News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[victorious80]

Having a traditional, heritage feel does not necessarily preclude a city from also investing in modern developments. For those who have been to Milan, the city is dominated by beautiful old buildings. But it hasnt stopped them from creating a magnificent new precinct right in the heart of the old city:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthrea ... 96&page=29

It is this amazing contrast of old and new that I think Adelaide could aim for. Sometimes not blending in with surrounds is the best way to complement existing buildings.

[SRW]

So many criticisms of the Council, it's hard to know where to start.............

I will confine my remarks to a couple of things,

Victoria Square
To say that it is all so secretive is just so much nonsense. This project was very widely publicised and public comment sought at various stages, The design is of the highest standard, is freely available on the website.

It might seem as plain as day to you, with all the information at your hands inside council, but for interested members of the public (like myself) it's actually been quite hard to keep track of this project. Case in point: the website* you referred to has a "News" section that has been updated only once two years ago. I agree the master plan is admirable, but it would be nice to know about major decisions and when or if milestones in its implementation (given the initial timeline has completely lapsed) are met.

But thank you for taking the time to respond.

*website was down at time of posting

[Alyx]

I wasn't quite sure which thread to place this in, so please feel free to move it.

DISGRUNTLED Victoria Square shop owners are blaming an Adelaide City Council town invigoration project for allowing temporary food and drink outlets to hijack business.

Delish Espresso owner Marcus Clark said the burger and coffee outlets, which operated outside his shop on the western precinct of Victoria Square, were responsible for a significant drop in customers during peak breakfast and lunch trade.

Splash Adelaide, a council and State Government project launched this month, aims to enhance city streets and locations by extending outdoor dining areas, encourage food carts and promote street parties to increase visitor numbers.

Mr Clark said he paid about $2000 a year in rates while Adelaide City Council was giving out permits to the vendors allowing them to choose when to trade.

"I'm just trying to have a crack (at running a business) and it seems like the council is against us," he said.

"We pay quite expensive council rates. I find it unfair that the council is giving permits to people when we are here all year. Maybe there needs to be a review of council rates." Mr Clark said other businesses along the precinct were also affected as customers queued at the temporary outlets.

Dragonfly Bar and Dining co-owner Michael Diakomichalis said it was disappointing that the council allowed temporary competition to take away customers from outdoor dining areas for which shop owners had paid rates.

"It's good (for the temporary outlets) to trade on days that suit them. We open rain or shine," he said. "It's all very romantic but we have been struggling for the past 18 months."

An Adelaide City Council spokeswoman said the vans could legally trade in any one-hour parking space and were subject to spot health and hygiene checks.

"Splash Adelaide will benefit small business and priority will be given to projects that have the strongest level of commitment from surrounding traders and property owners," she said.

She said other summer activities included road closures for alfresco dining in Rundle and Leigh streets, city bike hub, outdoor cinemas and markets. The project will run until March next year.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/city-trad ... 6228826110

[crawf]

Splash Adelaide is doing some really good things for the city at the moment, though existing owners like Marcus do raise a really good valid point.

[mattblack]

Very simple solution. Give existing traders 1st option onsites that are situated close to them as long as those traders utilise those sites on a regular basis. Its about invigorating our streets and creating a vibrant city. The existing traders could benifit greatly from this new direction.

[Nathan]

He might have a point on the coffee, but is Burger Theory really stealing his customers? They're doing Victoria Sq one lunchtime a week, and everyone in the long line is there specifically to get their burger. Hell, I know people who walk halfway across the city to get to the van.

[Envirosociocapital]

Completely agree that this is likely to be good for shopfront traders in the long run. Once people start learning they can go to Vic square for interesting, healthy, natural, quick food instead of to Hungry Jacks and McDonalds in City Cross, the trade in the area will increase substantially. More foot traffic and better atmosphere = win for all.

Secondly, there are very few marketplaces regulated so that seasonal advantages will only accrue to the enterprises who have "done the hard yards" when the weather's bad. I'm not sure if this is a good argument. What about ice cream vendors near the beach, cafes that only open for 6 months of the year or swimming pools that employ a handful of staff for 8 months then dozens when the weather turns good? Making seasonal adjustments and innovating to win trade off competitors is a central tenet of healthy competitive markets.

Perhaps food vans should have to pay a small token traders tax/rates or the like which might be based on estimated takings or similar. To make them pay up-front rates though would be counter-productive. From what I understand Delish does some pretty damn good food and coffee. Perhaps they should set up shop on the sidewalk for pastries and coffee on sunny days, then consumers can speak with their feet

[Envirosociocapital]

He might have a point on the coffee, but is Burger Theory really stealing his customers? They're doing Victoria Sq one lunchtime a week, and everyone in the long line is there specifically to get their burger. Hell, I know people who walk halfway across the city to get to the van.

