News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[SBD]

I feel this proposed ACC measure is to curtail greedy developers who overstep their boundaries (literally and metaphorically).

Verandahs and balconies on them can be nice as part of the streetscape, but higher than that is definitely just expanding the footprint.

One of the contributing factors to the Great Fire of London was apparently that the buildings cantilevered over the narrow streets so far that there were no natural firebreaks at streets so the fires just kept going for blocks. Not saying any Adelaide buildings are anywhere near that, but I guess it's the natural extension of continuing to test the boundaries.

[OlympusAnt]

ACC needs to stop worrying about that and fix the North Adelaide empty block disgrace

[SRW]

Speaking of the Lecornu lot, bold idea: build a new aquatic centre there. The council keeps having to spend millions of dollar just to keep the old centre going structurally, so maybe it's time to throw in the towel (no pun) and demolish it to return to parklands or allow some minimal Crows training facility in its place. There's no huge demand for more retail or commercial space on O'Connel Street, but the activity of an aquatic centre could boost surrounding tenancies. The downside is probably no residential component, but hotel above could still work.

[[Shuz]]

I was just thinking that as I read the article on InDaily. This is a perfect opportunity before us, for the council to build a new swimming facility on O'Connell Street, in the heart of North Adelaide. Doing so will massively improve accessibility for residents and visitors alike and everyone benefits from having a genuine community facility which will be a good use of the now council-owned land at the LeCornu site. The existing Aquatic Centre can be demolished and the site returned to Parklands. A win-win for everyone.

[how good is he]

I think while the idea has merits it would be very hard for the council to justify or get a return on the $34m they spent on the land plus the cost to build (the last Aquatic centre cost $100m to build at Marion). Further the current one looses money every year. Similarly the Govt could buy out Next Gen. (say for a re-development) and move it here. But I still think it would need hotels, shops, cafes & residential above it all to make it stack up financially.

[Nort]

The site doesn't seem like it would be big enough for a decent aquatic center.

[Bob]

The ex-LeCornu site (AKA Eighty Eight O'Connell) has already moved on to Stage 2 of the EOI for the redevelopment of the site (the ACC review & selection decision was more than a week ago). The shortlist consists of proposals put forward in Stage 1 of the EOI process.

Those that have been selected have now been asked to provide their detailed proposals as per the requirement for Stage 2 of the EOI. They have been given a couple of months to submit.

Unless an Aquatic Centre is already included in the EOI, that option has missed the boat I'm afraid.

[SBD]

The site doesn't seem like it would be big enough for a decent aquatic center.

The site looks to be about half the size of the North Parklands aquatic centre (without parking). The swimming pool would need to be upstairs from the diving pool (or vice versa). Either way would make for some "interesting" engineering, but get international recognition if it works.

[Bob]

The site doesn't seem like it would be big enough for a decent aquatic center.

The site looks to be about half the size of the North Parklands aquatic centre (without parking). The swimming pool would need to be upstairs from the diving pool (or vice versa). Either way would make for some "interesting" engineering, but get international recognition if it works.

The problem is an Aquatic Centre does not met the Guiding Principles for the redevelopment of the site.
The short list that did meet those development guidelines in their concept proposals (stage 1) have been asked to provide their detailed proposals (stage 2).
FYI here is the Guiding Principles guidelines link
https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/plann ... rinciples/

[Nort]

The site doesn't seem like it would be big enough for a decent aquatic center.

The site looks to be about half the size of the North Parklands aquatic centre (without parking). The swimming pool would need to be upstairs from the diving pool (or vice versa). Either way would make for some "interesting" engineering, but get international recognition if it works.

The problem is an Aquatic Centre does not met the Guiding Principles for the redevelopment of the site.
The short list that did meet those development guidelines in their concept proposals (stage 1) have been asked to provide their detailed proposals (stage 2).
FYI here is the Guiding Principles guidelines link
https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/plann ... rinciples/

This is also a good point, such a development would bring a lot of traffic into North Adelaide without doing much to improve the liveliness of the area.

[Llessur2002]

ACC arguing amongst themselves like a bunch of children again.

Detour for east-west city bikeway

The future of an east-west bikeway along Flinders and Franklin Streets is up in the air, with Adelaide City Council rehashing debate over the preferred location for its second city bike route.

At a meeting on Tuesday night, city councillors were called to express their views on where the $5.5 million east-west bikeway through the CBD should be located – despite the council approving Flinders and Franklin Streets as the preferred location in September last year.

At the time it was argued Flinders and Franklin Streets were already popular with cyclists, featured no bus stops and had the potential for widened footpaths and more street trees.

The other two bikeway options – Pirie and Waymouth Streets, and Grote and Wakefield Streets – were deemed less suitable, as they are narrower and have heavier traffic flow.

The council decided in May last year that work on the east-west bikeway would be put on hold until the completion of the north-south bikeway on Frome Street.

Meanwhile, tensions have brewed in the council chamber over how and when to start work again on the east-west route.

At Tuesday night’s meeting council staff called for views on where the east-west bikeway should be located.

Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad – who moved to approve Flinders and Franklin Streets for the east-west route last year – told the meeting he was now “inclined to remain open”.

