Mums rally for playground and green spaces in Beverley, fearing for kids’ development

A group of mums’ year-long battle for their children’s futures has come to a head, rallying to fix a suburban problem that could impact generations to come.

Three working mums say a lack of green space in high-density suburbs could be impacting kids’ development – and are pushing for a playground in Beverley. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Three working mums have rallied against a lack of green space in one of Adelaide’s hottest and most industrial suburbs, saying over-commitment to dense housing could be impacting kids’ development.

Beverley is one of just three suburbs in the City of Charles Sturt council area without a playground, despite having the same number of children in the area as nearby Flinders Park, which has seven.

Local residents Claire Wald, Andrija Sala and Michelle – who have six children between them – began petitioning the council to improve green space in April 2023, highlighting Toogood Reserve and William St Reserve as potential areas for green development.

They raised concerns over data from the 2021 Early Development Census, which suggested that children in the semi-industrial area were lagging behind developmentally.

“While suburbs such as Woodville Park, West Lakes Shore/Tennyson, West Beach and Semaphore Park have 90 per cent or more of their children on track in this area,” Ms Wald said.

“But Allenby Gardens/Beverley has 38.7 per cent of our children on track, leaving 61.3 per cent developmentally at risk or vulnerable.”

Claire Wald, Andrija Sala and Michelle are lobbying for a green space in Beverley. Picture: Keryn Stevens

In April 2022, 10 per cent of Toogood Reserve was sold and 90 per cent was leased to Pelligra Group for a $20m development of the ageing 36ers stadium on the land, while William St Reserve is currently owned by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).

A number of homes are also set for construction in the suburb under the state government’s affordable housing scheme, Homeseeker SA, prompting concerns from residents over whether the area’s infrastructure could sustain additional housing.

“We would like to know, and have been asking regularly, whether William St Reserve is being earmarked for development, as all signs indicate it will,” Ms Wald said.

In August 2023, Ms Wald, Ms Sala and Michelle presented a petition to the Charles Sturt council urging prioritisation of green space.

The petition garnered almost 150 signatures – 10 per cent of the suburb’s total population.

Ms Wald said William St Reserve was “the suburb’s only legitimate chance at a green space” and raised concerns over the land potentially being used to further increase the population density of the area.

“We aren’t against affordable housing in any way, but we also can’t just keep having infill when we’re starting with absolutely nothing when it comes to places for our kids to play,” Ms Wald said.

“We are ultimately concerned that as more developments are planned and the population of our suburb grows, our statistics around open and usable green spaces and childhood development will only worsen.”

“We’re just three working mums trying to advocate for not just our children, but our grandchildren.”

The trio has also engaged with Member for Cheltenham Joe Szakacs who, following inquiries from TheF Advertiser, said he would meet with the Charles Sturt Council and DIT to discuss green spaces.

Member for Cheltenham Joe Szakacs said he would meet with the council over the issue. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Morgan Sette

Mr Szakacs said he understood Williams St Reserve had been deemed by DIT to be “surplus to its needs” and was not aware of any plans for further housing development on the land.

He said the land was expected to be sold on the open market in the near future, with the option open for Charles Sturt Council to purchase it.

“Beverley is one of the hottest suburbs in metro Adelaide and the residents deserve to have access to usable open spaces as the community continues to grow,” Mr Szakacs said.

“For too long, the City of Charles Sturt hasn’t given due attention to planning in Beverley, and I’ve been urging council to prioritise their efforts, particularly to utilise Toogood Reserve.”

City of Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans said the council was “aware of community concerns” about green space in Beverley and plans were in place with developer Pelligra for sporting facilities and a playground at Toogood Reserve.

Beverley Ward Councillor Michael McEwan, who met with the three mums about the issue in mid-February, said increased green space was vital to the area as its population of young families grows.

“Beverley is a place where families are beginning to move into the area and need quality parks and reserves close to their homes,” Mr McEwan said.