Sensational-Adelaide.com

"Rundle Mall is dying"

Editorial: Victoria Square integral to our city overhaul

From: The Advertiser June 15, 2011 11:00PM

VICTORIA Square must not become the forgotten element in Adelaide's imminent rejuvenation.

Adelaide City Council last year released - to great fanfare and acclaim - plans for the square's overhaul. It included cafes, trees, wetlands and open space at a price of up to $100 million.

The council this week came within moments of dumping its $24 million commitment to the build.

The lack of state or federal cash in the short term was cited as the main fear. From conception, the Victoria Square project was always intended to progress in stages.

Former lord mayor Michael Harbison was adamant the council could start work without outside money.

He pointed to the North Tce upgrade as a model for what could be done over time.

However, the same business case that applies for the Adelaide Oval upgrade naturally applies for Victoria Square.

A relatively small investment of public funding will promote private activity that flows back into the state economy.

The Waymouth, Franklin and Gouger street precinct is blossoming and redeveloping the square will accelerate the process.

The Government is working on a master-plan process for the Riverbank precinct and that area stretches back to Victoria Square.

It is a necessary piece in the puzzle and will become increasingly important when football at Adelaide Oval draws an extra 50,000 people into the city on game days.

Those people will be eager to spend money before and after the matches and Victoria Square will help draw them towards the Gouger St precinct.

In the world of pragmatic politics, support for a Victoria Square redevelopment already under way could become a vote winner as the next state election approaches.

If the square remains dormant, it is almost certain neither side of politics will pitch in.

The success of the SACA vote on the Oval redevelopment will be viewed as a landmark in the state's history.

The Government is already referring to the new stadium as "psychological infrastructure" and has heralded approval for the build as a shift in thinking for a city of self-doubters.

The debate over Victoria Square appears to be afflicted with the worst elements of the thinking that has held the city back for so long.

It is almost failing before it begins because the proponents assume it is doomed to fail.

The converse appears true. If the City Council holds true to its word and breaks ground before year's end, the progress made will encourage assistance to come from outside sources.

As Integrated Design Commissioner Tim Horton has argued, the Riverbank, Rundle Mall and Victoria Square development are not isolated precincts in competition, they are critical pieces of a whole.

Will wrote:It's a shame the editor doesn't enforce this type of quality on the rest of the newspaper.

Will wrote:Another excellent editorial from the Advertiser.

It's a shame the editor doesn't enforce this type of quality on the rest of the newspaper.

Editorial: Victoria Square integral to our city overhaul

From: The Advertiser June 15, 2011 11:00PM

VICTORIA Square must not become the forgotten element in Adelaide's imminent rejuvenation.

Adelaide City Council last year released - to great fanfare and acclaim - plans for the square's overhaul. It included cafes, trees, wetlands and open space at a price of up to $100 million.

The council this week came within moments of dumping its $24 million commitment to the build.

The lack of state or federal cash in the short term was cited as the main fear. From conception, the Victoria Square project was always intended to progress in stages.

Former lord mayor Michael Harbison was adamant the council could start work without outside money.

He pointed to the North Tce upgrade as a model for what could be done over time.

However, the same business case that applies for the Adelaide Oval upgrade naturally applies for Victoria Square.

A relatively small investment of public funding will promote private activity that flows back into the state economy.

The Waymouth, Franklin and Gouger street precinct is blossoming and redeveloping the square will accelerate the process.

The Government is working on a master-plan process for the Riverbank precinct and that area stretches back to Victoria Square.

It is a necessary piece in the puzzle and will become increasingly important when football at Adelaide Oval draws an extra 50,000 people into the city on game days.

Those people will be eager to spend money before and after the matches and Victoria Square will help draw them towards the Gouger St precinct.

In the world of pragmatic politics, support for a Victoria Square redevelopment already under way could become a vote winner as the next state election approaches.

If the square remains dormant, it is almost certain neither side of politics will pitch in.

The success of the SACA vote on the Oval redevelopment will be viewed as a landmark in the state's history.

The Government is already referring to the new stadium as "psychological infrastructure" and has heralded approval for the build as a shift in thinking for a city of self-doubters.

The debate over Victoria Square appears to be afflicted with the worst elements of the thinking that has held the city back for so long.

It is almost failing before it begins because the proponents assume it is doomed to fail.

The converse appears true. If the City Council holds true to its word and breaks ground before year's end, the progress made will encourage assistance to come from outside sources.

As Integrated Design Commissioner Tim Horton has argued, the Riverbank, Rundle Mall and Victoria Square development are not isolated precincts in competition, they are critical pieces of a whole.

Adelaide City Council to resubmit for Victoria Square development funds

Daniel Wills From: The Advertiser June 29, 2011 12:00AM

ADELAIDE City Council is preparing a formal Victoria Square funding proposal to put to the State Government.

Council documents show the project was only "discussed informally" with the State Government before the Budget.

City of Adelaide Minister John Rau said he understood there had never been a formal request for funding delivered to the Government.

"They'd have to formally approach us about a particular proposal and then it would be considered at the time," he said yesterday.

The council has allocated $24 million of ratepayers' money to the project but needs higher governments or the private sector to pitch in and help deliver the full $100 million build.

The council this month reaffirmed its backing for the project despite calls to shift the money to Rundle Mall in the absence of any state or federal money.

Council documents reveal a "formal funding proposal" is being made to the State Government over "upcoming months."

The documents also confirm the council has asked for Federal Government money through the Regional Development Australia fund. The first lot of grants from the fund will be announced as soon as next month with a second round expected to be allocated in October.

Premier Mike Rann yesterday said he was willing to discuss funding with the council and invited them to place it on the next Capital City Committee agenda.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood did not respond to a request for comment.

Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran said she believed the Victoria Square overhaul was now "dead in the water".

"I was blind-sighted that we hadn't asked formally for Victoria Square for this Budget," she said.

"The State Government is pouring money into Adelaide Oval and the Riverbank so I will be very surprised if they will be coming up with $50 million plus for a square that is out of their zone at the moment."

The Victoria Square plan includes performance spaces, cafes and a big screen for

major sporting and cultural broadcasts.

Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the council was still committed to the development of Victoria Square.