News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[Ben]

I think he did a press conference earlier regarding Earth Hour.

[Radelaide]

im no expert on mainstreet principles however having worked for a developer i know that implementing mainstreets within new shopping centres or redeveloped ones can be constrained by so many factors (land owenership on or adjacent held land, lack of draw to major tenants) and so many developers have failed trying to make them work.

I would like to get to know more about what these professionals have to say in regards to making them work.

[JamesXander]

Get real James - your attitude is part of the problem!

I respect your views and the people you claim to represent but telling people to go away to escape the noise is just not reasonable . Incidentally, I have supported many events in all parts of the city and will continue to do so as long as the organisers show some respect for the lifestyle choices of others.

Excessive noise for the best part of 12 hours straight is unreasonable if it occurs too often in the same place and believe me it is not only oldies who complain about the noise.

On a positive note, the Fringe and GoUD all went well over a 4 weeks period including the music festival on the holiday Monday in the East Park Lands with no complaints, so it can be done. If both sides are reasonable I reckon we can get a win/win outcome for all.

Incidentally, I'm surprised that you choose to live in the quiet old hills rather than in the buzzing city. And you talk about ACC having no credibility!

David Plumridge.

Such an event in my opinion is of little or no value to the city so why should our residents have to put
up with it?


No value to the city, its of value to the state. We need to retain youth in this state, and by ending festivals in OUR city were just going another step in the wrong direction for SA (the bigger picture).



This is the 5th all-day musical event inflicted on Bonython Park this season. Some say this is at least 3
too many. I will vote against any future events that run for more than 4 hours in Bonython Park and I will move to
have sound monitoring done by a professional engineer employed by the Council and at the organisers expense

You will vote against ANY future events that run longer then 4 hours in Bonython Park?




God. I live in the Hills yes, I also live in Urrbrae, and I go to Adelaide Uni. I work in the city. The city is shared by everyone, and the city is used by everyone. And yes I have been to a festival in Bonython park it was awesome. Good to see your planning on shooting that down though!!! good to see ACC doing another really fantastic thing for this city. Because you already have the respect of this state, why not garner some more.

BTW one time I was in Hindmarsh, and thebarton whilst a festival was on, and the music really was not that noticeable. Unless your outside and listening to the grass grow it really would not be that disturbing.

[ricecrackers]

im no expert on mainstreet principles however having worked for a developer i know that implementing mainstreets within new shopping centres or redeveloped ones can be constrained by so many factors (land owenership on or adjacent held land, lack of draw to major tenants) and so many developers have failed trying to make them work.

I would like to get to know more about what these professionals have to say in regards to making them work.

well i understand the whole idea is to not include 'major tenants' as these are the companies which are killing main streets and opting for mega malls.

but then the problem is, how do you entice joe public to a street containing a bunch of small obscure businesses, when joe public feels more comfortable in the familiarity of the mega mall brands?

its not accident many of the old main streets have died out to be replaced by the megamalls. Even Rundle Mall, these days is more like a mega mall than a main street, as nearly all of the brands there are the same mainstream flavours you can find at any Westfield. Rundle street too is fast becoming a street of franchised only restaurants.

[Prince George]

well i understand the whole idea is to not include 'major tenants' as these are the companies which are killing main streets and opting for mega malls. but then the problem is, how do you entice joe public to a street containing a bunch of small obscure businesses, when joe public feels more comfortable in the familiarity of the mega mall brands?

The main street approach is more about the physical layout and design of the shopping area rather than specifically about its tenants. In a "typical" older town (if there is such a thing), the main street was easily accessible from people's houses, was made up of a variety of smaller buildings, and combined retail and services with community buildings like schools, libraries, or a town-hall. It's true that these tend to downplay the mega-stores, but it doesn't exclude brand-name stores where they fit into the scale of the area. The US National Trust has a good website with details of their main street programs.

