Christopher Pyne: Port Adelaide’s Shed 26 must make way for progress

Port Adelaide can be turned back into a bustling, thriving area again, filled with life, families and business — but to get there, some old buildings will have to go, Christopher Pyne writes in his first column for The Advertiser.

• Last-ditch effort to save Shed 26 from demolition fails

Does anyone remember the Orange Lane Market in Norwood? Almost 15 years ago there was a campaign to “Save the Orange Lane Market”.

It was a run-down, dilapidated warehouse that was of no great historical significance.

It was used regularly for what was termed a flea market.

Vendors would set up their temporary stalls inside the building and sell their homemade earrings and bees wax candles to the good folk of the eastern suburbs.

I’d be surprised if it would pass muster for occupational health and safety checks these days.

It was charming while it lasted. But was it worth fighting to save when the offer to develop the site came along?

A brand new, modern, entirely hygienic and workplace health and safety-compliant building was erected on the site that now houses a Centrelink office that services the eastern and northeastern suburbs.

It brings public servants to work there every day as well as their clients. They use the local cafes, restaurants, shops and services along The Parade, providing economic activity for the small business owners, paying rates to the local council that funds facilities and better roads.

Those who fought to save the Orange Lane Market had the best of intentions. But why would anyone want to deny progress that grows our economy, provides jobs and improves the place in which we live?

Sound familiar?

This story is being replayed right now with the campaign to “Save Shed 26” at Port Adelaide. Ever heard of it? Nor had I until a developer bobbed up who wanted to demolish Shed 26 and replace it with a housing and commercial development.

Shed 26 is earmarked for demolition, to make way for housing. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

The most frequent visitors to Shed 26 over many years have been pigeons, possums and rodents. It has sat at Port Adelaide under-utilised for a very long time.

In the past three years I’ve travelled to the Osborne shipyard dozens of times in my previous roles as Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister.

Often I’ve thought the Port needs more development, more jobs, new residents and shopkeepers, new industries and more workers.

It’s a wonderful, mystical and historic part of our city. But there is no point in putting a glass dome over the place and objecting to the very proposals that can make Port Adelaide a thriving, bustling place again.

There have been some terrific new buildings created in the area over the past few years with new accommodation for singles, couples and families.

They are bringing new people and economic activity. By 2024, there will be 4000 more employees at the Osborne shipyards — building submarines and anti-submarine warfare frigates.

Wouldn’t it be great if they could live and raise their families in the Port in modern housing, send their children to school in local schools and take part in the community life of the Le Fevre Peninsula?

But true to form, a “Save Shed 26” campaign has been raised to stop that happening. I’m sure the same tired, emotive arguments are being run out as they were to save the Orange Lane Market.

People rally against the demolition of the historic sawtooth Shed 26 in Port Adelaide. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

So far, it looks like the Port Adelaide Enfield Council and those who want to regenerate the Port are winning the battle.

The development is slated to go ahead. I certainly hope it does.

Not all development is right of course. No one wants to see development at any cost.

We don’t want to live in the Porpoise Spit of Bill Hunter’s character, Mayor Heslop, of Muriel’s Wedding fame.

Who can forget the disaster of the replacement of the Exhibition Hall on North Tce with the Ligertwood Law School in the 1970s?

That error, fortunately, led to Adelaide realising its mistake and collectively resolving to protect our heritage buildings in the city.

It’s one of the reasons we have such magnificent public buildings such as the General Post Office, the Adelaide Town Hall and the District Court.

But all things in moderation. Governments, local and state in particular, must balance the future needs of our city and state and the need for jobs and growth with protecting our built and natural environment.

They haven’t always done so. The failure to develop the old Le Cornu site, on O’Connell St, in North Adelaide, is a case in point.

Let’s hope for the sake of the future of Port Adelaide, the whimsy of the “Save Shed 26” campaigners doesn’t hold back the chance for a new and brighter future for that site in the decades to come than it has enjoyed in the decades past.

Former defence minister and Member for Sturt Christopher Pyne’s column will appear in The Advertiser every Monday