[COM] SkyCity Adelaide Casino Expansion | 55m | 12 Levels | Hotel

[SRW]

Great photos Andy!

Sorry to hijack this particular one, but that water cascade and staircase adjacent the footbridge is yet another example of public space upgrade been left to disrepair. What's the point of spending the money if things won't be maintained? I understand the plantings were replaced recently (I think in tandem with the Malthouse opening), but the rust and calcification to the stonework has been ignored. Given the (poor) state of Elder Park generally, I wonder if it's because there's some disagreement between the council and Riverbank Authority over who's responsible.

Is that the finished product of that feature?! even if it were maintained...Cheap, tacky and totally unbefitting of its location. I do hope this precinct ties together a bit better once the casino tower is complete. Its starting to look like a dogs breakfast, given how much is crowded into this one spot. The buildings individually look impressive, but have no common theme. If anything could tie it all together would be decent cohesive landscaping, and I don't mean some transplanted Mallee scrub and rubble. Not looking promising.

Yep, it was completed in 2014. It looked ok for the first couple years, but has steadily degraded since then. It looks especially bad currently not because of the decay but because the plantings have all been ripped out and the new ones are poorly selected & not yet established. The initial plantings weren't super clever either (gums in front of the festival centre vista?!) but at least it was leafy. Anyway, expectation vs reality:


My other bug bear with the Riverbank is what they've done where the Festival Centre amphitheatre used to be. Although now somewhat grassed, it's basically a series of pointless ramps. Most frustratingly, the outlook is now 3 scattered utility boxes! I can't figure why they were placed there, and if they had to be there, why they weren't grouped together so they weren't so damn obtrusive? I don't know if the area will re-attended to once the plaza reopens, but either way I think Jan Gehl needs to brought back to Adelaide to update his 2002 and 2011 reports to council & state government, because obviously the wisdom of designing public spaces for public use has been disregarded.

(Mods, happy for these posts to be shifted to Riverbank or footbridge threads if too off topic)

[NTRabbit]

I haven't even seen the water cascade actually have running water in it this year

[Honey of a City]

I remember being impressed with that render in 2014, and avidly watching the water feature and staircase being built and landscaped, but there were alarm bells going off as it progressed. The choice of plantings in this area was totally inept right from the start. Why plant eucalypts directly in front of the wall sculpture and its lighting, and in front of the balcony of the bistro, where views across the river in both directions were going to be blocked in a short time? The shoddy paving on the staircase is embarrassing too, leaching mortar badly. If ever a high grade finish was needed it was here.

[Norman]

Making an impact to the view from North Terrace

[Joelmark]

I haven't even seen the water cascade actually have running water in it this year

My understanding was that in 2014 after construction the bridge and environs were handed over to the City Council for maintenance and repair. Totally agree one of the things we are not good at in Adelaide is looking after infrastructure after it is built. If it's high quality like Bank Street and the Rundle Mall upgrades they should look after themselves; the footbridge environs must have faults which should be rectified.

[Nort]

At the time the council was estimating upkeep costs of up to $500,000 a year to keep the bridge and surrounds in good condition, hoping the state government would help out. I assume that state contribution never ended up happening?

[claybro]

At the time the council was estimating upkeep costs of up to $500,000 a year to keep the bridge and surrounds in good condition, hoping the state government would help out. I assume that state contribution never ended up happening?

One wonders what ACC do with the millions in extra rates they are receiving from all the improved property in the CBD year on year. You cant tell me all those apartment towers don't attract significant revenue increase on the lowrise sometimes derelict sites they occupy.

[SRW]

Well, the council's revenue hasn't exactly boomed because they've frozen rates for several years, while at the same time taking on debt for silly things (188 O'Connell) and forgoing rates for good reasons (the 5-year rate rebate for new apartment owner-occupiers).

[dingies1985]

After visiting the casino last weekend i realized how much this upgrade is needed

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[dingies1985]

It is gonna look amazing once complete

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[ChillyPhilly]

Core is now visible from Bank Street.

.

[Joelmark]

Sorry slightly off topic but please tell me they haven't already removed one of the new trees in Bank Street and not replaced it - I'm referring to the apparent tree stump in the bottom third of ChillyPilly's last picture.

[ChillyPhilly]

Sorry slightly off topic but please tell me they haven't already removed one of the new trees in Bank Street and not replaced it - I'm referring to the apparent tree stump in the bottom third of ChillyPilly's last picture.

To confirm your worst fears, that's been gone for a while.

[SRW]

Sorry slightly off topic but please tell me they haven't already removed one of the new trees in Bank Street and not replaced it - I'm referring to the apparent tree stump in the bottom third of ChillyPilly's last picture.

To confirm your worst fears, that's been gone for a while.

Most probably collected by louts, but also possibly loading vehicles -- several of the granite slabs along Bank Street have been seriously chipped, which indicates either tight manoeuvres or shit drivers.

[Patrick_27]

Sorry slightly off topic but please tell me they haven't already removed one of the new trees in Bank Street and not replaced it - I'm referring to the apparent tree stump in the bottom third of ChillyPilly's last picture.

To confirm your worst fears, that's been gone for a while.

Most probably collected by louts, but also possibly loading vehicles -- several of the granite slabs along Bank Street have been seriously chipped, which indicates either tight manoeuvres or shit drivers.

It happens, just need to replace it and better protect it whilst it grows. Same thing happened a lot with drunken revellers after the Rundle Mall upgrade, now the trees there can support themselves without that issue.