Sensational-Adelaide.com

Prince George wrote: I think you're jumping at shadows on this one, Wayno; in every place that I've heard about having community gardens, they have been predominantly growing food crops. Seattle has a bunch of them, including at least one in a downtown neighbourhood that has one of the highest levels of homelessness in the country (there are more homeless in Seatttle than in, say, San Francisco) and drug-related problems, and that is also thick with new condo towers and high-end restaurants. If there was going to be social problems, you'd see it in places like that, but as far as I can see it's been a real success. If you want to learn more about it, you could even buy the book.

In fact, I'd be happy to see this taken further - what if we created a legitimate urban farm specifically for the homeless? A few acres for producing food for the most vulnerable part of our society, and a place where they could contribute their own time and effort to gain more control over their own lives. Man, that would be so cool.

That's an intriguing idea, especially as you envisage homeless people contributing to the care-taking of such plots. As isolated and often distressed members of society, it would be an opportunity for them to re-socialise and feel invested in their futures. Come to think of it, this is an idea I think the folks at Common Ground should be interested in.

As for community gardens, I think they make little sense unless they are at least to some extent productive. It's nice that people garden together, as at Christie Walk, but it's better if they grow together. We ought to be encouraged to reintegrate into the food cycle not only because we'll appreciate it more but also, with all that climate change portends, we'll be a lot better placed in having at least some degree of self-sufficiency. So, I'm heartened by the increasing numbers of community gardens about the place, and by initiatives like Stephanie Alexander's School Kitchen Garden Project.

What's going on with the Hungry George site on Hindley Streets at the moment? Definitely a great location for this kind of thing.

Wayno wrote:Fenced Dog Park?: i thought fenced areas were considered a general no-no for the parklands? hoping the people canvased for opinion goes further than Nth Adelaide.

Most children's playgrounds in the Parklands are fenced. Similar principle; keep the tots/dogs in?

I wonder if the ACC has ever investigated having zebra pedestrian crossings in the city. Having just been in the most pedestrian friendly streets of Christchurch and Wellington, which have zebra crossings everywhere. I went into town yesterday and the first thing I noticed were wide streets filled with fast cars and you even felt unsafe crossing at traffic lights because of the cars turning right and not even realising that pedestrians are crossing. If theres one thing our city needs to improve is cars v people. Currently everything is geared towards cars. Even the lights at Rundle Mall/Pulteney have been altered to give double the time for traffic flow along Pulteney. It causes pedestrians to be inpatient which then causes many people to try and cross in between speeding cars caus the lights take an eternity to switch. Its crap, absolute crap.
Zebra crossings would be perfect around the squares. Just look at Hindmarsh. People constantly cross between the quadrants away from the lights, and there seem to be a few near misses. There should be a zebra crossing on Grenfell St near the new RAA (conservatory), and the Griffins head, for example. Why should Grenfell Street be a major arterial road

From my understanding zebra crossings are illegal within South Australia

^^ They're definetly legal. Australia has national road rules now - hook turns and tram lanes are technically on the books in Perth and Brisbane.

I agree with jk in principle. I don't understand why SA is the only (?) state that doesn't even mark left turn slip lanes with zebra crossings - very pedestrian unfriendly.
Rundle and Hindley Streets could do with a few crossings along its length. There's but a few around. The Morphette St's slipway to North Tce, for example.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&sour ... 44.09,,0,5

The city and suburbs in all eastern state cities are full of zebra crossings. Even Canberra beats Adelaide in this regard.

Pistol wrote:From my understanding zebra crossings are illegal within South Australia

Mawson Lakes has one by the Boatdeck Cafe - Salisbury has one in Gawler Street at John Street.

There's a few in Unley too, with flashing lights.

jk1237 wrote:I wonder if the ACC has ever investigated having zebra pedestrian crossings in the city.