But, as Omicron's bouncing elephant said, as long as people are seeking out generic national brands, the city cannot sustain diverse local businesses. And then they travel interstate or overseas for a shopping trip and come back saying "they've got so many cool little shops". Perhaps it's hard for them to see that connection - shopping in Just Jeans at home but boutiques in Melbourne preserves the "we're boring, they're cool" dynamic. Main street setups seem to help that situation, the small businesses tend to do better there, but if the opposite is happening in Rundle Street and Mall, then that's rather sad news.

[monotonehell]

... but if the opposite is happening in Rundle Street and Mall, then that's rather sad news.

The cute boutique stores do exist in Adelaide, but main street rents have forced them into back streets. There's quite a few in the back streets of Rundle Street and surrounds. I suspect it's the same in Melbourne?

But I've noticed one or two are shutting shop and moving out to the inner suburbs, to the new trendy main streets being promoted around and about. (Although I completely fail to remember any names right now...)

[Shuz]

I think main streets have failed because of the planning ability to amalmagate land titles in larger allotments. Perhaps a good start would be to reverse this ability, and even introduce a maximum land title size, say, 500sqm?

Consider it the subdivision of commercial land holdings, just as being done in the residential sector.

[jk1237]

the amount of 'chic' female clothing boutiques that have opened up along the Norwood Parade over the last few years is quite amazing and great to see. There's also a great independent guy clothing shop near Cibo too that I would love to exchange some of my KRudd bonus $ at, forgotten name but in between Norwood Place and town hall.
A few cool stores are popping up. Ive noticed a little 'BMX bandit' shop open in Pulteney Street (near Fasta Pasta South Tce) that sells shirts and BMX bikes. Looks good but havent been inside, Im prob a bit old for it

Queen Anne & Prince George, I too share your passion for main/high streets, and is it just me, but I find that Harbourtown brand outlet complex just repulsive. I feel like Im in Dallas or Houston with the huge carpark.
Anyway strip shoppong is doing well in Adelaide. Shop vacancy rates along King William Rd Hyde Park, Jetty Rd Glenelg and Norwood Parade are very low. Some other not so famous strips doing very well are Henley Beach Rd in Torrensville and Prospect Rd which is having another surge. Melbourne St goes in and out of fashion very 5 years and Unley Rd cant get to any great strength simply caus of it being a busy arterial road thats too hard for pedestrians to cross. Goodwood village seems to be going well over the past few years considering about 10 years ago 4 main banks left which hurt the strip bad

[Wayno]

Some magic required by Clr Yarwood

Hi Stephen, need your help please. Why can't the Tuxedo Cat (funky little rooftop bar on Synagogue Place) remain as an ongoing business? they are licensed only for the Fringe Festival period and are having ACC "red-tape" issues with getting an extension.

I was there this afternoon, and the guy behind the bar mentioned your name. He said you were the sole reason they received a license at all - apparently the ACC was giving them hell, many thanks on behalf of S-A for sorting that

They have a petition (quite a few signatures including mine), but it's not clear why they can't remain open - can you shed some light on this situation please.

[Clr Yarwood]

Re Mainstreet: Pleased this has generated some debate – it was a great conference and I really do hope we get the next one in 2011 to Adelaide!

[Clr Yarwood]

Some magic required by Clr Yarwood

Hi Wayne,

Re “Tuxedo Cat”, yes I did help out pre Fringe and dropped by and checked it out when attending a show – great spot that reminded me on being in India– roof top action is the go there.

I am keen to help…I have sent off a request that the Development Assessment team work with Tuxedo Cat to determine what information they need and what type of professional is needed to get that work done.

The reality is there are always safety issues re fire regulations etc that are beyond councils control and the reason we live in a civilized society – the real trick is getting staff to help them “tick the boxes” rather than make them jump through hoops…

I’m onto it!

[Wayno]

I’m onto it!

good man!

