[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[Ben]

From the Messenger

Councillors baulk on Vic Sq spend

24 May 12 @ 08:30am by Alice Higgins

THE Victoria Square redevelopment might be undone by City councillors who refuse to approve a “half-hearted compromise”.

Four weeks before it votes on its 2012/13 budget, the council is split over whether it should fund the staged overhaul.

The City Messenger reported this month the council had allocated $20 million in its draft budget to start developing Victoria Square.

It also unveiled its final plan for the $95 million facelift - two years after it released its initial plan for consultation.

Cr Michael Henningsen said he would not vote for $20 million to be spent on the square.

“The plan which is going to flow from this $20 million, a lot of which is borrowed, is not the plan that (the) council initially endorsed,” Cr Henningsen said.

“Certainly (the) council should not do a half-hearted compromise project by itself.”

Cr Anne Moran wanted the money to be spent in Rundle Mall or put back into parklands and street maintenance.

“Our ratepayers cannot afford a huge project like that. Clearly the State Government has made their mind up that Victoria Square is not very important and we should follow their lead,” Cr Moran said.

But Cr Mark Hamilton supported $20 million being invested in the square, saying it would be a “public relations disaster” if the council did not start the project in 2012/13.

“(The) council has spent so much money and time and invested a lot of its credibility in the project,” Cr Hamilton said.

“People would quite rightly be very critical of (the) council if it was to abandon the project.”

Deputy Lord Mayor David Plumridge said he would also push for the money to be left on the table because the square was looking “very rundown”.

“($20 million) is not all we need but it is enough to get a really good project going and I think the time is now,” Cr Plumridge said.

Cr Sandy Wilkinson remained uncommitted.

“I am in two minds as to whether we commit to spending some money on a scaled back scheme, or holding back to see if some money from other tiers of government can be forthcoming,” Cr Wilkinson said.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said more than 80 per cent of people who responded to the draft plan had endorsed the project.

“Victoria Square, as is, is a national disgrace,” Mr Yarwood said. “We have been planning this project for three or four years ... it is time that (the) council showed it is willing to say yes to progress.”

[Will]

It is a fact that people are 'wired' to react more strongly to negative news.

So, it will be irrelevant if we have billions of dollars worth of investment in the CBD and a record number of cranes if yet another plan for Victoria Square falls over. It will just cement people's opinions (however absurbd they may be), that nothing ever changes in Adelaide.

[Nathan]

Cr Anne Moran wanted the money to be spent in Rundle Mall or put back into parklands and street maintenance.

“Our ratepayers cannot afford a huge project like that. Clearly the State Government has made their mind up that Victoria Square is not very important and we should follow their lead,” Cr Moran said.

No surprises there. Cr Moran also made up her mind long ago that all the money should be funnelled into Rundle Mall - regardless of the plan.

[crawf]

In the past I would of most likely disagreed with money being spent on Victoria Square. However now that there's more and more development happening around the square aswell as these latest plans, I've changed my opinion. The time is right to finally begin the transformation of Victoria Square into an attractive leisure precinct that has the potential to become a true landmark for the state.

Another thing that I do like about this project is the two large arbours. In days like this where it's cold and raining, it would be extremely handy for people wanting to travel from the northern to the southern end of King William Street without getting wet (and vise versa).

Enough resources and money has been spent on this project as it is, so stop talking and just get on with it.

[mutt]

“Victoria Square, as is, is a national disgrace,” Mr Yarwood said.

this guy
what a stupid comment

personally, i dont care either way because i'm not paying for it, but if i lived in the city of adelaide and saw my rates rising because of some half baked scheme, i'd probably be against it too

[Waewick]

yes, not sure how it rates as a national disgrace.

I'm sure the APY lands would like to add some context to that.

[Pistol]

Invest the coin where it is really needed - Central Markets anyone?

Vic Square is so important to Adelaide, we need to get it right.

[Matt]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/believe-i ... 6383993878

A $24 MILLION redevelopment of Victoria Square would be finished by the 2014 Tour Down Under in plans expected to be approved today.

An Adelaide City Council report, obtained by The Advertiser, shows a series of plans for the long-awaited upgrade, ranging from a basic $20 million model to a $30 million scheme.

The report recommends adopting a $24 million plan and for construction to start this year.

That plan involves a direct $23 million expenditure on the square and $1 million extra to upgrade walking and cycling paths.

It features major works in the north of the Square, with a new "water play area", an event stage, public lawn space, cafe, trees and sheltered walking spaces.

The central roadway through the centre would be repaved.

A second cafe is to be built by the tram stop in the square's south, near where the fountain would be relocated.

The plan also allows for future expansion of the project if money becomes available.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood late yesterday said he was excited judgment day had arrived for the square.

"After five plans over 40 years, I think this classifies for historic status," he said.

"I'm pleased we've got this far and I'm genuinely hopeful that it will be supported by the councillors and we'll be able to start".

The council first announced plans to upgrade the city's neglected heart in 2010, when former lord mayor Michael Harbison released a $100 million plan including big television screens and major roadworks.

It was sold as the city's answer to Melbourne's Federation Square and a venue for concerts and major sporting broadcasts.

However, the council has failed to win federal or state funding amid the ongoing fallout from the global financial crisis and increased calls for spending in the city's north near the Adelaide Oval and in Rundle Mall.

Property Council of Australia SA executive Nathan Paine said public cynicism about the project would be sent into overdrive unless an "iron-clad" redevelopment commitment was made today.

"Any decision other than immediate action and an iron-clad commitment to staged development could further diminish community support for this latest proposal for Victoria Square," he said.

"The public is already cynical about action on Victoria Square, and a start-stop approach to its development would exacerbate this cynicism.

"Opting for the $50 million redevelopment option now will pay dividends in the longer term.

"While it can seem like a good idea at the time to save money by buying the Nissan Cedric model, in hindsight you're often better off buying the Range Rover."

The report recommends against spending more than $25 million for reasons of "financial sustainability".

It is understood a substantial portion of the project will be funded through council borrowing.

The most ambitious plan being considered is a $33 million build dramatically expanding the northern half.

Mr Yarwood said the council was examining affordable plans and a forecast population explosion in the CBD in coming decades would increase demand for high-quality public space.

Adelaide City Council will hold a special meeting at 4pm today at Town Hall.

IMAGES:
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/phot ... 892?page=1

[Reb-L]

My advice to the ACC (free of charge); Don't release any more plans or even work on them until there is a solid chance of it becoming reality (= there are some $$'s in the tin). All these grandiose schemes that we have been presented with every year or so, design competitions, press releases etc. just make everybody totally cynical about anything they hear hear from the council. Yes I know that you need a plan before you can do anything but don't you think we've had enough already? If all the money that's been wasted on these visions that never became anything else had been used for actually moving some dirt we might have had a decent square already.

[Nathan]

Having a look at the #adelaide hashtag on twitter, Triple M Adelaide have tweeted that the council has approved the $24m initial upgrade at todays meeting.

[Matt]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1338884507.839857.jpg (125.72 KiB) Viewed 2243 times

Phew.
Not sure which of the 8 options they went with though?

[Nathan]

Not sure which of the 8 options they went with though?

I imagine it's this one:
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/comm ... s_plan.pdf

[cometthecat]

Geez, so much good news on Sensational Adelaide today. With this ahead, it will compliment all the new buildings rising as well.

[Waewick]

sounds like we have movement at the station.

[Matt]

Pleased to hear there is apparently still a commitment to the full master plan.

Hopefully the $24m kick-start the ACC is providing will help encourage investment from elsewhere.
Glad to finally see something happening. It's a start.