Arts home on the cards for Festival Plaza tower

The announcement that a developer would build a 38-storey tower at Festival Plaza, right behind Parliament and next to its other recently-built tower, attracted some controversy this week.

Opponents were concerned about the need for more office space in the CBD, especially considering Adelaide has the highest rate of office vacancy of any capital city in Australia.

The design of the tower was also contentious, with independent MLC Frank Pangello (clearly not a fan) calling it “Legoland”.

But fear not, as underneath the office floors will be four levels of civic space that will be open to the public, according to the Premier who fronted the press over his government’s big news earlier this week.

What could that space be used for? No decision has been made yet, but the Premier said there were “a number of potential uses we could be talking about”.

“It could be used for the arts,” he said.

Rejoice, Adelaide, at a mention of the arts not linked to hotel room stays or the economic boost they must apparently deliver.

The Festival Plaza tower is not the only building in the area which could be used for the arts.

InDaily asked for any news on the stalled Tarrkarri Centre for First Nations Cultures, meant to open next year but there’s no action at the vacant Lot Fourteen site.

“We want to provide enduring confidence to the people of South Australia about that project,” the Premier said.

“I can’t possibly overstate how much thought has gone into this at the moment, but that is a big public policy question because it’s not about the private sector spending $600 million, it’s about the state government making a big investment.

“That, of course, means you’re making decisions to fund something over something else and we want to make sure that the government is getting that balance right.”

But when will a decision be made, Premier?

“That’s a fair question,” he said.

“I’m cautious to put a timeline on it and mislead the people of South Australia.

“It’s fair to say that we’ve had some really positive engagement more recently.”

InSider and many others are waiting.

The government controversy to end all controversies

One of the simple joys of InSider’s life is zooming in on artist renditions provided with government announcements about new developments. Specifically, the rendered people.

One such opportunity popped up on Monday, when InSider received a release about the $40 million development in the Barossa for next year’s Gather Round. Attached to the release was not one, not two, but four renderings of the new development. What fun!

So there we were, zooming in, pondering the two women sitting in the middle of the oval, the tennis-playing children whose eyes were not on the ball, and then we saw it.

All is not as it seems in this government graphic. Image: supplied

What’s that, over there in the corner? Just the biggest story InSider has ever uncovered! A major government controversy in the making, dare we say.

A child, in a basketball uniform, bouncing a ball, taking a step up to… a netball ring. (Quick explainer for those who did not grow up playing netball: both stepping and bouncing the ball = HUGE no nos. Some would say two of the biggest rules in the sport.)

Just…wow. Disappointing to say the least. Image: supplied

Wow. Anyone who has ever played netball knows the pain of being called for stepping when you just know you didn’t, so to see such a flagrant breach of the rules just shoved in your face? Devastating.

InSider thinks Peter Malinauskas needs to spend less time focussing on football and perhaps hire a netball consultant to avoid “stepping” out of line. Here, if you need.

‘I hereby christen this budget barbie camper Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’

After an extensive search, the bus at the centre of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has been found and a restoration campaign was launched today with a pledge of $100,000 by the state government.

The 1976 Hino Freighter bus was discovered in a paddock of a property in Ewingar, a town in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales, where she weathered the elements, including narrowly avoiding bushfires and floods, for the past 16 years.

The restoration will be done in Queensland before Priscilla is finally parked at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood.

“The History Trust of South Australia aims to restore Priscilla to roadworthy condition for special outings, and to render to its interior the glamorous over-the-top camp of the 1994 movie,” History Trust CEO Greg Mackie said.

“And we want to give Priscilla the kind of home at the National Motor Museum Australia that will evoke rich and happy memories for visitors.”