OMBUDSMAN'S FINAL REPORT

Submission to HI for publication 14th November 2011

The SA Ombudsman's "Investigation into the City of Charles Sturt - Final Report - November 2011" pays close attention to those issues of concern to all of us interested in local government affairs and the St Clair land swap imbroglio. The report can be accessed here:

http://www.ombudsman.sa.gov.au/Final%20Charles%20Sturt%20Report.pdf

It contains numerous quotations from the 118 hours of evidence taken from 28 witnesses, who included 16 councilors from the time in question, as well as the Council CEO and (especially interestingly) the local MP. 

Hopefully the evidence garnered by the investigation will one day be made public, because it will almost certainly provide historians of the future with a valuable resource.

If I had any quibbles to make with the Ombudsman's work, I would point to the sketchiness of the investigation of the relationship between the various development companies operating in the site, and the Charles Sturt Council. However, while Mr. Bingham has seen fit to examine background material from the ALP sub-branch regarding actions of Council and Councilors, for whatever reason no such evidence has been obtained from the developers of the site. 

I find it interesting to note in this respect that the three members of the Council's Development Assessment Panel declared a so called "conflict of interest"  by reason of their DAP membership at the formal vote on the land swap proposal taken in full council on the 28th April 2008. This was one month after the purchase of the Sheridan site by the Cheltenham race course developer, Woodvile JV. 

Prior to this date the development applications considered by the Charles Sturt DAP for the Sheridan site, had been for remediation and minor works and had been submitted by the previous owner, Stockdale. I find it impossible to conceive what conflict of interest the three Council members actually had – whatever was in their minds, they appear to have received no advice to the contrary from the Council CEO at the meeting and excused themselves one by one when a division on the land swap motion was called.

By resident "D"

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - NO LAUGHING MATTER

Todays ABC radio 891 discussion  concerning the proposed re-opening of Barton Road North Adelaide  gave the participants plenty to laugh over; but not so much mirth for people who are concerned with traffic management in Bowden Brompton, where a development plan for the Governments Bowden Urban Village is about to be announced.

Whatever ones’ views on the merits of the Government redevelopment of Bowden South, it is accepted by all that it will generate increased vehicle traffic in the area, on roads that are already expected to carry more traffic than their safe capacity, redevelopment aside..

So to hear  Michael Atkinson promote his  introduction of a private members bill into state parliament aimed at increasing traffic on Hawker Street has a sobering effect.
Quote: MA: "This is principally for people coming up Hawker Street, exercising their traditional right  which they had under Colonel Light’s  original plan for Adelaide until 1987 ..”[loud laughter ]”
(the full transcript can be accessed here”


 Mr Atkinson justifies his Barton Road   campaign (apparently) on principles of 18th century common law regarding traditional rights of way. No mention of the considerable improvement to the 18th century laws developed right here in South Australia  in the ‘Torrens Title’. But even more sobering is the lack of reference to a traffic management study proposed by the Charles Sturt Council., let alone any of the implications of the Bowden Urban Village development more generally. For example, it might be feasible, as the Hassell masterplan originally proposed, to have the tram extended northwards along Chief Street, with the possibility of restoring the original tram way up to North Adelaide, thereby reducing the need for private vehicle trips in the development area, as is Mr Atkinson’s own party policy.

Proposed Chief Street tram extension - artists impression