News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[Matt]

Send the above in to the editor?

[Vee]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opin ... 6930080385

What the actual f*ck. The only parasite in this city is him.

Rundle Mall is so much nicer and easier to navigate than previously (will look 10x better once the trees mature), Victoria Square is now a great event space and pop up venues have brought life back to the city.

Agree with crawf and others.
Disgusting piece by Peter Goers. Full on effort to decry progressive changes to our city and demean the Lord Mayor.

Unbelievable timing to hate on cycling and efforts to make cycling safer in the city (as other cities are doing). The anti-Frome Rd cycling lane has been subject to a vicious media campaign. This week Adelaide plays host to the INTERNATIONAL Velo-city 2014 Conference - the top global cycling conference, coveted by other cities but won by Adelaide. And the Velo-city fringe events lead up to this.
http://www.velo-city2014.com/

Not just a ridiculous, high visibility rant (and opportunity for the naysayers in the comments) but unbelievable timing and a huge insult to the overseas and interstate delegates and local cyclists, officials and participants.

[ChillyPhilly]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opin ... 6930080385

What the actual f*ck. The only parasite in this city is him.

Rundle Mall is so much nicer and easier to navigate than previously (will look 10x better once the trees mature), Victoria Square is now a great event space and pop up venues have brought life back to the city.

Agree with crawf and others.
Disgusting piece by Peter Goers. Full on effort to decry progressive changes to our city and demean the Lord Mayor.

Unbelievable timing to hate on cycling and efforts to make cycling safer in the city (as other cities are doing). The anti-Frome Rd cycling lane has been subject to a vicious media campaign. This week Adelaide plays host to the INTERNATIONAL Velo-city 2014 Conference - the top global cycling conference, coveted by other cities but won by Adelaide. And the Velo-city fringe events lead up to this.
http://www.velo-city2014.com/

Not just a ridiculous, high visibility rant (and opportunity for the naysayers in the comments) but unbelievable timing and a huge insult to the overseas and interstate delegates and local cyclists, officials and participants.

Not only is it an insult, it's embarrassing and tarnishing our whole city.

[Matt]

Send in letters to the editor, see how many they publish.

[david]

Hi Clr David,
Thank you for your involvement in the forums and I am sure we all appreciate your time and direct availability to answer our questions.
Are you able to answer, now that the Adelaide Uni medical building is approved/starting, have you negotiated anything with the State Govt for compensation for a new skate park and if/when do you think you will you decide on a new location by?
Labors policy before the election was for a new $85m high school at the old RAH site and a new Law Courts Building - have you heard any more or do you think they are doubtful/impacted by the Federal budget? Is there anything else the ACC is a stakeholder in now possibly doubtful after the Federal budget?
If there were no state funds to share the cost for Victoria Square stage 2 upgrade, do you think the [next] council should or would fund it?
Have you or the ACC heard any more about the future of the former Le Cornu site on O'Connell St?

Hi How Good is He,

I apologise for not replying sooner - I've been rather busty defending the Frome St Bikeway!!!

We are working with the State Government to find a site for the relocation of the Skate Park - one option which the Council would support is as part of the redevelopment of Park 25 which is south of the Port Road as you head away from the city. We are still assessing results of consultation and it will need to be funded by the State Government as we have no funds on the budget to replace it. (Refer recently received Master Plan for Recreation in West and South Park Lands)

I don't know of any further plans for a new High School on the old RAH site nor have we heard any more about the new Courts building which I seem to recall was going to be a PPP. As far as the LeCornu site is concerned, this is entirely in the hands of the owner - the Makris Group who have a valid approval to proceed. I did hear a rumour recently that they were planning to make a start in the forseeable future but I have heard that many times before. Some of my Council colleagues were suggesting that the site could be used for Oval Event car parking - not something that I could support! and one I think was suggesting that Council should buy it - even more preposterous in my opinion.

David P


David

[how good is he]

Thanks David for you reply.... and do you have any comments about my questions about Victoria Square stage 2? Thxs

[Wayno]

I bet Peter Goers & Clr Hamilton are good mates. Nearing ACC election time perchance?

Anyways as previously mentioned, inflaming the unwashed masses about the Frome St Bikeway will come to nought. They don't vote in ACC elections. Bring on the East-West bikeway.

[Llessur2002]

Shockingly awful piece of journalism by Peter Goers and shame on the Advertiser/Sunday Mail for publishing such sensationalist claptrap. I knew their standards were low but this really takes the biscuit.

Good to see that the ACC have issued a response in The Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ad ... 6931885293

Great to see that numbers are already up by promising amounts - hopefully these will continue to rise as word spreads about the bikeway. At least half-positive one outcome of the ridiculous media outcry is that there can't be anyone left in Adelaide who doesn't know about the existence of the bikeway...

[david]

Thanks David for you reply.... and do you have any comments about my questions about Victoria Square stage 2? Thxs

Sorry, I missed that question.

Council has called for a report reviewing future stages of Victoria Square/Tarntanyannga because in the light of what we have done we need to be sure what is the best thing to do next. Options include doing the landscaping of the southern half , 'squaring the square' at the northen end or completing the roads around the perimeter. I think Council feels it is about time the State Government put some money into what is essentially a space of state-wide significance.

