Royal Show parking on the parklands will be reduced by Adelaide City Council, but not as much as originally planned

A proposal to cut Royal Show parking spaces has been labelled as an “attack” on mums and dads.

Parking for the Royal Adelaide Show will be reduced on the parklands over coming years, but not as dramatically as originally planned by Adelaide City Council.

The Adelaide Park Lands Authority, Kadaltilla, had recommended the council reduce car spaces on the parklands for the show by 10 per cent, or 315 spaces, over 15 years.

The stipulation was part of a new draft deed for the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA to continue using the parklands for the nine-day event from 2027.

The council’s city planning, development and business affairs committee meeting discussed the proposal last night, which Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith described as an “attack” on mums and dads.

“Over the course of the previous deed they already reduced parking by 10 per cent – 380 spaces, so to take up the advice of Kadaltilla and take another 10 per cent ... it seems to me to be unrealistic,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

“To attack mums and dads and families for an ideological belief seems irrational, and while I normally hate parking in the parklands, this is not permanent parking.

“It’s nine days a year, it’s only for the show, it’s not bump in, or bump out, or anything else.”

Louisa and Amelie at the Royal Adelaide Show last year. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Dr Lomax-Smith reiterated show parking was only temporary, compared to a “large hospital, or a Karen Rolton sports building ... that is never going to be turned back to parklands”.

She proposed the deed be amended to a five per cent reduction in parking over the 15 years – which aligned with the council’s park lands management strategy.

Cr Arman Abrahimzadeh supported the amendment and said as a father of two young children “it’s extremely difficult” to get them to the show via public transport.

“It is a family day and I think if we want to encourage families and make it easier for them to go, let’s give them as many opportunities as we can,” he told the meeting.

The Goodwood Hotel charged showgoers $40 last year for parking, which is always at a premium. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The council has supported parking for the show since 1926 and both organisations shared a long-term goal to phase out parking in the parklands through improved public transport.

Committee chairman Philip Martin said he would not support the proposal at the previous council and show society had agreed in 2011 under the current deed to work towards eradicating parking on the parklands.

“It was a progressive council that was protective of the parklands 15 years ago and committed to a position where there was to be no more parking on the parklands,” Cr Martin said.

“The proposal before you reduces it by seven car parks a year over 15 years, it’s all quite meaningless and overturns what it seems were good intentions of the show society and the council of 15 years ago.

“As a former councillor used to say, they are parklands not car parks. It is a retrograde step in the context of previous councils, I won’t support it.”

The deed will now be discussed for endorsement by the full council on Tuesday night.

Originally published as Royal Show parking on the parklands will be reduced by Adelaide City Council, but not as much as originally planned