News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[Ben]

In Friday's CBD Independent Weekly there was an article mentioning SkyCity are about to lodge plans with the council for a 7 level underground carpark. The article is quite extensive.

It also mentioned which i was not aware of that last week Skycity announced that they are selling the casino as the profit margins are not in line with their expectations. They attribute this to the fact there is no hotel as part of the casino complex and therefore can not attract high rollers.

Not sure how accurate that is as there are hotels adjacent and opposite the casino.

[Pistol]

I'll let you know how accurate that information is soon...

[shaun]

The Hyatt, Stamford and Sebel Playford surround the casino

Its the best location in town!

[Ben]

From The Messenger:

Got designs on the city

Chris Day

04Sep07

Jopnathan Muecke has a $20m masterplan for Elder Park.

ARCHITECTS frustrated by years of ``piecemeal'' planning across Adelaide are taking it upon themselves to map out the city's future.

A revamp of Elder Park, extending the tramline around the city, moving the interstate rail terminal from Keswick to North Tce, and a cultural hub at the site of the proposed new hospital, are among the ideas being floated.

The architects hope their plans will spark political and public debate and lead to a clear long-term vision for major developments across Adelaide.

North Adelaide landscape architect Jonathan Muecke has drawn up a $20 million design for Elder Park.

It includes a footbridge over the Torrens Lake, an amphitheatre, a sports museum, a sculpture garden and moving the park's rotunda to a new man-made island in front of the Convention Centre.

He pitched his ideas to City of Adelaide Minister Jane Lomax-Smith at a meeting in August.

``Victoria Square is the heart of the CBD but Elder Park should be the heart of the city,'' Mr Muecke said this week.

``The opportunity is rich for upgrading our urban environment and making it a pleasant experience for the people, but it's about coming up with a larger vision rather than a piecemeal approach.''

More than $100 million has been spent upgrading Elder Park in recent years, beginning with former premier John Olsen in 1998.

It was hoped to create a ``spectacular and vibrant meeting place for all South Australians'', but Mr Muecke says the plan is yet to fully deliver.

``There's no-one ever down there apart from when there are events or functions.''

Mr Muecke is not alone in his frustration.

Three independent architects, David Burton, Jason Schulz and Mario Dreosti, have joined forces to come up with a master plan for the wider metropolitan area, which they have dubbed Adelaide 2050.

Under their vision the area west of the Morphett St Bridge would become a cultural hub with the new hospital instead being built at Clipsal's soon to be vacant Bowden site.

There would be a city tram loop through the East and West Ends with a link to Adelaide Oval and North Adelaide.

Rundle, Hindley and Gouger streets would be reduced to one lane of traffic.

This would allow forwider pavements and bike tracks and the city's golf course would be revamped to international standards.

``There is an overriding sense of there being spot planning (in Adelaide) rather than a bigger picture approach,'' Mr Schulz said.

``We just want to get everyone thinking about these key sites. It might be a once in a lifetime opportunity.''

Mr Burton said with the state experiencing strong economic growth and a development boom, now was the perfect time to plan for the future.

``Once (key sites) are gone you can't look back and say `maybe we should have done that instead'.''

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison welcomed the fresh ideas and was happy to meet with the architects.

He said The Metropolitan Local Council Group, made up of 21 councils, was aware of the need for greater planning and was already working on its own master plan, The Adelaide Future Study.

Dr Lomax-Smith was yet to see the plans and said she was not in a position to comment.

[Ho Really]

...The architects hope their plans will spark political and public debate and lead to a clear long-term vision for major developments across Adelaide...

It will for sure amongst people like us. Hopefully those in the various levels of government will too and take action.

