Final Kensington Gardens Reserve masterplan approved by Burnside Council after two years of debate
AFTER two years of planning, multiple redesigns and constant wrangling with sports clubs, Burnside Council has finally settled on a long-term plan for its biggest park.
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- Sports groups oppose Burnside Council master plan for park
- Grand plan for Kensington Gardens Reserve dumped — again
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AFTER two years of planning, multiple redesigns and constant wrangling with sports clubs, Burnside Council has finally settled on a long-term plan for its biggest park.
And the outcome means none of Kensington Gardens Reserve’s anchor tenants will be forced to move.
The council last week endorsed a final masterplan for the reserve, paving the way for works to start in 2018.
The revamp — which will cost at least $820,000 — will feature wetlands, more carparks, a jogging path and hundreds of extra trees.
There are no plans to relocate or merge any of the reserve’s cricket, rugby, tennis and bowls clubs, after the council ruled a line through the contentious idea.
It is a major win for the clubs after they lobbied the council to leave their clubrooms alone as part of the park’s upgrade.
Cr Grant Piggott told last week’s council meeting the masterplan balanced the needs of the clubs, council and community.
“It has been a drawn-out process that has tested a few philosophies about what you do with this type of park,” Cr Piggott said.
“I feel that we have got to a good conclusion.”
The approval comes two years after Burnside unveiled a grander vision for the reserve, centred on a multimillion-dollar shared sporting hub.
It abandoned the hub concept last year amid opposition from clubs over its proposed location.
The clubs, which formed a committee to voice their collective concerns, also pressured the council to scrap a revised proposal that included wetlands in place of East Torrens Kensington Gardens Tennis Club — a move that would have forced it to relocate to the reserve’s northeastern corner.
A smaller wetlands next to the tennis club was included in the final plan.
Committee spokesman Gary Slack was pleased the council had eventually agreed to the clubs’ wishes.
Mr Slack still opposed plans for a carpark in place of two public tennis courts off West Tce, but said the wider vision provided a “clear pathway for the future”.
“We were continually challenged by the council … but through a determined community groundswell we were able to come up with the best structure,” Mr Slack said.
“Democracy ruled in this process.”
He said the clubs would now work with the council on upgrades to their individual rooms.
Cr Graham Bills criticised the plan — in particular the wetlands — and said the reserve should be left untouched.
But his colleagues argued the wetland was necessary to improve water quality and biodiversity at the reserve.
Kensington Gardens Preschool, which is based at the park, also pushed for the wetland to provide educational and nature play opportunities.
Preschool student Louis, 5, said the project would provide a “nice home for the animals”.
The council has budgeted $820,000 across the next two financial years for the first stage of work, including upgrades to power and lighting.
It is yet to finalise a total cost for the project.
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