibrant city in the face of considerable social and behavioural change. – Eric Granger

Commenting on the story: ‘Warning bells’: Council economic development agency under fire

As a city ratepayer, I’ve long been concerned at the operation of this unelected body, created during the Verschoor regime. Overnight, it effectively swallowed a vast menu of traditionally previous city council deliberations, and many outcomes overnight became official council secrets.

It now costs $8.1m annually, and needs 31 staffers (employee costs 2022–23 were $1,183, 323). In the same business plan and budget doc (June 2022), board fees were kept secret. Council’s 2021 admin brief was basically for it to be unaccountable to ratepayers. Many performance targets could not be measured: they were too ambiguous.

The Deloitte report is a strong incentive for the city council to act quickly to end what has been a very costly operation that was totally unnecessary in 2021 – and remains so. For transparency’s sake, close it down and bring all deliberations back into monthly council business, where at least some accountability for results can occur. Ratepayers’ recent 10 per cent hike in rates could be possibly cut back next year if council’s management brings back that $8.1m to fund standard council business. $8.1m! – John Bridgland

Commenting on the story: Oodnadatta finally gets safe drinking water

What a shameful thing that in a rich country with a small population, it is a newsworthy fact that Australian/South Australian citizens are now – almost a quarter way through the 21st century – getting drinkable water.

And that it seems mainly from a welcome media campaign from InDaily about the scandal of Oodnadatta. Congratulations and thanks to InDaily but shameful all the same. – Michele Madigan