Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor will ask City Council to set up parklands foundation for public to contribute
The Adelaide Parklands are for all South Australians, but only about 26,000 pay for its upgrades. Now, Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor wants to see that change.
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The Adelaide Parklands are the city’s green belt, planned out for all South Australians to enjoy by Colonel William Light.
However, only 26,000 people per year contribute to their enhancement and improvement – equating to about $25 million or 25 per cent of Adelaide City Council’s annual rates revenue – and Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor wants to see that change.
In October, Ms Verschoor will ask her council to consider starting up a foundation where the public can donate money towards improving the parklands.
Under her plan, people would be able to make regular contributions to the foundation, leave bequests and sporting and community groups that call the parklands home would be encouraged to host fundraisers like sausage sizzles.
It would be the third time a proposal for a foundation has been considered in about 10 years.
“To me there is a lot of people invested in the parklands and there are no mechanisms to contribute other than rates … that’s why I’m leading my council to establish an Adelaide Park Lands Foundation,” Ms Verschoor said.
“It is to ensure our Adelaide parklands – all 723ha – become an even better space for the people of our city and state and are enhanced and preserved for future generations.
“I believe we need an easy way for all South Australians to contribute to the protection of Adelaide’s greatest asset and the creation of magnificent public spaces.”
Between 2014 and 2018, council, State Government and private investors completed at least 30 parklands improvements worth about $53.7 million.
The council contributed about $12.8 million towards the projects.
It has at least 33 funded parklands improvement projects in the coming years, worth about $32.4 million.
Projects include the City Skate Park ($3 million), Whitmore Sq greening ($800,000) and Rundle Park events infrastructure ($900,000).
Ms Verschoor said she hoped the foundation could be used to finish projects including the 18km Parklands Trail, which could cost tens of millions depending on designs.
The trail takes in forests, Kaurna heritage, wetlands, a 12ha cemetery, public art, an inner-city golf course, play spaces, dog parks, sports ovals and places of quiet reflection.
“I would also love to see a high art sculpture trial through a section of the parklands,” she said.
“The board will either list projects you can donate to or will be call for projects which will come through APLA (Adelaide Park Lands Authority).
“Council will have to request the money from the foundation to actually do it.”
The money would not be used on administrative functions and board members would include independent and council members, she said.
Ms Verschoor, who plans to have the foundation running by May, said she is determined to make the foundation among the many legacies she leaves at the council.
“This time, we are definitely going to crack it and start the process to a foundation,” she said.
“Collectively, we all should help preserve and protect this truly unique and iconic green belt.”