Sensational-Adelaide.com

claybro wrote: ↑

Tue May 16, 2023 11:44 am

Well, at least it appears they are making somewhat of an effort. But those white planter cylinders? Come on guys....looks like something from some cheap renno show. This a premier location. Good to see some irrigation works, but lets hope the ACC learns how to use a corer in these high traffic areas.

Adelaide City Council to upgrade four major CBD streets after heated debate

A spending plan to upgrade the CBD’s main streets has finally been approved after years of debate.

The confirmation of Adelaide City Council’s 2023/24 budget — with an increase in rates revenue confirmed at 10 per cent — brings to an end heated debate about what was planned to be a massive spend on four main streets.

Now approved for upgrades are:

HINDLEY ST: $2.4m for detailed designs, then $12.6m for construction in 2024/25 and 2025/26.

GOUGER ST: $500,000 for plans in 2023/24, then $2m for detailed design in 2024/25 and $12.5 million for construction in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

O’CONNELL ST: $2.5m, for design in 2024/25 and $12.5 million for construction occurring in 2026/27 and 2027/28.

MELBOURNE ST: $1.5m for design work in 2025/26 and $5 million for construction in 2026/27 and 2027/28.

HUTT ST: $2.5m designs in 2024/25 and $10 million for construction occurring in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

The more modest spending came after council rejected the administration’s plans for Hindley St to be funded with $24.7m, Hutt St $30m, Melbourne St $40m and O’Connell St $45m.

But when revealed in April, the lavish plan was immediately attacked by Deputy Mayor Phillip Martin who said the “astronomical” $140m bill was about $30m more than the total of rates collected from businesses and residents each year.

His criticism was supported by Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith who said she feared no major project would be finalised by the council in its current four-year term, which began late last year.

At the Adelaide City Council meeting which approved the budget on Tuesday night, Mr Martin said; “I am delighted to be part of a council that has finally agreed to launch a main street upgrade program”.

“The previous council was deluded that it could deliver these projects but it never did.

“We talked for years and years about upgrades to Hutt St, O’Connell St, Melbourne St, and Gouger St, and that is all we did. We talked. We drew up rough plans that went out to consultation, but nothing ever happened.

“It its first budget this council has finally agreed that it will make improvements in Hindley St, in Hutt St, Gouger St, O’Connell St and Melbourne St.”

Only Councillor Henry Davis spoke against the more modest spending plan.

Mr Davis was repeatedly warned by the Lord Mayor as chair, when he delivered a passionate speech in favour of the $140m projects.

“Why are you trying to silence this, why are you afraid of this,’’ he said.

Ben wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:11 pm

I think you’ll find it’s largely related to who is elected to council. Gouger street and moonta street had a lot of money spent on them last time and the same this council term even though there is a huge list of streets far more deserving and needing.

dbl96 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:37 pm

Ben wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 28, 2023 8:11 pm

I think you’ll find it’s largely related to who is elected to council. Gouger street and moonta street had a lot of money spent on them last time and the same this council term even though there is a huge list of streets far more deserving and needing.

Gouger St would really benefit from wider footpaths, traffic calming features and a lower speed limit. It is a key pedestrian precinct, and a relatively minor street in terms of motor traffic flow, but a huge amount of space is dedicated to motor vehicles. This makes the footpaths too narrow to accommodate the large pedestrian flows and the al fresco dining which is key to the street's identity. Also, inexplicably, the speed limit is 50 - the same as the highway sized Wakefield St. This makes crossing the street much more difficult than it needs to be.

But yes, in terms of prominent streets needing a facelift, Gouger St is probably not the highest priority. Grenfell/Currie, Flinders/Franklin, King William St South and Hindley St are the ones that need it most.

In terms of small streets/lanes requiring work, I wish the council would give more attention to the other laneways in Chinatown like Field St, California St and Market St. Field St is in particular need of attention - in recent years the core of Chinatown has spread further south and Field St is lined with busy restaurants, and is a busy pedestrian thoroughfare. Yet it remains wall to wall cracked bitumen with barely a footpath and no trees in sight. In the Rundle Mall precinct, Twin St could similarly do with some attention.

Spotto wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:00 pm

Hindley Street East solution: Make it permanent one-way travelling westbound, with full closure to all vehicles during late hours. Widen the footpaths so there’s only one through lane and daytime parking on both sides

The street is bumper-to-bumper during the night anyway, so less risk of clubbers getting on the road or angry drunks raging against drivers.