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

[AtD]

It's probably because the Casino have been demanding tax concessions and relaxed regulations as a sweetener to kick off the project, not to mention their moaning about the actions of Labor on a federal level. Conlon is probably telling them to stfu and stop expending hand outs.

Well done to the Tiser for including that bit of info and keeping their readers informed.

[Nort]

It seems fairly clear to me at least that both the Casino and the government know the expansion will go ahead, but also are putting out a bit of misdirection in the hope of getting a slightly better deal.

[metro]

some news from the state budget:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... 000001.htm

Mr Snelling says some capital works will be delayed to reduce spending by $396 million over four years.

Standardisation of the rail network, electrification of the Outer Harbor line and redevelopment work at the Adelaide Convention Centre will be delayed until 2016.

[Waewick]

hardly suprising.

nice election platform though

[bm7500]

some news from the state budget:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011 ... 000001.htm

Mr Snelling says some capital works will be delayed to reduce spending by $396 million over four years.

Standardisation of the rail network, electrification of the Outer Harbor line and redevelopment work at the Adelaide Convention Centre will be delayed until 2016.

What a bother! This is a development that is critical to the sucess of the Riverside development as a whole and its basically been put in the bin now. Lets face it, Labor have got buckleys chance of getting back in at the next election and who knows what the Liberals plans are.

One step forwards with Adelaide Oval and two steps backwards with this

[Zills]

What a bother! This is a development that is critical to the sucess of the Riverside development as a whole and its basically been put in the bin now. Lets face it, Labor have got buckleys chance of getting back in at the next election and who knows what the Liberals plans are.

One step forwards with Adelaide Oval and two steps backwards with this

Want a kleenex mate?

[bm7500]

What a bother! This is a development that is critical to the sucess of the Riverside development as a whole and its basically been put in the bin now. Lets face it, Labor have got buckleys chance of getting back in at the next election and who knows what the Liberals plans are.

One step forwards with Adelaide Oval and two steps backwards with this

Want a kleenex mate?

It's my opinion and i'm entitled to it smart ass!

[crawf]

It's only been delayed by a year or two, hasn't been axed.

[Will]

I suspect that the delay will apply to stage 2 of the project.

I doubt they would delay stage 1, which is the extension between the current centre and Morphett Road, as the convention centre has already taken bookings for it.

[Xaragmata]

From Wednesday - Regattas steelwork is being erected quickly...

[UrbanSG]

Only Stage 2 is being delayed according to this article. It explains why we haven't seen the final plans that were due in March. Planning for the Festival Theatre refurb has also been budgeted for this year. About time!!!

Big projects deferred to spare bottom line
John Ferguson
From: The Australian June 10, 2011 12:00AM

KEY health and transport infrastructure projects will be delayed to save almost $400 million as part of the Rann government's debt reduction strategy.
The move threatens to alienate Labor's support in key electorates, with the government forced to target some sensitive growth areas.

Rather than dumping major projects, Treasurer Jack Snelling opted to push some of the big spending into future years.

The spending cuts include delaying the latest redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Noarlunga Health Service redevelopment.

Stage 3A of the QEH redevelopment has been delayed to start in 2013-14, resulting in a $30m budget saving, while delaying stage two of the Noarlunga Health Service redevelopment to 2013-14 will save $24m over four years.

Mr Snelling said the delays were essential to keep the state's net debt contained and flowed on from the cuts in commonwealth GST payments. The cuts were small when compared with the $9.1 billion infrastructure investment over the next four years. "We're talking about a very small proportion of that," he said. But the decision to delay key projects will expose the government to claims of broken promises and accusations that other projects will face the knife in future.

South Australia is likely to have a new Labor leader when it goes to the polls in less than three years.

Mr Snelling said he was forced to make changes to the major project timetable to protect the state's bottom line.

The standardisation of the state's rail network has been rescheduled and will start in 2015-16, while the Outer Harbor rail electrification project will follow the same timeframe.

These two measures will save $193m, while the replacement of the plenary building at Adelaide's Convention Centre will not begin until 2015-16, cutting spending in this budget by $108m.
Mr Snelling said when the budget was framed, the focus was on vulnerable South Australians.

Debt was a key part of his concerns, with net debt forecast to peak at $4.2bn in 2013-14, before falling to $3.6bn in 2014-15.

"This debt is akin to a household with a yearly income of $100,000 having a mortgage of around $26,000 -- a moderate amount of debt," he said.

[bm7500]

Thanks Urban, that makes things a bit clearer and i'm pleased that stage 1 is still progressing.

[[Shuz]]

Just to clarify;

Stage 1 is expanding the Convention Centre westwards to the Morphett Street Bridge, and Stage 2 is demolishing the 1980s Exhbition Centre to the east, and building a new building there also?

[ml69]

Just to clarify;

Stage 1 is expanding the Convention Centre westwards to the Morphett Street Bridge, and Stage 2 is demolishing the 1980s Exhbition Centre to the east, and building a new building there also?

Correct. However what you refer to as the Exhibition Centre in stage 2 is actually the original Convention Centre (blocky pink building next to Intercontinental hotel).

[Howie]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6075284913

Adelaide tower project to renew ugly riverside plaza
Michael Owen, SA Political Reporter
From: The Australian
June 15, 2011 12:00AM


The Rann government is negotiating for a $100 million business and residential tower to be built behind Parliament House, with some space to be reserved for parliamentary services and government departments.

The multi-storey mixed-use tower is a concept understood to be favoured by the government to revitalise the southern plaza of the Festival Centre. The plaza is an eyesore behind Parliament House and next to the Adelaide Casino that is not used by Adelaideans.

The southern plaza opened in 1977 with a controversial environmental sculpture by West German artist Otto Hajek, but the concrete garden concept never took off and it remains one of the city's most under-utilised public spaces.

The Australian understands the proposed tower would take up at least 20,000sqm, with residential apartments on the north, facing the River Torrens and Adelaide Oval, and commercial and government offices on the south facing the CBD. It is understood commercial agreements are being exchanged between stakeholders in the precinct.

Under legislation governing the ASER precinct, stakeholders in that part of the riverfront area including the casino, Intercontinental Hotel, Convention Centre, Festival Theatre and state government must agree on any significant development.

The Adelaide Station and Environs Redevelopment precinct makes up the southern city side of the Torrens riverfront. The area is considered prime real estate as a footbridge proposed across the Torrens would link the $535m redeveloped Adelaide Oval to the Festival Centre Plaza and its surrounds in 2014.

A source familiar with the talks said Infrastructure Minister Pat Conlon was the "driving force" behind the proposed tower development. "The concept of a mixed-use tower is a trigger to then redevelop the surrounds, which would include retail, tourism and tie in with the footbridge to complement the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval," the source said.

Mr Conlon has been involved in confidential talks with stakeholders since late last year.

A spokesman for Mr Conlon said the minister was aware of the proposed development, but no arrangements were yet in place.

It is understood Mr Conlon's ministerial office could also be moved to the new tower.

"The government is currently undertaking a master plan process," the spokesman said. "But negotiations cannot proceed with surety until the Adelaide Oval legislation passes parliament."

A spokesman for the Adelaide Casino said: "We very much want to be a part of the transformation of the riverbank precinct."

Parliament House is running at capacity and the government is desperate to find additional space for MPs and staff.

Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond said the plaza was an "eyesore" and there was a need for more office space adjacent to the parliament.

"But if it means government investment at the moment, I don't think our economy is such we can afford it," she said.

"I'd have a big question mark over the availability of that land for private ownership, in terms of residential apartments. There are a huge number of questions."