[COM] Rundle Mall Redevelopment | $30m

[Matt]

Peter Goers has let loose in the Sunday Mail today.

I'd reserve the right to moan until the job has actually been completed. Too much is unfinished (unstarted?) to pass judgment yet.


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[Nathan]

A public tax funded? retail strips which relies on public foot traffic and spendings is a little different from someones private home flooring.

Except it's not "public tax funded". It's paid for entirely my the city council, so it's paid from the rates of those that live or run a business in the city.

[spiller]

Peter Goers has let loose in the Sunday Mail today.

I'd reserve the right to moan until the job has actually been completed. Too much is unfinished (unstarted?) to pass judgment yet.

Let loose is an understatement. that was one of the most firey pieces about a development i've ever read.

[rhino]

Peter goers is a bit of an enigma. On radio he's one of the most gracious hosts you could ever hear, and in public he's similar, but for some reason in print media he has an acid tongue and is quite unlikeable.

[how good is he]

I hate winging but have to say points he brought up valid points....no rubbish bins, uncomfortable seating with no backing, young sapling like Elm trees with no protection from vandalism, drab grey pavers etc....
However I will temper it by saying its also to early to judge and believe all the colour and excitement hopefully will come up from the fabulous pop up food vendors, catenary lighting and other improvements which are hopefully still to come..

[Nathan]

Response from the council on their Facebook page:

Someone once said “opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one”… reflecting on Peter Goers’ Sunday Mail column about the Rundle Mall Redevelopment, there are a few observations we would like to add:

It’s fair to say the recently opened section of the Mall still has some finishing touches before we consider it ‘complete’, but it does reflect the tones and finishes that will be right along the Mall by the time the other two thirds are complete late next year.

To make way for the busy Christmas shopping period, we moved out the Mall on 8 November, but the installation of some finishing touches like bins and more seating (some of which will have backs) is still happening.

We will also be completing work on some sections of paving where we currently have bitumen, and grouting between certain sections of paving is also being finalised.

Because we haven’t finished all of the grouting, a few of the locally produced Mintaro slate pavers at the King William Street end do have cracks, which will be fixed as we complete the grouting to stop the problem from reoccurring.

Once the grouting has had time to cure, the whole surface will be cleaned to remove scuffs and marks to bring it up to its proper finish.

Peter is correct; there is clearly more open space now than what people were used to in the old design.

Some of this is to open up the centre for reasons already widely discussed during the design stage, and the other is to make way for the temporary plug-and-play activation zones, which will see a range of unique businesses operating across the day and into the evening from early 2014.

As for the trees, the new elms were the most mature we could source in Australia and will naturally, until they’ve had a chance to grow, look small in comparison to what we’ve had in the past - but give them a chance, they’re just babies.

With the magnitude of works taking place in the Mall, the old trees had to go either because they had broken out of their underground pits or to make way for the underground investment as part of the $25 million upgrade. This includes new telecommunications pits, water, sewer and gas upgrades to future-proof the site.

Temporary lighting is also in place to ensure the area is well-lit and safe until our new, attractive lighting is strung high above the Mall in the New Year.

That’s where we’re at for now and we would encourage you to continue to monitor the Mall’s progress, and debate it if you wish, as we tweak this new section and complete the eastern end next year.

[zippySA]

Congrats to ACC on a well worded response.

[Nort]

How the mall is around Fringe time will be interesting to see. All that busy evening traffic after the shops shut will be the perfect test for their pop-up vendors scheme.

[jk1237]

Peter goers is a bit of an enigma. On radio he's one of the most gracious hosts you could ever hear, and in public he's similar, but for some reason in print media he has an acid tongue and is quite unlikeable.

the whole point of his Sunday Mail opinion articles (and the same as all the commercial newspaper opinions) is to sensationalise stories to get a reaction from people, to inflame issue to create interest as this creates ratings and thus more money for the paper.

I bet you he doesn't even agree with half the stuff he actually writes. You need to take it with a grain of salt, just like the Andrew Bolts and the radio shock jocks, who come up with complete nonsense constantly to get a reaction and be famous. They really are pure scum to deliberately deceive the public but oh well, its how it is, they make too much money to stop it

When I see Adelaide Now comments bagging the mall upgrade, I then know the mall upgrade has been a success.

Infact Ive heard rumours that some Adelaide now comments are actually Advertiser staff posting crap, to also get a reaction and interest from people. Seriously, used car salesmen tell more facts than News Ltd story-writers nowadays

[Brucetiki]

Well, the Advertiser journos have to justify their keep somehow

[Phantom]

Seriously, used car salesmen tell more facts than News Ltd story-writers nowadays

Quote of the week right here.

I don't think truer words have been typed on this forum before!

[Torrens_5022]

Only bad thing about the Mall upgrade is the lack of shade - but the trees will grow, it's nowhere near finished so it's way to early to judge.

[Vee]

Only bad thing about the Mall upgrade is the lack of shade - but the trees will grow .... .

Yes, lack of shade is definitely an issue at the moment but it's only one third of the Mall.
I like the ACC response, especially the explanation re the opportunity for activation of open spaces and the impact and variety this will add to the liveliness of the Mall.

I do think that the smallish Elm trees, with rather fragile looking limbs, need temporary tree guards to protect them from vandalism, especially at night. It would be a huge setback for the Mall if some idiot(s) caused damage to the young trees.

[pushbutton]

Elms are very boring, ordinary trees. They have their place, of course, out in the parklands. But they are hardly suitable in Rundle Mall, where surely more decorative trees would have been far more appropriate.

I'd almost go as far as to say I hope someone does vandalise them, so that maybe they'll be replaced with something more interesting.

[Matt]

^ ridiculous.


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