[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[Ben]

How did this slip through the net?

http://player.video.news.com.au/adelaidenow/#1487546740

[Brando]

How did this slip through the net?

http://player.video.news.com.au/adelaidenow/#1487546740

I just saw that Ben. There's not even an article up on Adelaidenow about it, just the video.

[Brando]

Now the full article is up.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 5864255992

[Mpol]

I really really like that design. I wonder where the cars will travel... underneath?

[Brando]

For those who want a quick read through.

GIANT sweeping arbours, shaded lunchtime garden areas, a huge television screen fronting a lawned public events space and vibrant cafe precinct.

This is the new face of the long-neglected Victoria Square, which is set to be overhauled in a $100 million plan to give the city a new heart.

The Advertiser today exclusively reveals images and details of the masterplan kept secret by Adelaide City Council for over a year, which now has State Government backing.

AdelaideNow readers will play a key role in the month-long consultation beginning today and can send comments directly to the project designers online.

Construction is planned in at least two stages, similar to the North Terrace revitalisation. The council has budgeted $24 million for the build and plans to seek the remainder from the state and federal governments and private investors as building progresses.

The square's northern half - an open space for large events - is to be constructed first, with turning of the first sod slated for mid next year.

Work on the the southern half - intended as a public garden including a Kaurna Aboriginal heritage centre, cafes and wetland - is scheduled to begin in 2012.

Premier Mike Rann has already committed $2 million for a final engineering and design study due for conclusion by year's end.

The masterplan includes:

KEEPING the Grote-Wakefield streets crossing open to daily traffic but closing it when major events are held.

PLANTING giant tree arbours on the perimeter of the square under which events can be held and stalls placed.

BUILDING an events stage in the square's northern tip in front of a lawned area for up to 8000 people that can be used for concerts and large public events.

INSTALLING a jumbo television screen on a movable arm to broadcast sporting and cultural events from around the world.

TREATING stormwater in a wetland that will be the centrepiece of an exotic garden in the square's south dotted with cafes.

MOVING the Three Rivers Fountain to the northern edge of the square.

BICYCLE storage areas and a tourism information booth.

Traffic around the square will be reduced to a uniform three lanes, including one bus lane, but council modelling shows minimal impact on vehicle flows.

Tramline turns at the north and south of the square will be rounded to allow more pedestrian space and passengers will board from the interior of the square.

Mr Rann said the "exciting concepts" for the square built on State Government investments including the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, tramline extension and Adelaide Oval upgrade.

"We need to ensure development of our city occurs in a co-ordinated way, rather than the ad hoc fashion of the past," said.

The masterplan was compiled by a council-appointed design team headed by Kevin Taylor, director of award-winning landscape architecture firm Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

Consultation has already included Central Market traders, traditional owners and precinct business groups.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the council was committed to delivering a revitalised square that competed with the best worldwide.

"This time we have a design on which there is consensus amongst the council and with the State Government," he said.

Industry groups have warned against further delay and say Adelaide must overcome an entrenched culture of opposition to change.

Australian Institute of Architects SA chapter president Tim Horton said the new plan was the best ever proposed for Victoria Square.

"What we can anticipate now is a collective holding of the breath to make sure something happens this time and we don't have another false start," he told The Advertiser yesterday. "Now is the time, and if this doesn't happen let's all make a deal to take our deck chairs and just go somewhere else."

Property Council of Australia SA chief executive Nathan Paine said firm action must be taken at the site after years of fruitless talk.

"In Adelaide we criticise, complain and get nowhere," he said.

"That's why Victoria Square looks the same as it did back in the 1950s."

"That's an indictment on every South Australian. If you don't like it, just shut up. Don't kill it for the rest of us." Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan said other areas of the city, including the "dying" Rundle Mall, should be targeted for spending ahead of Victoria Square.

Adelaide Hilton general manager Michael Schmitt said having a redeveloped Victoria Square on the hotel's doorstep would be a boon for business.

"Victoria Square at the moment is the centre of the city but not the heart," he said.

"There is no real meeting place for people to come and enjoy. Everybody wants to do something. And this time I get the feeling they really mean business."

[bm7500]

I really really like that design. I wonder where the cars will travel... underneath?

They will still travel through it most of the time, it will only be closed to through traffic for events.

IMO this latest VSQ plan is nice but nothing special.

[Matt]

[Matt]

[Mants]

the design is really nothing special. it could be any old suburban park.

however, the square itself isn't the only issue. it's the adjacent city blocks that need to draw people to the area too. the markets are fantastic and i hope that this upgrade includes improved access+signage via the square.

[yousername]

AdelaideNow readers will play a key role

[rubegoldbergdevice]

the design is really nothing special. it could be any old suburban park.

FFS. Your typical Adelaidean right there. No, actually it couldn't be any old suburban park. Simply because it's Victoria Square. Back to the loch with you Nessie.

This is way better than I thought it would be and is a good practical compromise between the myriad vested interests that Vic Sq seems to have. Good work. Adelaide seems to be on a bit of a roll. I hope it continues.

[monotonehell]

THEY STOLE MY IDEA!
I think I like it... because they stole my idea of dual use streets .... not sure yet need more detail.

[Wayno]

i hope the stage will have adjacent (underground?) facilities for technical equipment, dressing rooms, etc otherwise makeshift buildings will be erected for every event and detract from the intended design.

Otherwise i like it on first impressions.

[Prince George]

From the comments on AdelaideNow

Wayno of Torrens Park Posted at 7:32 AM Today
do it now!

Wayno, was that your thoughtful comment?

I should say, I got so excited I put two on there:

Nathan Paine says "if you don't like it, just shut up". Peter Vaughan says "other areas of the city ... should be targeted for spending ahead of Victoria Square".

Does that mean Nathan Paine just told Peter Vaughan to shut up?

and

Urban design is complex, choices in one place can affect everywhere else. Much of the thinking about the square tries only to solve the square's problems from within the square itself, it would be good to see our planning extend beyond the square and into the areas surrounding it. If you take an inventory of the buildings there, we have 4 office towers with another coming, four court buildings, two hotels, and a cathedral. To my mind, that doesn't say this is a place for a good time, especially on weekends when most of these buildings are closed.

I would have loved to see plans that included building up the numbers of people actualy living in the area. Without that local population, we have to try to make it a destination that will attract people, and then we run the risk of stealing from Peter to pay Paul by drawing people out of Rundle Mall / Hindle St. We shouldn't think that Vic Square and Buckland Park are unrelated - getting an extra 10-20,000 people living in town would help us see people actually using the many public spaces that are so empty at present.

[Wayno]

From the comments on AdelaideNow

Wayno of Torrens Park Posted at 7:32 AM Today
do it now!

Wayno, was that your thoughtful comment?

IMHO, AdelaideNow responses longer than 1 line rarely get read! A simple headline gets the point across