I think you'll find it's the pandas that are coming to Adelaide. Easily confused with their black & white cousins, the zebra. So there'll be no call for zebra crossings in Adelaide. How about panda crossings? Ooh wouldn't the Zoo love the cross-promo?

jk1237 wrote:Having just been in the most pedestrian friendly streets of Christchurch and Wellington, which have zebra crossings everywhere. I went into town yesterday and the first thing I noticed were wide streets filled with fast cars and you even felt unsafe crossing at traffic lights because of the cars turning right and not even realising that pedestrians are crossing. If there's one thing our city needs to improve is cars v people. Currently everything is geared towards cars. Even the lights at Rundle Mall/Pulteney have been altered to give double the time for traffic flow along Pulteney. It causes pedestrians to be inpatient which then causes many people to try and cross in between speeding cars because the lights take an eternity to switch. Its crap, absolute crap.
Zebra crossings would be perfect around the squares. Just look at Hindmarsh. People constantly cross between the quadrants away from the lights, and there seem to be a few near misses. There should be a zebra crossing on Grenfell St near the new RAA (conservatory), and the Griffins head, for example. Why should Grenfell Street be a major arterial road

(I feel a rant coming on)
I think you'll find the reason why people cross against the lights at the Rundle/Pulteney intersection is because of the same reason they cross unsafely at every intersection - they are asshats. Some Adelaide pedestrians and drivers really need to learn some sense and patience. Drivers and pedestrians predicting lights and starting before time is the most common idiocy. Closely followed by drivers who, in peak period, decide to enter blocked intersections, and then look the fool after the lights change and they are stuck in the middle blocking traffic.
(Yep I was right)

Adelaide does need to look at the pedestrian situation, the condition of footpath pavement is a problem. Even when the council goes to great expense to replace pavement, motorists drive up onto the curb and break the paving flags. Bent Street is a classic example. The council replaced all the paving down the wide side (alongside the Internode building) with brand spanking concrete flags, then had the road resurfaced. The problem being that the workers who resurfaced the road drove their vehicles all over the footpath. Now the entire length of the new footpath is broken and a trip hazard. Some of the flags have cracked an crumbled leaving holes. The entire length has parts that are unstable underfoot.

Second widespread problem; I know Adelaide doesn't see much rainfall, but when it does it shows the pavement installer's complete lack of drainage knowledge. Puddles collect in the middle of the footpath all around the CBD. A great example is the pedestrian lights outside CityCross. When it rains a 10cm deep and 4m wide pool collects there. Footpaths need to be somewhat level and slope slightly toward the gutter. Basic stuff.

Third widespread problem; street furniture. Parking signs occupy a good half metre of all footpaths. In some areas (eg Gawler place) this means that a high foot traffic pathway is reduced to one way. In other areas bus stops, benches, sign poles, telephone booths, rubbish bins, bike rests, and retailer's sandwich boards reduce the footpaths to an unnavigable clutter.

We need a more holistic and intelligent approach to the problem.

I reserve the right to give angry glares to people who dither unnecessarily.

- Something like that.

Notes from Councillor David Plumridge - Issue 40

- Hindley Street
- Secrecy at Town Hall
Some recent decisions

David,

I always enjoy reading your newsletters even if I don't always agree with your opinions. They provide a fascinating glimpse of the process of Council and I'm sure all of the site's members appreciate your taking the time posting them. The fact that they're always so jammed packed with text shows you clearly have lots you want to share with us. Have you ever thought of disregarding the two page format in favour of more space to express your thoughts?

Cheers.

Apologies I have not been around of late – MBA, baby (and teenager!), council life and a holiday got me out of sync...as you can imagine.

I will do my best to drop in more often, keeping in mind I am now on the Development Assessment Panel and thus limited in what I can say at times.

Personally going to be a busy year – I will finish my MBA in July. 2 subjects will be done in Melbourne at the only Foresight and Futures school in Australia - Swinburne University. Also hoping to finish my studies by doing the compulsory “Global Business” at summer school in Denmark – if I get the scholarship!

As for council – I have a few interesting motions on notice up my sleeve – some which you will like for sure. And I have not ruled out running for Lord Mayor if I think I could win…

Open to questions and hope to get some good ideas. Also happy to chase information up to help in your deliberations.

Cheers

Clr. always appreciate your input and updates on our great city. Pity about so much confidentiality but looking forward to info on VSQ.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE