[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[jk1237]

But unless you observe and view the obvious steady daily 24/7 use of Victoria Square don't bother posting lies that the space is not well used right now. It is the BEST used Square in Adelaide.

got to be kidding. Victoria Square could be much much much much better than it is now. Travel around the world and see other city squares and see how they are BEST used. Vic Square needs a huge upgrade considering its the centre showpiece of our city.

We are not a little town where we are content that 500 people walk through a bland 1960s square with stunted trees each day. It should be up to 15,000 and thriving. Go sit in the parklands if you want no one around you

[Wayno]

The Premier has to know this is a lie

only to be fed lies by the Taxi companies.

don't bother posting lies that the space is not well used right now.

Gosh, so many people lying.

And the proposed development must allow enough space for the types of events that are currently bringing so many people into Vic Sq every day of the year.

have you examined the plans? what exactly has you so concerned?

[Matt]

....oh dear.

[serca]

yep yep i get it , thats why your called observant local, because you observe vic sq 24/7 ....

[claybro]

It may be BEST used, but it could be BETTER used. I think the new plans take care of that.

[Wayno]

Apparently tenders have closed for this project, with contracts being inked shortly. Work to start with weeks...

[Shahkar]

Not sure we missed this one

More cash needed for Victoria Square revamp
Tim Williams
February 07, 2013 11:34AM

TOWN Hall will pour millions of extra dollars into the first stage of its Victoria Square upgrade.

The funds are needed to complete the central event plaza and deal with soil contamination.

And the project, for which the council had budgeted $24 million, may not be finished in time for next year's Tour Down Under.

The blowout comes despite council assurances last September that contamination would not affect the timeframe or cost of the upgrade, which councillors discussed behind closed doors last week.

After the meeting, chief executive Peter Smith said the budget increase "may run into a few million dollars". He declined to be more specific while the council was negotiating with potential contractors.

Mr Smith said "more than 50 per cent" of the extra cost would be for paving areas around the Grote-Wakefield St crossing which, along with paving the road itself, would create the central events plaza.

He said areas around the road needed to be dug up this year for works on essential services and it made sense to pave over them afterwards.

Those works had been slated for a later stage of the project.

The rest of the money would be for dealing with low-level soil contamination and a contingency fund, Mr Smith said. The council previously said it had factored in the risk of soil contamination from sources such as old tram lines and the former north-south section of King William St through the square.

Mr Smith said soil testing had since shown the extent of low-grade contamination had proved to add a "significant" extra cost, "but it's not like we're dealing with highly toxic contamination".

The chemicals found are consistent with burnt coal, oil and tar.

Mr Smith said the council aimed to complete the project before next year's Tour Down Under.

Plans would be made to complete the project after the Tour if necessary, while "ensur(ing) the availability of the site for the event".

Mr Smith said the extra funding would not result in cuts elsewhere.

"We'll borrow or find the money from additional revenue," he said.

[HeapsGood]

I'm not really looking forward to this terrible design.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6589497239

THE new event lawn and plaza at the redeveloped Victoria Square will cater for up to 10,000 people.

Today, council workers will begin work on clearing the square, including ripping up pavers, before councillors are expected to approve a building contract next week.

The Advertiser can today reveal new details of the redevelopment, which is expected to cost millions more than the budgeted $24 million because of the decision to complete the central plaza and cost of dealing with low-grade soil contamination.

Details include:

THE event lawn and plaza combined will have the capacity to host events for up to 10,000 people.

ALL 87 new trees will be lemon-scented gums, planted at about 5m tall and growing up to 35m.

THE Three Rivers fountain, to be moved to the southern end of the square, will have a larger basin, coloured LED lighting and water jets. Other lights around the square will project patterns on to the paths and lawns.

THE grassed event space will slope down from the central plaza towards the northern end and be surrounded by tiered paving to a depth of 1.5m, helping to block tyre and exhaust noise.

THE play fountain will have water cascading on a series of steps and jets shooting up from the ground.

PEDESTRIAN and cycle paths will flank the central plaza, with a dedicated bus lane on the northern side.

THERE will be new toilets and power supply for pop-up cafes to plug into.

The redevelopment includes an event lawn for up to 5000 people in the northern half of the square, a paved central plaza and a raised stage, and water playground at the northern tip.

The council aims to complete the project in time for the Tour Down Under next January and then host events in the square on most weekends.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said it was "a historic day for the city and state".

"The upgrade of Victoria Square will provide a world-class place for people to come together and connect," he said.

Major works will begin by the end of the month.

[PeFe]

How long will it take The Advertiser to fix their mistake in the headline.."Victoria Park upgrade." What a d-grade newspaper..!!

[Matt]

The 'gallery' is also completely outdated.

HeapsGood, what's so terrible about the design?

[HeapsGood]

HeapsGood, what's so terrible about the design?

Looks too busy and pretentious. The design should be kept simple at best.

[Shahkar]

Sadly, it is only half of the master plan. But good to see it starting atleast

[omada]

I think it looks pretty good. Once thing I am still unsure though, is the square still an "island" or is it now intergrated to the SA Water side of the square (ie removed road) ?

[SRW]

I think it looks pretty good. Once thing I am still unsure though, is the square still an "island" or is it now intergrated to the SA Water side of the square (ie removed road) ?

Still an island. Widening/squaring off of the square will have to happen in later stages.

Pleased to see something FINALLY happening, though I hope we won't have to wait too many years to see the brilliant master plan realised.

[Reb-L]

Yes, cut down all existing 'exotic' shade trees to plant some politically correct gums. It just shows immaturity. We should also tell Mexicans to put cactuses (OK, cactii) in the central plaza in their capital, the Greeks to rip up whatever is in Syntagma Square to make way for an olive plantation and to make sure that the 'imported' oak trees in parks and squares of northern Europe are replaced with some more indigenous straggly spruce.