Sensational-Adelaide.com

Hamilton-Smith's grand vision for Adelaide
MILES KEMP
April 05, 2009 10:30pm

PLANS for a city sports stadium, a Federation Square-style plaza and an entertainment centre have been unveiled by the state Opposition as its vision for Adelaide's city fringe.
The Riverside West plan leaves virtually no area unchanged in a swath of public land and parklands bounded by North Terrace, King William Rd, War Memorial Dr, Port Rd, Henley Beach Rd and West Tce.

The plan involves a new multipurpose sports stadium as its centrepiece, two pedestrian bridges across the Torrens Lake, a relocated entertainment centre, amphitheatre at Elder Park, a science and technology centre, a large plaza and also a second Torrens weir.

Along with the Liberal Party plan to rebuild the RAH at its existing site, the new concept will draw the battlelines for the state election in March next year.

It will compete directly against the State Government's planned $1.7 billion hospital at the railyards, which lie at the heart of the Riverside West site.

"Adelaide needs its `mojo' back and this is the way to do it," Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith declares in a copy of the policy document supplied to The Advertiser. "South Australians will have the opportunity to have their say (at the election) on March 20, 2010.

"The State Liberals will rebuild and renew the Royal Adelaide Hospital at its existing site and we will put in place more exciting plans for Riverside West.

"This is the other half of the hospital debate – let the debate begin."

If elected in 2010, Mr Hamilton-Smith would begin work on his plan in 2013; the stadium would not be ready until 2018 or 2022, depending on the World Cup soccer bid.

An international competition to design the redevelopment would begin immediately, with the winner announced in 2011 and a master plan released later that year.

Critics will likely focus on the lack of funding and costing – the only money outlined is a $157 million commitment by the State Government for land works at the site.

Based on similar projects in other states, the plan could cost well in excess of $1 billion, but no total costing has been released for Riverside West nor any details of how the money would be raised from private developers.

The Advertiser understands up to four syndicates of private developers have pitched concepts to the Liberals which are compatible with the Riverside West vision and would provide a large component of the funding. Mr Hamilton-Smith said he expected private developers to provide about three-quarters of the funding for the city stadium and around a quarter of the costing for the remainder of the plan.

However, an updated plan, to be released after public consultation, could provide more private-sector opportunities.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said costings would change in the next six months as public consultation shaped the concept plan.

However, yesterday he gave a commitment to release "within weeks" costings and viability for the most significant aspect of Riverside West – the stadium. The Federal Government would be asked to contribute to infrastructure such as railway work and the Adelaide City Council to parks works.

A relocated entertainment centre, next to the Morphett St bridge, would be able to host both concerts and major exhibitions, capitalising on its proximity to the existing convention centre.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said now was the time to plan for the years following the economic downturn and likened the Riverside West redevelopment to Melbourne's Docklands, Sydney's Darling Harbour and Brisbane's Southbank.

"Now is the time for vision and excitement about where we are heading in the next period of growth," he said.

"Too often governments get paralysed by economic downturns, or miss opportunities from upturns.

"Now is the time to plan and begin a project that will deliver pride in our city, jobs in our city and a legacy for our city.

Mants wrote:and judging by the amount of "new" buildings and cranes in that artist impression, i get the hint that they are also keen on taller buildings in this area.

Prince George wrote:Howie, do you really suppose that you could sell the velodrome out at Gepps Cross for anything like as much as it will cost to build a new one in the CBD?

As for the private partnerships making it pay for itself - keep an eye out for subsidies, tax-breaks and deal-sweeteners before saying what the cost to the state is.