I second that... I'm planning on a trip to the city tonight just to get one of these burgers. Heck, I might even buy a coffee from a nearby shopfront cafe while I'm at it

[david]

Notes from Councillor Plumridge's Desk - Issue 72

- Should Adelaide become a Slow City?
- The Power of 10
- Recent decisions of the DAP and Council on 20 December

David Plumridge
Acting Lord Mayor

Notes from Councillor Issue 72.pdf

(239.65 KiB) Downloaded 182 times

And just in response to Waewick...............
COUNCIL doesn't deal with planning approvals for buildings in the city - it is done by the Council's Development Assessment Panel which is a completely separate body with a majority of independent members (4 council members out of a total of 9) and chaired by Shanti Ditter, an independent person. So please stop knocking the Council for decisions about planning that it DOES NOT MAKE!

[Vee]

Thanks, David for the notes and the thought provoking question, Should Adelaide become a slow city?

Recently, I came across this excellent article on slower cities by Will Doig, Dream City, which could be of interest to folk on this forum.

In the future, urban bikers go faster than cars.
Cities around the world are considering radical new speed limits on cars -- slowing down in the name of progress.
Salon (Dec 18, 2011)

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/17/in_the_ ... than_cars/

[Benski81]

In actual fact 4 out of 9 members are from the Council so that's not exactly independent and this means that the council can therefore greatly influence the outcome of the DAP meetings. Case in point I got this from the council website and though it doesn't conclusively condemn the council it does illustrate an example of the influence of the council on the decisions of the DAP.

16. Item No. 4.1 ? 152?160 Grote Street, Adelaide SA 5000 DA/603/2011 [DA]
(F/DA/0603/2011,RR)
Discussion ensued.
It was then –

Moved by Councillor Wilkinson,
Seconded by Councillor Moran

That the Development Assessment Commission be advised that the development, the
subject of the application from Brown Falconer Group P/L to demolish existing buildings and
construct 17 storey (including ground level) mixed use building comprising underground and
above ground carparking, ground floor retail and apartments above ? 259 apartments at 152?
160 Grote Street, Adelaide SA 5000 as shown on plans designated DA/0603/2011 is not
considered to be seriously at variance with the provisions of the Development Plan and
proposes an approriate land use and the transformation of a underutilised allotment but the

Panel DOES NOT SUPPORT the proposal for the following reasons:
1. The desired character of the Grote and Wakefield Streets Policy Areas seeks a medium
scale and intensity built form environment presenting a high quality architectural
design. Whilst the Policy Area also calls for an “imposing townscape” along Grote Street,
by exceeding the height limit and not achieving a number of the built?form provisions
outlined below, the overall scale, intensity and impact of the development is not
considered to strengthen, achieve and is not consistent with the desired character
sought.

The proposal exceeds the maximum building height of the Policy Area of 40 metres by
8.5 metres (48.5 metres proposed excluding lift overrun)

So even though the proposal is not actually that at odds with the development plan, and even though the proposal is appropriate the DAP moves to reject based on height and this was moved and seconded by 2 council members. I know we'd need so see the actual split of the vote for this proposal and the minutes don't contain this but the panel is not exactly independent when almost half of the members are from the city council.

[Will]

Good to see the lord mayor challenging this ridiculous ruling.

From the Messenger:

Market plan stymied by narrow outlook

Council2 Feb 12 @ 07:30am by Alice Higgins


PLANS for a Saturday night market have stalled because City Council staff have deemed Moonta St too narrow.

But Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood plans to challenge their findings, saying he will pursue a detailed explanation stating why a market cannot be held in the laneway linking Grote and Gouger streets.

Council staff say they need to maintain a 1.8m-wide pathway for pedestrians.

Chinatown Association immediate past president Cathy Chong was disappointed council staff had not consulted traders before ruling out a market in Moonta St.

“I come from Malaysia and we have night markets in every precinct of every city and they are held in streets one third of the size of Moonta St,” Ms Chong said.

The City Messenger reported last September the council was investigating setting up a Saturday market in Moonta St by summer.

It wanted the market to keep the precinct bustling with people after the closure of the Central Market in the afternoon and before diners flocked to Gouger St at night.

Mr Yarwood, who will next month meet with current and past presidents of the Adelaide Chinatown Association, disagreed with the findings of council staff.

“I am yet to receive the details as to why it is too narrow and I will be pursuing a detailed explanation and challenge that assumption,” Mr Yarwood said.

[Nathan]

There were markets on Moonta St last Saturday, and whilst it did make things quite crowded, it certainly wasn't any worse than getting around the Central Markets when it's busy.

[crawf]

Moonta Street is perfect for a market.

[jk1237]

There were markets on Moonta St last Saturday, and whilst it did make things quite crowded, it certainly wasn't any worse than getting around the Central Markets when it's busy.

that was for the Chinese new year. Street markets is a good idea. Get the rest of the ACC oldies to visit the narrow street markets in chinatown, Bangkok, now they're narrow alleyways