Commenting on the story: Adelaide Crows ‘cannot afford’ more delays on Thebarton Oval HQ project, chairman warns

So Mr Olsen is concerned about delays and a $100m price tag for the HQ development at Thebarton Oval. In the current economic climate we all have to tighten our belts and make savings or cutbacks to make ends meet. I am gobsmacked that the Crows can’t do the same.

Most of the funding, ie almost $60 million is coming from the public purse:

1. $21 million from the federal govt ($15 million for Thebarton Oval plus $6 million for women’s game)

2. $25 million from state govt ($15 million as a grant plus $10 million in kind in site works)

3. $11.26 million from West Torrens Council. And West Torrens Council has approved around $18 million in rate and rent relief over the life of the lease. So the Crows are contributing “bugger all” for their private venture.

My heart just bleeds for these ingrates. If the Crows had opted for Thebarton Oval only and not demanded 6 hectares of the only community parkland in Torrensville, they might have already moved in to Thebarton Oval by now.

But no, they wanted it all. And the local community rightly demanded that their community land must be protected for broader community use, not just elite football.

As Treasurer Stephen Mulligan said some months ago, it’s time for the Crows to get out the red pen and pare back their big plans. In these times, when there are so many homeless and so many struggling with day to day needs, the Crows should opt for less opulence in their bread and circuses. – Nicki Dantalis

Then perhaps the Crows should consider what they are taking away from the community in the Mile End and Torrensville areas. If they could at least share the space the build would be quicker and proceed ASAP. – Tracey Davis

Commenting on the story: Staff raise alarm over South Australian university merger workload

The cracks in the megalithic merger plan will undoubtedly spread and widen.

The distorted evolution of this politically motivated assault on tertiary education in our State brings to mind an insightful descriptive phrase coined by Kitty Muggeridge (wife of Malcolm):  ‘he/she/it rose without trace’. – Warren Jones

Commenting on the story: Report says bank branch closures and move to online services hit vulnerable customers 

What the banks are doing is an absolute disgrace. They are making it harder and harder for us to withdraw and use cash and that is why more people are turning to digital.

People, please use cash whenever you can. – Maria Zito

Commenting on the opinion piece: Returning to a special place, only to find its magic gone

Never, ever, go back. Retain your memories intact. – Roger Buddle

Those memories are no different to our childhood at Seacliff and Brighton beach 50 years ago. Hibernating under the jetty or under the tin-roofed shelters with every other family that didn’t possess an umbrella or tent.

I’d rather jump on the NIMBY bus than watch the development on our foreshore, in particular Glenelg. “Development is always a dance between those who know a space for what it is and what it means to them and others who can see what it might become.”

With  the removal of  heritage-listed properties, Glenelg is the Kuta of Adelaide and sadly isn’t able to hit the mark as tourist destination with the strip going to sleep by 9.30pm. Not sure what their vision is. Concrete utopia ?

“It’s also a movement accommodating new people who want a piece of paradise”, who mostly pop in on a nice summer day and go home back to suburbia. Let’s not douse the NIMBY quagmire but appreciate and protect what is unique and natural.

Developers need to stop defecating in others’ backyards for the good of their pockets, and walk away with a high-five. I don’t get you wrong Ali, I hear you. – Ivana Dawe