“I think I’m more inclined to remain open to have a chat around Pirie and Waymouth, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the data and understanding the improvements to the public realm in that space,” he said.

Abiad was supported by area councillors Franz Knoll and Anne Moran, who argued Pirie and Waymouth Streets were already popular with cyclists.

“Pirie and Weymouth already have a strong bicycle traffic if not the most,” Knoll said.

“I see that as being an indicator that for the sake of the bikes that is a better way to do the east-west.”

Moran alluded to a report on the Flinders-Franklin separated bikeway presented to the council in 2017, which said it would require “changes to traffic and parking arrangements (which) will cause concern to some members of the community” – and there may be “some impacts to existing outdoor dining areas”.

“We have had our consultation on that street and that was definitive – it cannot go down there because at the end of the day the people that own the buildings and work in businesses do have a say,” Moran said.

But councillors Helen Donovan, Phil Martin and Rob Simms threw their support behind Flinders and Franklin Streets.

Martin said he “wished that council would just get on and bloody do it (start work on the east-west bikeway).”

Simms agreed, telling InDaily yesterday that the council’s continued discussion on where to put an east-west bikeway was “a bit of a roadblock”.

“I think the community is seeing us doing U-turns on the bikeways and it’s probably very frustrating for them to see us taking two steps forward and three steps back,” he said.

But central ward councillor Jessy Khera warned at Tuesday’s meeting that the council needed to be careful of propagating “an element of moral hazard” through the bikeways project.

He gave the example of his friend’s mother – who he said endured permanent brain damage while riding her bike – to argue, “there can’t be a separated bikeway everywhere”.

“We want to encourage a huge number of people to get on bicycles and I think as a government we ought to be careful and not take the word of sectional interests who want to push the idea that there are no risks involved,” he said.

“There are risks involved in all these decisions.”

Work is continuing on the north-south bikeway along Frome Street, which is currently stalled due to the ongoing construction of the 36-storey Adelaidean hotel complex.

The council’s director of operations, Beth Davidson-Park, revealed last month that if the council were to replicate the standard of the Frome Street section of the north-west bikeway on a second east-west route, it would need to spend up to $20 million, exceeding the current $5.5 million in council and State Government funding set aside for the project.

However, a State Government spokesperson said the Government “would be happy to work with the council to explore alternative funding options” for the east-west route.

Davidson-Park – who will resign from the council later this month – told InDaily yesterday that no firm direction was given from Tuesday’s meeting.

“While the previous Council approved Flinders-Franklin as the preferred East-West route, administration is now working with elected members on the options for the East-West Bikeway before commencing this stage of the Bikeways project,” she said.

“Pirie Street and Waymouth Street, together with Grote Street and Wakefield Street remain as other considered options for Council to discuss.”

A report presented to councillors on Tuesday night shows 60 per cent of Adelaide’s population are “interested but concerned” about bike riding and would not ride unless safe, separated bike facilities, such as the bikeway on Frome Street, were provided.

From: https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2019/ ... y-bikeway/

[Nathan]

I firmly believe the continued debate is entirely in bad faith. It's not about believing in a better route than proposed, it's about continuing to hold up the project so that nothing ever happens.

[Llessur2002]

I firmly believe the continued debate is entirely in bad faith. It's not about believing in a better route than proposed, it's about continuing to hold up the project so that nothing ever happens.

^ absolutely this.

[mshagg]

I understand they've reached some in-principle decision to focus on Pirie/Waymouth.

Does seem like an attempt to give it the kiss of death. If they're citing concerns with "changes to traffic and parking arrangements (which) will cause concern to some members of the community" on wide streets like flinders/franklin, surely those concerns are even greater when dealing with one of the narrowest routes through the CBD.

Either they deliver something without any meaningful separation, or their phony consultation reveals it's a no-goer with 'ratepayers' and they walk away from the idea in its entirety. Because I cant see how you physically put a separated bike path down those streets without taking away a lot of on street parking.

[Llessur2002]

Facebook post from BISA this morning:

One step closer to an East-West Bikeway. Thank you to City of Adelaide Councillors for their thoughtful and respectful discussion on the City Bikeways project and almost unanimous support for a design process to start looking at a bikeway along Pirie/Waymouth St.

Our thoughts on this route:
It is already the most used east-west bike route showing demand.
The street lends itself to a people oriented focus with an already active street space.
The street is up and coming with many innovative businesses moving into the street.
As a bike route it is close to the action - easy for people to access the city centre.
It has a bike shop on it!

What are our key priorities for the project:
A path width that allows easy passing for bike riders
A safe route managing driveways, intersections, and side street traffic
Signals to access across West Terrace and cross light square.
Giving back to the street with greening and other upgrades for pedestrians/business.
Convenient loading and unloading for deliveries.
Taxi, Uber and disability access zones
Early engagement with stakeholders including providing them with considerable information on the benefits bikeways bring to a street and an early call out for champions of the cause; ambassadors from business on the street that can talk and engage with others.

Now the challenges really start. Councillors need to show true leadership by educating and inspiring their ratepayers. We will continue to work with council to help get the best possible design.