News & Discussion: General CBD Development

[Waewick]

Did he really just imply that Adelaide has more laneways than Melbourne?! For starters Melbourne's laneways are not cutoff by carparks like most of those in Adelaide. They also form important pedestrian thoroughfares right through the entire Melbourne CBD which is what has truly activated them. The only lane with that kind of traffic is James Pl.

Talk about delusional...

There are heaps of laneways in Adelaide that have "potential", but I see no point in doing a heap at a time and blowing it all.

focus on the ones we know will work and do it one at a time - make sure the demand is there.

[ml69]

Good to see some movement regarding small bar licenses.

From the Advertiser:

Laneway licences toast of town for Festival

Political Reporter Daniel Wills

June 08, 201211:00PM


CHEAP new liquor licences will be aimed at creating laneway or "hole in the wall" bars in the Adelaide CBD.

And they are expected to be available in time for next year's Mad March festival season.

Business Services and Consumers Minister John Rau told The Advertiser he was drafting changes to liquor laws to encourage an Adelaide bar and music culture similar to Melbourne's.

The changes have been high on the wishlist for industry and small business groups but will face opposition from the Australian Hotels Association, which represents large existing pubs.

Small bar licences are in operation in Melbourne, Sydney and Western Australia.

They allow people with small premises a cut-rate liquor licence and less red tape than existing laws, which often require drink service to be paired with sit-down meals or live entertainment.

Restaurant and Catering Association chief executive Sally Neville said change would spark new activity in the CBD.

"What it will offer to South Australia is diversity, with the offering for young people particularly to enjoy hospitality outside the existing availability of restaurants, nightclubs or hotels," she said.

"It's what people talk about when they go to Melbourne and, quite frankly, it's a shame that we haven't got more of that style here."

Mr Rau said that Premier Jay Weatherill strongly backed the concept but details needed to be ironed out.

"In a matter of months, we should have something that we can talk about in detail," Mr Rau said. "I would be extremely disappointed if this all wasn't done and dusted before we got into that festive season starting with the Tour Down Under and into Mad March. The sooner before that, the better," he said.

It is anticipated the new regulations would be focused on the city and not apply in the suburbs.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood, who has joined Mr Rau for a tour of Melbourne examining which small bar licence model to introduce in Adelaide, said he wanted change "sooner rather than later".

Adelaide City Council has commissioned its own report on implementing small bar licences.

"It's overdue," Mr Yarwood said. "We have more laneway assets than Melbourne, and we're not utilising them.

Finally! And long overdue.

Great to see that there has been more legislative reform announced in 2012 to create a truly vibrant CBD than there has been in the past 30 years.

With the height limit and development application changes, stamp duty exemption for CBD apartments and now relaxing the rules on small bar licences

[Giorgio]

Which ones? Sorry but there really isn't (compared to Melbourne). There are dozens of undeveloped laneways in Melbourne as well, the reason they are not activated is because they are not important pedestrian thorough-fairs like the rest of Melbourne's more famous laneways. The problem with Adelaide is that almost all of the laneways do not serve this purpose.

The only positive thing is that relaxing liquor licencing laws will help with the establishment of small bars like the recent Udaberri. I can't see how it will help the lane-ways become lively and utilized during the day.

[Will]

Which ones? Sorry but there really isn't (compared to Melbourne). There are dozens of undeveloped laneways in Melbourne as well, the reason they are not activated is because they are not important pedestrian thorough-fairs like the rest of Melbourne's more famous laneways. The problem with Adelaide is that almost all of the laneways do not serve this purpose.

The only positive thing is that relaxing liquor licencing laws will help with the establishment of small bars like the recent Udaberri. I can't see how it will help the lane-ways become lively and utilized during the day.

It could also be that since their activation, Melbourne's laneways have become an attraction in their own right and hence have promoted their utilisation. I doubt Melbourne's laneways got the same amount of foot traffic back in the 80s and early 90s prior to their activation.

