A PLAN to install more lights, new bridges and a better path system will rejuvenate the eastern reaches of Adelaide’s Linear Park.

The Tea Tree Gully council’s stretch of the path has been criticised in the past for being directionless, neglected in places and with a dearth of playgrounds and toilets.

But through new investment and the popularity of rogaining – a form of orienteering – Tea Tree Gully is aiming to become a tourist haven on the back of wheels and walking.

Up to 600 people will visit the green expanses of TTG for the third year in succession for the South Australian Rogaining Association event on November 3, and the association’s president Kate Corner says the park is perfect for the sport.

Council spokesman Tony Amato says the event will exhibit improvements that are on the horizon for the park.

The biggest of those is a $400,000 council investment, which includes the removal of “conflict points” along the path – places where rider and walker interaction is less than ideal.

New park furniture, a barbecue, eight picnic settings and five drinking fountains are also planned, while the council is floating the idea of lighting the entire 10km stretch at a cost of at least $1 million.

While Bike SA chief executive Christian Haag welcomes planned improvements, he believes council investment has been at “chronically low levels” in cycling and infrastructure “poorly serviced”.

He said the park trail was “increasingly under pressure”.

“Where appropriate, the path should be widened or duplicated to provide better separation between walkers and riders. And improved lighting will provide greater safety for users,” Mr Haag said.

“All ... councils (near the Hills) have a responsibility to cater for the thousands of riders who head into the Hills each week, regardless of whether they are residents or visitors.”

Meanwhile, Campbelltown wants to be known as the “Gateway to the Hills” and the council’s CEO, Paul Di Iulio, says it is well placed to deliver.

A year ago, the council endorsed a masterplan to improve its cycling network, including $1.75 million over four years, however council cannot say what’s happened since.

Regular path user Julian Hinton, of Fairview Park, says Linear Park could become a bigger tourist drawcard with some better direction.

“More signposts would be good,”Mr Hinton said. “Perhaps if I was going to have a family picnic, where’s the nearest bakery or cafe?”

East poised for high-energy industry

THE west might be enjoying a defence boom but traders of technology in the east should take advantage of the energy gloom.

That is the belief of Jenny Paradiso, whose company Suntrix Solar in Newton has been a success story of the east over the past decade, offering solar panels, LED lighting and battery storage options.

She said the future of energy was all about solar panels and batteries, with political and commercial momentum building.

German company Sonnen, the world’s largest home storage battery company, is expected build a factory in Adelaide this year and move its headquarters here from Sydney.

The State Government is also rolling out a $100 million household battery fund with means-tested grants to help homes buy batteries.

Mrs Paradiso said the future was about residents and businesses taking their energy problems into their own hands.

“I think that’s going to be a new coming industry,” Mrs Paradiso said of home-based batteries. The other thing that’s going to get bigger, is the technology surrounding your energy use.”

“The other thing that’s going to get bigger, it’s the technology surrounding your energy use.

“In your home, or your office building, how you manage and control that energy with technology.

“We’re seeing all of that happening nationally as well.”

Managing director of Sonnen Australia Chris Parratt said the company was set to announce the location of its new factory very soon.

“Our core market is Australia, it’s the centre of the universe, really,” Mr Parratt said.

“It’s a wealthy country with high energy prices.

“Our intention is to still put one in Adelaide, the short list of locations has been cut back to six.

“The State Government has been at the forefront of energy policy... the new government can be a part of new wave of technology which is energy storage.”

Mrs Paradiso said any new businesses looking to tap in should do their research and find a gap in the market.

- Ben Cameron

Build up.... but cautiously

EAST1ERN suburbs mayors have urged a cautious approach towards approval of medium-density apartments in the region.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Mayor Robert Bria said while The Parade lent itself to apartment living, neighbouring Magill Road should be developed more cautiously.

“It would be a mistake to think we could adopt a cookie-cutter approachcutter approach to medium density.

“Thinking what suits The Parade will work on Magill Rd, they are very different strips.”

“Magill Rd doesn’t have that range of goods and services (than The Parade) and less intensity,” he said.

He said with The Parade boasting retail, dining and transport aspects, it lended itself more to medium density developments.

“We should take a bit more of a cautious approach to the extension of density in Magill Rd.”

However, there were exceptions like the former Caroma factory which will be turned into a six-storey, $80 million development.

“That provides that sort of opportunity for medium density living,” he said.

“But we need to be mindful of Adelaide’s finite demand for medium density developments.

“We ask for developers to react to the market demand or they will create a glut of apartments with falling values as Melbourne and Sydney have experienced”

In Burnside, Mayor David Parkin was in favour of a “slowly, slowly” approach.

“We need to be careful we don’t become Melbourne,” Mr Parkin said.

“I grew up in Melbourne but I don’t recognise it now. Is that a good thing?

“That’s a matter of debate.

“It’s a difficult balance, between progress and the familiarity of streetscapes, there’s no answer to it.

“Some things should never change, and picking them out is hard. But it’s a topical matter for people who live in Burnside.”

Acting Property Council SA executive director Torie Brown said legislative changes had allowed developers to “maximise on the popularity of the area” with new apartment developments in Kent Town and along The Parade.

-Ben Cameron