SWP: Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[peas_and_corn]

I personally would describe not getting federal funding as a setback.

[Matt]

I personally would describe not getting federal funding as a setback.

Indeed.

[Wayno]

Personally I'm glad the ACC is pushing ahead with this project.

http://city-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/council-commits-to-vic-sq-upgrade/

ONE-FIFTH of the $100 million Victoria Square redevelopment could be completed by mid-2014 - more than four years after Town Hall unveiled its bold vision to overhaul the city’s heart.

Town Hall has allocated $20 million to the project in its 2012/13 draft budget.

This is despite repeatedly failing to attract State or Federal funding to complete the long-awaited facelift.

But the $20 million earmarked for the revamp - $11.5 million in 2012/13 and $8.5 million in 2013/14 - would only cover the cost of a pathway, paved areas for pedestrians and outdoor dining, a lawn space for events and upgraded bike lanes around the square.

The council this week endorsed a revised concept plan to deliver the $20 million worth of works at a special council meeting.

It remains $80 million shy of being able to finish the masterplan it unveiled in 2010, including a cafe, public garden and event stage.

Central Market Traders’ Association president Franz Knoll wanted the council to get the ball rolling, despite it lacking enough money to complete the project.

“At least the council is keeping true to its commitment,” Mr Knoll said.

“It cannot raise such large sums of money to do such a big project in one hit ... they can do it in bite-sized chunks.”

Grote Business Precinct vice-president Bill Marles said the project would need to be staged even if the council had attracted external funding.

“It is such a huge task, it could not be done in one go,” Mr Marles said.

“Even though the council has not got backing from the State or Federal governments, the fact they are putting money forward shows their commitment to forge ahead with it.”

A council spokeswoman said staff were waiting to find out if Vic Sq would receive funding from the Federal Government after applying for money under its Liveable Cities Program.

The project missed out on a share of State money in last June’s budget.

It was then denied $25 million in Federal money under the Regional Development Australia Fund in July.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the council was determined to deliver the project in stages but could not pinpoint when it would be completed.

“(The) council’s budget is tight, the State Government’s budget is exceptionally tight and so is the Federal (Government’s budget),” Mr Yarwood said.

“I would not rule out it being completed in three to five years but I would not rule out it taking longer.”

Community consultation on the draft budget closes on May 21.

[AdelaideAlive]

dont waste the money until the road piercing the middle is shut then you will truely have a wonderful square to spend money on

[[Shuz]]

Oh for god's sake. Scrap the project and spend the $20m elsewhere. Reduce the council debt or fast-track either the undergrounding of powerlines, footpath or road maintenance programs. With the onset of the Rundle Mall and Riverbank redevelopments, there are only so many places people can go to. It is a white elephant in the making. Adelaide just doesn't have the critical population mass needed to make viable another 'large events space'.

[AdelaideAlive]

Oh for god's sake. Scrap the project and spend the $20m elsewhere. Reduce the council debt or fast-track either the undergrounding of powerlines, footpath or road maintenance programs. With the onset of the Rundle Mall and Riverbank redevelopments, there are only so many places people can go to. It is a white elephant in the making. Adelaide just doesn't have the critical population mass needed to make viable another 'large events space'.

yep well said, rather see the money spent on rundle mall,riverbank precinct.

[Wayno]

ACC is adequately funding Rundle Mall & East End. State Govt is funding Riverbank, not ACC.

[[Shuz]]

ACC is adequately funding Rundle Mall & East End. State Govt is funding Riverbank, not ACC.

Reread my post Wayno. I never said anything about ACC funding Riverbank.

[Wayno]

Reread my post Wayno. I never said anything about ACC funding Riverbank.

yes shuz - no probs. AdelaideAlive implied such. See his post above.

[AdelaideAlive]

Reread my post Wayno. I never said anything about ACC funding Riverbank.

yes shuz - no probs. AdelaideAlive implied such. See his post above.

yep thats true i did ,he is innocent your honour so your all saying the goverment is covering every aspect of riverbank, and there is no room for the council to spend anything on it at all ? plz enlighten me further.

[SRW]

Council had allocated $24 million to this project in the previous two budgets, so assuming this $20 million is not additional funding, they've actually stripped $4 million away.

Massively disappointing.

I am in Victoria Square daily and the place is an embarrassment, as has been Council's lack of commitment to following through on its master plan. Nearly three years on and not a single stage has commenced. Let's face it, this was always going to have to be a staged development so this is definitely within Council's capacity to complete (at a cost far less than the fanciful $100 million tossed around by the 'Tiser). I sympathise with the thought that the State should contribute funds, but we've got a history of letting plans lay idle until they're dead. That shouldn't be an option.

[Wayno]

AdelaideAlive, nice try at deflection. Perhaps the ACC could contribute funds to AO and the new RAH as well

SRW, i agree.

[Matt]

Disappointing, but throwing $20m at it now is better than letting it sit in the state that it's in for another decade or longer.

If this is budgeted for and supposedly proceeding, when are we likely to see exactly what the 'scaled down' version consists of?

[AdelaideAlive]

AdelaideAlive, nice try at deflection. Perhaps the ACC could contribute funds to AO and the new RAH as well

SRW, i agree.

hey whats another $20 mil amongst friends ,same cheescake different mouth thats all

[AdelaideAlive]

666975-victoria-square.jpg (82.66 KiB) Viewed 372 times

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6347668984