Cheers

[keepadelaidealive]

I really hope that this all doesn't just fizzle out as something fun to talk about. Adelaide needs some visionaries to help drive the future of the city.
http://www.keepadelaidealive.com

[Ben]

Some minor things people might find interesting:

Internal & external alterations to existing restaurant including new McCafe, decor & upgrade to toilets, facade upgrade and terrace
McDonalds, 15-20 West Terrace,

This one could be interesting:

Change of use from restaurant to hotel
Ground 70 Light Square, ADELAIDE SA 5000

To change wording on existing flag from "Torrens Building" to "Cranfield University"
TORRENS BUILDING, 202-220 Victoria Square, ADELAIDE SA 5000

It's a hard life living in North Adelaide:

Demolish the existing dwelling and two domestic outbuildings , and construct a tennis court with four x 7m high light towers, a gazebo and extend the existing front masonry and tubular infill fence - Stage 1 - tennis court
32-34 Mills Terrace, NORTH ADELAIDE

[Howie]

Ha! Top work Beamer.

[Ben]

From The Messenger:

Mall makeover mooted

Louise Russell

25Sep07

RUNDLE MALL is tired and in urgent need of a creative makeover that stretches beyond a few potato-peeling ads, lord mayoral aspirant Francene Connor says.
Mrs Connor, a professional marketer, says the council's multi-million dollar You Are Here campaign failed to bring people to the city, and the Mall.

The You Are Here campaign focussed on the Mall with a series of TV ads showing a Russian man at home peeling spuds, bemoaning that his gorgeous wife Natasha ``no come home to eat potatoes with me'' because she was too busy shopping.

``The Russian girl was quite good but it's an expensive way to promote things that when you get there (turns into) a disappointing experience,'' Mrs Connor said.
Lord Mayor Michael Harbison agreed the Mall needed a lift and the You Are Here campaign had been too ``one dimensional''.

Mrs Connor's solutions for the Mall included more sidewalk sales, live music and better service; she also suggested more restaurants and cafes, shopper parking discounts from retailers and special one-off market days, as well as a general refurbishment.

``The Balls came back into a tired looking mall,'' Mrs Connor said. ``You need to find creative solutions at the moment there's no life. It looks tired and tacky when the shops aren't open.''

Mr Harbison has his own vision for the Mall, citing some projects already under way.

``The first thing I want to see is a refurbishment of the (Gawler Place) canopy,'' he said, adding it would get an $85,000 and a laser show playing onto it.

``The other thing we need to do is to liven up the lanes.'' He said Lindes Lane, near Harris Scarfe, would be the first to be upgraded.

``It has some beautiful 19th century wrought iron staircases of terrific character you can just imagine Marlon Brando running down those, it's like something out of A Streetcar Named Desire.``It'd be a great place for a cafe.'' Tenders also would be in soon for second Mall cafe. ``We've got some interesting submissions that will soon see the light of day.'' He said an idea by Cr Richard Hayward, of running a balcony along the Mall's under-utilised upper level was also progressing.

Mr Harbison said more flowers and opening up the mall's centre also was on the to-do list.

The balcony for the malls second levels sounds interesting.

[AtD]

Laser show on the Gawler Place canopy? Sounds interesting!

[shaun]

Yeah Rundle Mall needs a major makeover,

I would like to see those lights replaced, maybe the mall repaved, more inspiring art work, more cafes & restaurants, few night venues and a new logo and slogan for Rundle Mall.

Running a balcony along the second level could be costly, but still its a great idea. It would allow more retailers to open up in one of Australia's premier retail precincts. Love the idea about revamping the laneways and the laser show.

[jimmy_2486]

What about massive Plasma screens with advertisements in various sections.... that would look awesome and bring in money as well!!!

[Cruise]

^^^^Or we could just sell our souls, lol

[stelaras]

I like some of those ideas

the laser lights
the balconies on the upper level

but what i really like the most is redeveloping the lanes that run off the mall...I think thats an awesome idea!that kind of stuff has worked a treat here in Melbourne and it seems to bring people into the city. Further getting more people to live in the city will make the place more vibrant..but you guys all know that anyway!

[omada]

yeah the sidelanes are the key.have coffee shops, maybe some funky little bars or music venues, (like the Jade Monkey on Twin Street)... which also brings us to opening hours. extend them to 9pm!

It's Rundle Street that is the problem, it has all the ambiance of a multistory carpark.. but maybe i'm going off topic here ...