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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-03 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE OVAL

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for the City of Adelaide. Given the minister's opposition to the Victoria Park grandstand, does she support the $450 million Adelaide Oval redevelopment?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:53): I thank the member for Bragg for her question. She must be one of the only people in Adelaide or South Australia who does not support bringing back the AFL to the city. I have been on record many times supporting the return of AFL to the oval. It is a no-brainer. Whilst I may not be an experienced footy player—in fact, I have never played footy—at least I have been to AAMI Stadium many times, and many people in my electorate—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: —have already told me—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: —that having footy in the city is a no-brainer. It is astounding that those opposite oppose it. I am lost for words. They can try to make it a negative, they can try to oppose it, but surely even the opposition can understand that having footy at the Adelaide Oval is a smart idea.

When the last Liberal government was in office it allowed all sports to be Balkanised; they allowed them to be Balkanised by separating the codes, investing in soccer in one place, investing in sports in another. So there were plenty of infrastructure investments that were used for one day a month. How stupid is that? Changing rooms, car parks, cooking areas used for one day a month when, if the facilities were shared by various codes, it would be more efficient. It is smarter to invest in a multipurpose stadium that can be used by several codes than to keep building more facilities. I repeat: it is a no-brainer. The only issues that need to be resolved are the details. You should commend the Deputy Premier—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: —for bringing the warring parties together after years of conflict—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond!

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH: —and finding a way through. Okay, I agree that there are some difficult issues that still have to be resolved. The Deputy Premier has spoken about that. Okay, there are nearby residents who, like any group of residents, might argue about on-street parking and noise and all those issues. It has to be managed; there has to be a way through this.

Of course, parking is an issue that we can talk about but it is for the next six months to resolve those issues. Let us face it: the best parking in the whole of South Australia is in the city of Adelaide. We have the most parking spaces of any place in the whole of South Australia and they are within a short walk of the Adelaide Oval. With a bridge it will be even better; it will be a joy. In fact, I will be able to walk from my house across the new bridge and go to the footy.

It will be easy to get to and the issues about the management of the process can be resolved. It is not beyond the wit of man or, indeed, woman—it is probably easier for a woman—to sort out the outstanding issues. I understand people might argue about parking on the Parklands but, again, these matters can be resolved; and, frankly, footy at the oval is a no-brainer.

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