[COM] Adelaide Convention Centre - Stage 3 | $350m

[Waewick]

the RAH site should be returned to parkland, or better yet the botanic gardens.

Surely upgrading the lines or re-arranging things to allow interstate trains into the city is no harder than what is going on around the state at the moment.

[Nathan]

yes and no, whilst its near the east end I really don't think it matches the clientèle of the east end and I think a casino is better suited next to the big hotel chains as well.

Agreed. Definitely not a match for the East End with the Botanic Gardens, and Ayers House across the road. Not to mention that the East End has much more residential apartments compared to the west.

[Waewick]

I agree with your sentiments regarding foot traffic along the riverfront.

Thats why I think its important to get all rail travel into the city, this is going to further increase people entering the area....I would love to see a shuttle tram/train coming in from the Airport but that will never happen!

As part of the re-vitalisation of the riverfront they need to make sure they provide significant enough parklands that the place becomes a destination.

[Omicron]

Why anyone would take an interstate train in this day and age of dirt-cheap airline travel is beyond me. $90 on the Overland from Adelaide to Melbourne, and ten hours of travel, for goodness sake!

I'm not convinced by any significant outlays of cash accommodating interstate passenger trains at Adelaide. I sense a much better return on investment from funds diverted to the airport or to the local public transport network, for the simple reason that far, far more people fly interstate or catch a bus/train within the metropolitan area. Sure, the idea of the Overland or Ghan pulling into the lovely Adelaide station sounds nice, but I suspect a whole lot of flash and not much Gordon.

[Matt]

This really does have the potential to bring the city to life (cliche, yes, but true), and finally inject some much needed vibrancy and excitement to the city.
A hefty investment in 'fun' is long overdue.

Revamped Adelaide Oval, revamped Memorial Drive (still hopeful), new footbridge, expanded Convention Centre, brand new casino, and cafes, restaurants and nightspots dotted along the Torrens, and some new hotels, light shows at night, water features... possibilities are virtually endless... let's face it, if done properly, this could be amazing for Adelaide.
Would certainly help in putting the city itself on the map as a destination.

I just hope this isn't scuttled by the usual political bullshit that tends to stifle such grandiose plans before they get off the ground.
Here's also hoping this is done properly and doesn't result in a corner-cutting, cost saving exercise to appease AdelaideNow's dreaded "we should be spending the money on our health system" brigade.

Optimism is high... please don't disappoint, Adelaide!

[Stubbo]

Why anyone would take an interstate train in this day and age of dirt-cheap airline travel is beyond me. $90 on the Overland from Adelaide to Melbourne, and ten hours of travel, for goodness sake!

I'm not convinced by any significant outlays of cash accommodating interstate passenger trains at Adelaide. I sense a much better return on investment from funds diverted to the airport or to the local public transport network, for the simple reason that far, far more people fly interstate or catch a bus/train within the metropolitan area. Sure, the idea of the Overland or Ghan pulling into the lovely Adelaide station sounds nice, but I suspect a whole lot of flash and not much Gordon.

I agree with your statement, but what you need to remember is that train tours are still relatively popular, especially among those lucky enough to be retired and travelling. That is why there is such a massive focus on the luxurious side of sleeper cabins with 24 hrs room service, no need for significant waits at airports, being cramped in a plane etc etc.

Of course, anyone wanting to just purely travel to Melbourne will fly, but the touring side of the equation needs to be considered

[bm7500]

This really does have the potential to bring the city to life (cliche, yes, but true), and finally inject some much needed vibrancy and excitement to the city.
A hefty investment in 'fun' is long overdue.

Revamped Adelaide Oval, revamped Memorial Drive (still hopeful), new footbridge, expanded Convention Centre, brand new casino, and cafes, restaurants and nightspots dotted along the Torrens, and some new hotels, light shows at night, water features... possibilities are virtually endless... let's face it, if done properly, this could be amazing for Adelaide.
Would certainly help in putting the city itself on the map as a destination.

I just hope this isn't scuttled by the usual political bullshit that tends to stifle such grandiose plans before they get off the ground.
Here's also hoping this is done properly and doesn't result in a corner-cutting, cost saving exercise to appease AdelaideNow's dreaded "we should be spending the money on our health system" brigade.

Optimism is high... please don't disappoint, Adelaide!

My thoughts exactly Matt!

[Waewick]

given how frustrating it is to use the planes, a decent rail system may encourage more use of the train system....

I'm saying this after using the Shinkansen in Japan which was awesome and was far better and more convinent that planes!

I can only dream

[Aidan]

given how frustrating it is to use the planes, a decent rail system may encourage more use of the train system....

I'm saying this after using the Shinkansen in Japan which was awesome and was far better and more convinent that planes!

I agree, but a decent rail system does not mean running interstate trains to Adelaide station.

Southern Cross station is almost as far from the centre of Melbourne as Keswick Terminal is from the centre of Adelaide. It's a similar story with Central station in Sydney and Roma Street in Brisbane. The main difference is that the interstate cities have good links with the CBD and the rest of the metropolitan area.

And if we ever get a Shinkansen between Adelaide and Melbourne, the best place for a station would be underground, as the line would be underground to get through the Mount Lofty Ranges, and there's no suitable place for it to surface to run into Adelaide from the east.

[Waewick]

good points.

showing my complete ignorance at the Adelaide interstate rail station, can you connect from it to Adelaide Central station via rail?

[Aidan]

good points.

showing my complete ignorance at the Adelaide interstate rail station, can you connect from it to Adelaide Central station via rail?

No. The best you can do is Keswick station, which could be linked with it fairly easily but currently isn't.

[Waewick]

Well that would make it better, and not abnormal for cities.

[spiller]

Rann is referring to the circa 1980s octagonal multi story convention centre building, not the one from 2004 I believe.

[AtD]

Southern Cross station is almost as far from the centre of Melbourne as Keswick Terminal is from the centre of Adelaide. It's a similar story with Central station in Sydney and Roma Street in Brisbane.

Bull. Southern Cross, Sydney Central and Roma Street are all inside their respective CBDs and are surrounded by everything a visitor needs. How on earth can you compare them to Keswick?

[crawf]

If the original plenary building between the Intercontinental & the new convention centre is demolished, as Rann suggests, why not extend the convention
centre north from that site, and incorporate a new casino / entertainment complex "floating" above the Lake 1/3 to 1/2 way across, with a footbridge
completing the connection to adel stadium..

Not this http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au ... 08460.aspx

and not this http://www.lhw.com/property.aspx?id=559&mode=image

but something designed to complement the site. The water feature(s) could be aligned north-south to be visible from KW & Morphett Roads.

The former Exhibition Hall will also be redeveloped, with a glass wall along North Terrace and ground floor retail space along the entire frontage.

It will do wonders to that part of North Terrace