Victoria Square: Not a place for congregating.

[Straze]

The Parklands on the corner of West Terrace & Port Road could be used to host special events such as the Sunday Mail Expos, music concerts & markets. We should push for an Australia Day event e.g. Skyshow to be hosted in this park. I liked going to the Skyshow and i am sure other people miss it too.

[monotonehell]

I was thinking about the psychology of why areas of the parklands [...] Thoughts?

That reminds me, must keep Wayno away from the self help seminars.

But seriously, you are right. For people to not be critical of a space and actually engage with it, they need to understand it, and what it can do for them. Descriptive labels help communicating a space's purpose.

So now you need to get over the opposition from the people who think descriptive names are 'boring'.

[Straze]

This is a photo i took last night of Victoria Square looking south from the Bell Tower Webcam. It may give people a better idea of what the area looks like at night, it seems to be pretty dark at night, i think it could do with a bit more lighting in some spots to improve visibility and sense of security at night. The west side is okay but the east side looks pretty dark.

bellsth.jpg (12.87 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

[peas_and_corn]

Wow, that's pretty bad. Surely some floodlighting wouldn't be that expensive to put up?

[arki]

So we have established that there are a lot of office workers around Vic Sq. Can you imagine the square at lunch times if they were to incorporate some cafes and restaurants? As a city worker I know that I would definetly love to dine alfresco on the square on a beautiful sunny Adelaide day. With the tram right there as well there is always people hopping on and off which makes for both good people watching and potential customers!

[HeapsGood]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 5864255992

GIANT sweeping arbors, shaded lunchtime garden areas, a huge television screen fronting a lawned public events space and vibrant cafe precinct.

This is the new face of the long-neglected Victoria Square, which is set to be overhauled in a $100 million plan to give the city a new heart.

If you want to participate in the official consultation process, you can leave a comment on the Adelaide City Council website by following this link. You will need to leave your name and location.

The Advertiser today exclusively reveals images and details of the masterplan kept secret by Adelaide City Council for over a year, which now has State Government backing.

AdelaideNow readers will play a key role in the month-long consultation beginning today and can send comments directly to the project designers online.

Construction is planned in at least two stages, similar to the North Terrace revitalisation. The council has budgeted $24 million for the build and plans to seek the remainder from the state and federal governments and private investors as building progresses.

The square's northern half - an open space for large events - is to be constructed first, with turning of the first sod slated for mid next year.

Work on the the southern half - intended as a public garden including a Kaurna Aboriginal heritage centre, cafes and wetland - is scheduled to begin in 2012.

Premier Mike Rann has already committed $2 million for a final engineering and design study due for conclusion by year's end.

The masterplan includes:

KEEPING the Grote-Wakefield streets crossing open to daily traffic but closing it when major events are held.

PLANTING giant tree arbours on the perimeter of the square under which events can be held and stalls placed.

BUILDING an events stage in the square's northern tip in front of a lawned area for up to 8000 people that can be used for concerts and large public events.

INSTALLING a jumbo television screen on a movable arm to broadcast sporting and cultural events from around the world.

TREATING stormwater in a wetland that will be the centrepiece of an exotic garden in the square's south dotted with cafes.

MOVING the Three Rivers Fountain to the northern edge of the square.

BICYCLE storage areas and a tourism information booth.

Traffic around the square will be reduced to a uniform three lanes, including one bus lane, but council modelling shows minimal impact on vehicle flows.

Tramline turns at the north and south of the square will be rounded to allow more pedestrian space and passengers will board from the interior of the square.

Mr Rann said the "exciting concepts" for the square built on State Government investments including the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, tramline extension and Adelaide Oval upgrade.

"We need to ensure development of our city occurs in a co-ordinated way, rather than the ad hoc fashion of the past," said.

The masterplan was compiled by a council-appointed design team headed by Kevin Taylor, director of award-winning landscape architecture firm Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

Consultation has already included Central Market traders, traditional owners and precinct business groups.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the council was committed to delivering a revitalised square that competed with the best worldwide.

"This time we have a design on which there is consensus amongst the council and with the State Government," he said.

Industry groups have warned against further delay and say Adelaide must overcome an entrenched culture of opposition to change.

Australian Institute of Architects SA chapter president Tim Horton said the new plan was the best ever proposed for Victoria Square.

"What we can anticipate now is a collective holding of the breath to make sure something happens this time and we don't have another false start," he told The Advertiser yesterday. "Now is the time, and if this doesn't happen let's all make a deal to take our deck chairs and just go somewhere else."

Property Council of Australia SA chief executive Nathan Paine said firm action must be taken at the site after years of fruitless talk.

"In Adelaide we criticise, complain and get nowhere," he said.

"That's why Victoria Square looks the same as it did back in the 1950s."

"That's an indictment on every South Australian. If you don't like it, just shut up. Don't kill it for the rest of us." Business SA chief executive Peter Vaughan said other areas of the city, including the "dying" Rundle Mall, should be targeted for spending ahead of Victoria Square.

Adelaide Hilton general manager Michael Schmitt said having a redeveloped Victoria Square on the hotel's doorstep would be a boon for business.

"Victoria Square at the moment is the centre of the city but not the heart," he said.

"There is no real meeting place for people to come and enjoy. Everybody wants to do something. And this time I get the feeling they really mean business."