Calls to move North Adelaide from Adelaide City Council’s hands divides community
It’s known for grand homes and groups determined to save every blade of parklands from development, but does North Adelaide belong with the City Council? See our survey results.
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North Adelaide should be removed from the City Council district and merged with one of its eastern neighbours, survey results show.
Results from an Advertiser poll showed 88 per cent of 959 voters wanted Adelaide City Council to relinquish control of the affluent suburb to either Walkerville or Prospect.
It comes off the back of columnist Christopher Pyne’s push for the suburb to be shunned from the capital city district because of its lack of progress.
However, Mr Pyne’s calls divided community leaders – some say North Adelaide should be retained while others want it gone.
Friends & Residents of North Adelaide spokesman Valdis Dunis said the grand suburb should be retained.
He said it is a “natural fit” for the city and it would not be in Colonel William Light’s vision to hand the suburb, and its parklands, over to another council.
“All councils should have a balanced amount of residential and businesses – CBD is more business and North Adelaide is more residential,” Mr Dunis said.
“And there is development, yes the LeCornu site is a special case because of its size, but we have the old Channel 9 site with a really modern building and lots of residential developments happening at colleges.”
North Adelaide Precinct Association president Linda Zaccara said the suburb does not get enough attention from Adelaide City Council, and would support a merger.
“It is a really good idea, imagine teeing up with Prospect because O’Connell St extends into Prospect Rd … why not group up and help each other work,” Ms Zaccara said.
Back in 1998, State Government backbenchers made calls to remove North Adelaide from the CBD and merge it with Walkerville Council.
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Then mayor Jane Lomax-Smith criticised the push, describing it as “radical” and an “appalling” proposition.
Adelaide City Council Deputy Lord Mayor Alexander Hyde said North Adelaide has more in common with neighbouring Walkerville Council.
“When Colonel Light drew up the plans for the City of Adelaide, North Adelaide was titled the city’s dormitory suburb … no other name in history has been more fulfilled than calling it the dormitory suburb,” he said.
Walkerville Council Mayor Elizabeth Fricker said North Adelaide residents would have to decide if boundaries move.
Prospect Council Mayor David O’Loughlin did not comment on whether his council would be interested in taking over the suburb.
“We are not interested in Aquatic Centre in its current state, but Adelaide Oval might be of interest,” Mr O’Laughlin said.
North Adelaide ward councillor Anne Moran, who has represented the suburb for 25 years, said moving the suburb to Walkerville or Prospect was “ridiculous”.