Commenting on the story: High-rise hotel for former city pub

Why do we bother to have a planning system when approval bodies regularly support developments that grossly exceed the regulations?

If (State Government planning officer) Mr Woehle believes that the proposal “is an appropriate high-rise form of development within a rapidly emerging portion of the city” and SCAP continue to approve development that is significantly over height, why doesn’t the State Government test this premise by submitting a Planning Code Amendment to change the height limits?

That would allow the community to express their opinion and leave them in no doubt as to the expectations that they should have regarding the future development of Adelaide.

I’m also bemused by the continuing trend to design and construct fully glazed, unshaded buildings in South Australia. This is completely illogical given our climate, no matter how high-tech the glass is.

While the Government Architect has assessed the building for environmental performance and has concluded that it will perform well as currently designed, there is no way to guarantee that the construction will deliver the design as it currently stands. Amendments to designs that erode performance are frequently undertaken post-approval during documentation and construction.

Until the approval system includes a requirement for post-construction inspection and testing to assess built outcomes against approved designs, and compulsory rectification of construction that does not comply with the approved documents, there is no way to assure the community that the trade-offs agreed to in relation to non-compliant development will be delivered. – Nicolette Di Lernia

It is amazing that councils go to a lot of effort establishing planning regulations for areas, which include a maximum height.

Next thing, developers use the maximum height as a starting point and their plans are about 60% higher, ignoring those regulations. – Bill Hecker

Commenting on Your views Thursday October 6

I agree that architectural merit of a building isn’t the only decider about heritage decisions.

In the 80s there was a discussion in Sydney about the preservation of a streetscape. Not all the buildings were of architectural worth but as a whole they contributed to a beautiful street.

Would you pull down the mosque in Broken Hill? It’s just a tin shed. To develop our city to be even better we must not disregard our heritage buildings. – Ivan Lloyd

Commenting on the story: Locals clash with mayor over Crows’ Thebarton Oval move

It is unfortunate that the residents of Torrensville seem to be getting the same treatment as the residents of Cheltenham and Alberton around the redevelopment of the Port Adelaide oval and grounds. And that treatment amounts to being railroaded.

Both South Australian AFL clubs are getting favourable treatment from vouncils who seem to have made up their minds before ‘consulting’ with their community.  In the Port Adelaide example, residents are footing the bill for land gifts, park redevelopments, reduced rate payments, etc all the while losing access to community parks, likely losing value in their houses, and watching the felling or significant trees.

These two clubs are not local community clubs anymore, they are corporate entities. They are not affiliated with their local areas, they are  focused on profit and they no longer belong in the middle of suburban areas. – Paul Creedon

Commenting on the story: Off the rails: ‘Dying’ SA town appeals for train return

The first railway line in South Australia was from Goolwa to Port Elliot and was opened in 1854. This was followed by the first railway in metropolitan Adelaide built in 1856 between the City of Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Regional rail networks then gradually spread across the state catalysing economic growth and supporting communities wherever they went.

In a contemporary context, the restoration of a regional rail network is long overdue in South Australia. In the interests of reducing the annual road toll, decarbonising the environment, enabling the growth of regional living, decentralised employment, boosting tourism and supporting the agricultural and freight sectors, it is consistent with the needs of a modern economy.

Having recently spent time in the UK where regional rail is the lifeblood of regional communities, South Australia could reinvent itself by reinvigorating its former regional rail corridors, adopting green hydrogen powered trains for longer haul journeys and embracing a lower emissions future. – Martin Haese

Commenting on the story:History Trust on move during new home search

It would be easier to feel sorry for the History Trust in its efforts to find a new home, if its senior leadership had not been complicit with the Marshall Liberal Government in seeking to appropriate Ayers House for offices and commercial functions.

The extraordinary eviction of the National Trust from its long-term stewardship of the House has left it languishing in disuse for over 12 months.It is now incumbent on the new Labor Government to overcome the bureaucratic ineptitude which has delayed the necessary upgrading of the House, that would allow the National Trust to resume tenancy and public access to be restored. – Warren Jones