Property Council boss Daniel Gannon accuses Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor of hypocrisy over Riverbank Arena vote

A war of words has erupted after the real estate lobby slammed Adelaide’s Lord Mayor for her pivotal role in rejecting the Premier’s flagship election pledge.

The Property Council has accused Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor of double standards over her decision to vote against supporting the proposed $662m Riverbank Arena.

But she says she was doing her duty protecting the parklands.

Property Council SA executive director Daniel Gannon said Ms Verschoor had previously backed the arena, which is so far the state government’s key promise ahead of next year’s state election.

“Back in March, the lord mayor publicly declared her support for the Riverbank Arena and highlighted the positive economic, social and cultural benefits to the city,” he said.

“Fast forward seven months to last week when the lord mayor used her casting vote to ensure the Adelaide City Council registered its objection to breathing life back into the Riverbank.”

Supplied Editorial Gannon and Verschoor

The council motion that Ms Verschoor supported was opposing development within the parklands.

Mr Gannon said the proposed site for the arena, west of the Morphett St Bridge, “currently consists of discarded soil, work and storage yards, and carparking, with the majority of the site fenced-off to prevent public access”.

“This is hardly pristine parklands,” he said.

Ms Verschoor strongly disagreed, arguing the area near the arena site contained hundreds of trees which supported a broad range of biodiversity.

Public rallies have been held against the proposed development of Helen Mayo Park.

The proposed $662m Riverbank West arena on the River Torrens. Picture: Supplied

Her main objection was not to the arena, she said, but proposed zoning changes in the area which would allow the construction of buildings up to 20 storeys high.

“That is why I used my casting vote, because I hold grave concerns about the (Riverbank Precinct) code amendment and what that means,” she said.

“There are 70ha of parkland within the riverbank code amendment, or 10 per cent of what is left, and they want to be able to build over all of the proposed entertainment precinct in Helen Mayo Park if they can.

“That is what I am concerned about and, under the legislation for the parklands authority, I am legally required to protect the parklands.

“I still support an arena in the city, however it should be built over the rail lines, not on the parklands.”

An artist’s impression of the proposed $662m Riverbank West arena. Picture: Supplied

An artist’s impression of the proposed arena. Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor is concerned about high rise buildings being allowed within the vegetated area. Picture: Supplied

Ms Verschoor said she was legally and morally obligated to protect the parklands from development as the presiding member of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority.

“I take my duties very seriously, both as lord mayor and as the presiding member of the parklands authority,” she said.

Ms Verschoor confirmed she sent a text to Premier Steven Marshall telling him she used her casting vote to oppose any buildings within the entertainment precinct proposed by the zoning changes, including an arena.

“We work together on many things and I gave him the courtesy of letting him know what had happened,” she said.

“I explained that I had grave concerns about the code amendment and what it means for the parklands, especially the ability to have 20 storey buildings.”