[Queen Anne]

the amount of 'chic' female clothing boutiques that have opened up along the Norwood Parade over the last few years is quite amazing and great to see. There's also a great independent guy clothing shop near Cibo too that I would love to exchange some of my KRudd bonus $ at, forgotten name but in between Norwood Place and town hall.
A few cool stores are popping up. Ive noticed a little 'BMX bandit' shop open in Pulteney Street (near Fasta Pasta South Tce) that sells shirts and BMX bikes. Looks good but havent been inside, Im prob a bit old for it

Queen Anne & Prince George, I too share your passion for main/high streets, and is it just me, but I find that Harbourtown brand outlet complex just repulsive. I feel like Im in Dallas or Houston with the huge carpark.
Anyway strip shoppong is doing well in Adelaide. Shop vacancy rates along King William Rd Hyde Park, Jetty Rd Glenelg and Norwood Parade are very low. Some other not so famous strips doing very well are Henley Beach Rd in Torrensville and Prospect Rd which is having another surge. Melbourne St goes in and out of fashion very 5 years and Unley Rd cant get to any great strength simply caus of it being a busy arterial road thats too hard for pedestrians to cross. Goodwood village seems to be going well over the past few years considering about 10 years ago 4 main banks left which hurt the strip bad

Yes, Harbourtown would be right at home in Dallas or Houston. Though, it would probably be the little guy on the block, hard to even see amongst its plentiful and overgrown cousins

It's good to hear that the shopping streets in Adelaide are doing well. I'm hoping there is a healthy variety of shops - maybe not to be expected on King William Road, but how about Prospect and Jetty Rds, for instance? I love me an independent butcher, greengrocer, bakery etc...and I do worry they have been fading away...

*Edit* Actually, I just looked up the King William Rd website and I had forgotten that there is, in fact, a reasonable variety of businesses amongst the clothing related theme there.

[Wayno]

Latest from Clr Plumridge:

Notes_from_Councillor_Issue_23.pdf

(154.67 KiB) Downloaded 172 times

Includes:
* Adelaide - A good place to be (a reflection on recent cbd events)
* Jan Gehl - People & the Public Realm - report gathers dust...
* Laura Lee - latest thinker
* Becoming a FairTrade Council
* Sustainable Growth - oxymoron?
* A few small DAC approvals
* Adelaide Oval & car parking on the parklands
* Obtaining costing for a new book "A Social History of the Park Lands"
* and other topics too...

[Clr Yarwood]

Hey all,

Some news – I have been invited to speak at the Local Government Sustainability world congress in Edmonton Canada in June and the Capital City Committee is sending me…I will be talking about moving to carbon neutrality from the top down and bottom up – more later as the presentation unfolds.

In preparation I have just finished a personal summary of my professional background and realised I have not shared this with S-A as you all have done on another thread…it will explain why I enjoy being on council. What is not mentioned is that I was born in Whyalla from working class background and went to Norwood High where I was a cheeky loud mouthed trouble maker - no silver spoon - just a passion for opportunity!

Stephen was elected to the Adelaide City Council in 2007 and became Deputy Lord Mayor in 2008. He is the Chairman of the South Australian State/Local Government Climate Change Steering Committee and is also on the Adelaide Tourism Convention Authority Board, Adelaide High School Governing Council and Capital City Committee.

A Member of the Planning Institute of Australia with a BA (Planning), Grad Dip (Regional & Urban Planning) and Grad Dip (Env. Studies), he is currently a MBA Student at Adelaide University and operates his own consultancy “imagining, creating and communicating the future.”

He has worked extensively in State Government as a strategic and policy town planner, in the South Australian Parliament as an environment, resources and development researcher and was the principal town planner for 6 years at the City of Playford, Adelaide’s fastest growing urban fringe council.

Stephen has studied future cities in Japan's technology city Tsukuba and researched and/or lectured in Australia, the USA, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines on environment, development planning and future cities matters.

Stephen professional goal is to be a leading futurist helping to create positive local and global futures; his personal interests include cities, culture, sustainability, technology, photography, music and the arts.