Off the Record: Crows parklands HQ mystery solved, plus Robert Simms’ resignation from ACC prompts flurry of emails

In Off the Record this week, the mystery over where the Adelaide Crows wanted to put their parklands HQ finally has been solved. Plus Robert Simms’ departure from the ACC gets a big reaction.

The mystery over where the Adelaide Crows wanted to put their parklands headquarters finally has been solved.

During a chance encounter with Off The Record, former premier John Olsen revealed he had wanted to explore the possible use of a site on the corner of Port Road and James Congdon Drive, opposite the Thebarton Ice Arena.

Olsen, who replaced Rob Chapman as Crows chairman late last year, said he planned to talk to Adelaide City Council about a block of land which previously was a depot for the Engineering and Water Supply Department.

The large triangular site since has been returned to parklands, meaning it has become the responsibility of Adelaide City Council.

Olsen said he had tried to get a preliminary meeting to talk privately to elected members to gauge their attitudes but had been told he also would have to make a public presentation to the Adelaide Park Lands Authority, a request he declined.

The site on the corner of Port Road and James Congdon Drive where the Adelaide Crows wanted to put their new headquarters. Picture: Google Maps

Email exchange

The resignation this week of Greens activist Robert Simms from the Adelaide City Council prompted a flurry of emails between elected members.

First termer Jessy Khera upset long-serving North Adelaide councillor Anne Moran by asking if the Greens would help pay for the by-election to replace Simms, who is taking over from Mark Parnell in the Legislative Council.

Khera pointed out to Simms that it was the second time he had prematurely quit the council to move into politics.

Moran, a friend of Simms, did not take kindly to the question, asking whether the Government of Saudi Arabia paid for the by-election of former deputy mayor Houssam Abiad, who resigned to move to the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

This prompted a reaction from businessman Franz Knoll, part of the Team Adelaide faction led by Abiad before his departure overseas early last year.

“It continuously disappoints me that you use this forum to elicit contrary comments or use it in a derogatory way against councillors that don’t always agree with you,” he told Moran.

“This type of interaction has been a hallmark of our term. It is easy to play the popular card when one can avoid making those difficult decisions because others will.

“I question when does it become a form of bullying or intimidation.”

Moran, who acknowledged Knoll had thanked Simms for his service, took umbrage, responding with: “I said something nice about you and you call me a bully. Wow!!!!”

It will be interesting to see if the pair continue to share supper during lengthy council meetings, something they have been doing regularly over the past few months.

Knoll contributed to the last gathering by providing crayfish, which Moran paid for.

Greens politician Robert Simms had quit Adelaide City Council to move to the Legislative Council. Picture: Matt Turner.

Usual suspects

Nominations for the by-election to replace Simms are expected to open later this month.

Speculation already is circulating within Town Hall that former councillors Mark Hamilton and Sandy Wilkinson might throw their hats in the ring.

Other names being mentioned are North Adelaide Society leader Elbert Brooks, Adelaide Parklands Authority member Stephanie Johnston and Greens member Keiran Snape, who had an unsuccessful crack for the South Ward in 2018 as a “local progressive advocate”.

Team Adelaide will be keen to get another member to shore up their numbers which, with the regular support of Jessy Khera, currently sit at 6-5.

The faction has stopped relying on former councillor and public servant Greg Mackie for his vote.

Word on the street is that he might be planning a tilt at becoming Lord Mayor, a position currently occupied by Sandy Verschoor.

In the meantime, the business community is keen to hear if former Property Council executive Nathan Paine will put his hand up again.

He lost to Mackie at the last by-election caused by the resignation of Houssam Abiad.

Court switch

In a surprise move, respected jurist Tim Heffernan has quit the Federal Circuit Court and will join South Australia’s District Court bench.

Currently a Federal Circuit Court Judge, he will take up his new role from April 12.

The move is the first of its type, with the reverse having occurred several times when Supreme Court justices have shifted jurisdiction.

Judge Heffernan was appointed to the Federal Circuit Court in 2015.

Judge Tim Heffernan will shift from the Federal Court to the District Court on April 12.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman welcomed the appointment, which will fill the vacancy left by Justice Sophie David’s appointment to the Supreme Court bench in January.

“Over the course of a distinguished career dating back three decades, Judge Heffernan has worked as a solicitor, a senior prosecutor, a member of the independent bar and a Federal Circuit Court Judge,” Ms Chapman said.

“In his time with the Federal Circuit Court he has, on average, finalised more than 350 matters a year, covering a diverse range of areas including family law, migration, bankruptcy, industrial law and consumer credit law.

“As a prosecutor, he specialised in fraud and anti-corruption offences and has appeared as lead prosecution or defence counsel in matters involving members of motorcycle gangs, criminal neglect leading to the death of an infant and persistent sexual exploitation.

“I look forward to him bringing his vast experience and considerable intellect to the District Court.”

Originally published as Off the Record: Crows parklands HQ mystery solved, plus Robert Simms’ resignation from ACC prompts flurry of emails