[jk1237]

Which ones? Sorry but there really isn't (compared to Melbourne). There are dozens of undeveloped laneways in Melbourne as well, the reason they are not activated is because they are not important pedestrian thorough-fairs like the rest of Melbourne's more famous laneways. The problem with Adelaide is that almost all of the laneways do not serve this purpose.

The only positive thing is that relaxing liquor licencing laws will help with the establishment of small bars like the recent Udaberri. I can't see how it will help the lane-ways become lively and utilized during the day.

It could also be that since their activation, Melbourne's laneways have become an attraction in their own right and hence have promoted their utilisation. I doubt Melbourne's laneways got the same amount of foot traffic back in the 80s and early 90s prior to their activation.

exactly Will

[Waewick]

so it appears "activation" is the new buzz word

ones I can think of would be Liegh Street (probably close to done as one can get without reducing traffic), James Place (again almost done) Chesser street, hasn't even started and with the upgrade of Grenfell street and the construction of the hotel Twin Street would be another

[rhino]

so it appears "activation" is the new buzz word

ones I can think of would be Liegh Street (probably close to done as one can get without reducing traffic), James Place (again almost done) Chesser street, hasn't even started and with the upgrade of Grenfell street and the construction of the hotel Twin Street would be another

Peel Street, Gilbert Place ...

[Waewick]

there are lots of streets.

I would have thought it is about managing supply to ensure we have sufficient traders in 1 area to make it work - rather than 1 or two traders on every street.

it would need to council to also encourage the use of certain streets.

[ml69]

Agree. ACC should focus on the lanes that lead off existing high activity streets where people already use - Hindley, Rundle Mall, Rundle St and Gouger St.

[cruel_world00]

The ACC should be focusing on getting these liquor licensing laws in place and leaving the "activation" to good business models. You can mention precincts and areas all you like, but people aren't going to open a bar if they don't think it's viable. If someone thinks they can have a successful hole in the wall down an alley that is not near Leigh Street, Gouger, Hindley, etc... more power to them.

[mshagg]

Looks like the government copped quite the bruising over the revised late trading fees for licensed venues.

Press release here: http://renewadelaide.files.wordpress.co ... ngfees.pdf

The $10,700 fee seems to stand for larger venues staying open > 4am. Importantly, a small club (less than 1000) staying open past 4am only pays $2100 (compared to $5700 under the previous proposal) and a hotel between 200 and 400 seems to be paying $3500 instead of $10,700.

They've also knocked the due date back to December and are working on an installment option.

On the small bar licenses:

After spending time in Melbourne over the past week, I have seen first-hand
what a small bar licence can do to bring diversity and life to a city, and it’s an option well worth
exploring in South Australia.

I usually struggle to remember my time spent "first-hand" in melbourne's small bars

[crawf]

so it appears "activation" is the new buzz word

ones I can think of would be Liegh Street (probably close to done as one can get without reducing traffic), James Place (again almost done) Chesser street, hasn't even started and with the upgrade of Grenfell street and the construction of the hotel Twin Street would be another

Peel Street, Gilbert Place ...

Another one, but more so for evening and night times..
Moonta St Mall

[Nathan]

What about Union St, leading in to Ebernezer Pl?

Agreed that the focus should be on laneways linking North Tce to Rundle Mall/Hindley St, Hindey St to Curry St, Rundle Mall/Rundle St to Grenfell St and around Gouger St. It would also be good to establish a "laneway corridor" linking the Railway Station to the Central Markets via Bank St, Leigh St, Topham Mall, Bentham St, and maybe a new link through to Penaluna Pl.

[Wayno]

The New RAH & SAHMRI will create lots of foot traffic in the NW corner of the CBD. Presents as a great opportunity for several new boutique laneway cafes & bars.

I'm also hoping the RAH, SAHRMI & riverbank precinct will be well connected. Much better to stroll to/from the railway station along the waters edge than in the shadows along north terrace.

[Giorgio]

I agree that Leigh St should be one of the first streets we focus on. It needs to be closed to traffic and should be modelled on Degraves St with tables and chairs in the middle (road) with foot traffic using either side.


Degraves Street by brettm8, on Flickr