THe decision will rest with the new Council but one ominous sign is that there is no money for the Square on the draft version of the 2014-2015 budget.

Any views?

David P
Councillor

[crawf]

Thanks David for you reply.... and do you have any comments about my questions about Victoria Square stage 2? Thxs

I think Council feels it is about time the State Government put some money into what is essentially a space of state-wide significance.

Definitely agree with this.

[Honey of a City]

Thanks David for you reply.... and do you have any comments about my questions about Victoria Square stage 2? Thxs

Sorry, I missed that question.

Council has called for a report reviewing future stages of Victoria Square/Tarntanyannga because in the light of what we have done we need to be sure what is the best thing to do next. Options include doing the landscaping of the southern half , 'squaring the square' at the northen end or completing the roads around the perimeter. I think Council feels it is about time the State Government put some money into what is essentially a space of state-wide significance.

THe decision will rest with the new Council but one ominous sign is that there is no money for the Square on the draft version of the 2014-2015 budget.

Any views?

David P
Councillor

If the budget's still in draft form there's still time to update it. How and by whom is this project being progressed?

[david]

Notes from Councillor David Plumridge AM - Issue No 112[/u

- One they didn't publish

- Council Twins with Qingdao

- Decisions made at Council Meeting 28 May 2014

[attachment=0]Notes from Councillor Issue 112.pdf[/attachment]

David Plumridge M
Area Councillor
City of Adelaide

[Dog]

Not really a development issue but I was at a major awards night tonight for a respected local charity, in conversation the topic turned to badge day and collection tins, I was totally unaware that there is a fee to collect in Rundle mall and it costs a charity something like $1,200 for a day.
I know they don't want every man and a tin in there but really to charge major charities can this be true! You'd be lucky to collect $1,200 and now I know I feel sick most of my little contributions goes to who, the council or the Mall?

Maybe the whole concept of Badge day and rattling tins needs to change, perhaps a charities information booth on daffodil cancer or world MS day would both educate and collect donations. But then again if they charge $1,200 to rattle a tin what would they charge for a booth.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[[Shuz]]

Thanks David for you reply.... and do you have any comments about my questions about Victoria Square stage 2? Thxs

Sorry, I missed that question.

Council has called for a report reviewing future stages of Victoria Square/Tarntanyannga because in the light of what we have done we need to be sure what is the best thing to do next. Options include doing the landscaping of the southern half , 'squaring the square' at the northen end or completing the roads around the perimeter. I think Council feels it is about time the State Government put some money into what is essentially a space of state-wide significance.

THe decision will rest with the new Council but one ominous sign is that there is no money for the Square on the draft version of the 2014-2015 budget.

Any views?

David P
Councillor

David, before I go on. I just want to say that I absolutely love and fully support what Council has done with Stage 1 of Victoria Square. It is without a doubt, perfect. I wouldn't change a thing for the world.

But as for financing / money - surely you jest. Council will never get the State Government to go along with funding Victoria Square - especially if the works involve 'squaring' the square'. Who do you expect to foot the bill for the realignment of the tram tracks and associated infrastructure? All of that is and would be a profound waste of money just so that Council can fulfil what is purely a matter of aesthetics. Face it - the 'square' is a diamond, and it's here to stay. If Council so desperately wanted State Government funding, it should have got the support to do so from the very start.

You've already gone and done Stage 1 works all on your own with your own money, and if you want to continue it - I suggest that Council puts in a plan for Stage 2 and 3 which relies solely on its own funding without relying on handouts. If a handout from the State Government comes along, great - deal with it then and put it towards a later stage / works not yet commenced - give us a surprise! But as for now, forget about it and just continue the good work that you've done so far, with your own budget. Also - I don't know how many times it needs to be said - but it's been made explicitly clear that the State Government has emphasised its focus is on the Riverbank Precinct and that's where its money will go (if there's any left). I suggest Council accepts that and moves on.

Having said that - I completely support Council if it wishes to take up on other initiatives such as closing off the central roadway permanently, narrowing the roadways around the square from 4 lanes down to 2 or 3 (I suggest 2 traffic lanes, with a third bus lane) and making those side roads much more pedestrian friendly / shared spaces (like as has been done with the north western corner) and further beautification works on the southern end, like they've done with the northern end. I believe the master-plan was always a bit ambitious to start with (and it's a good thing to have ambition!) but maybe now is the time to face reality and perhaps look at how you can achieve similar objectives with high quality finishings on a reduced budget. And this can sometimes prove more successful than what was originally intended - you only have to look to your Stage 1 for an example of that!

I sincerely wish Council all the best in its future endeavours with Victoria Square. Just keep it simple and elegant and you have a winner!

[Honey of a City]

Well said Shuz. Agree with all your thoughts. If the squaring of the square is what's holding it up due to cost, then keep the diamond and landscape the corner islands innovatively and beautifully. But please, please, Adelaide City Council, please get those damn pergolas up as per the plan, and replace those "shelter shed" structures that denigrate the whole finish. Even if just an the northern end initially. They were the extraordinary, functional and aesthetic cornerstones of the whole project, and they seem to be now in the too hard tray.