[COM] Rundle Mall Redevelopment | $30m

[ChillyPhilly]

Good progress being made but still lots of bitumen patches everywhere and no sight of the promised lighting

Give it time. Businesses have been told September as a completion date.

[Wayno]

Wandered down Rundle Mall saturday evening on my way to a guitar festival gig. Noticed the illuminated seating - deep neon blue. Looks great. Hindley St end of the mall. Apologies if posted previously:

Rundle Mall Illuminated Seating

photo(1).JPG (114.33 KiB) Viewed 4427 times

[rhino]

Yes, I saw that Friday evening, thought it looked great, but I wondered why they hadn't done it on the other seating platforms further along, as it looked so good?

[pushbutton]

I had no idea they were going to illuminate the seating. I agree with the above comments that it looks great, but also needs to be done likewise on the other seats throughout the mall (and I assume it will be).

[[Shuz]]

Um have you guys not been in the mall for the past three months? It's been like that from the get-go.

[rhino]

Um have you guys not been in the mall for the past three months? It's been like that from the get-go.

Not at night, no

[Nathan]

Strangely, it's not lit up every evening. Doesn't seem to be a particular pattern as to when.

[pushbutton]

Strangely, it's not lit up every evening. Doesn't seem to be a particular pattern as to when.

Maybe it's only on those weeks that the council hasn't blown the budget on entertainment instead, or only on those weeks when an unusually high number of parking fines have been paid lol!!!

[Will]

I was standing at the corner of KWS and Hindley Street earlier today looking east down Rundle Mall. Now that most, if not all the structures in the centre of the mall have been removed, I think I can fully appreciate the design philosophy of the mall redevelopment. From where I was standing you had clear vistas all the way towards Rundle Street. This allowed one to have clear and unobstructed views of all the buildings in the mall. The perception created by 500 metres or so of mid-rise mainly neo-classical buildings was actually quite attractive and gave the appearance of sophistication.

My only criticism is that there should be more forceful attempts to floodlight all the attractive buildings in the mall at night. This would enhance this sensation of majesty created by the clear sight lines. Furthermore I hope the council increases the incentives available to property owners to restore the facades of buildings butchered in the 50-70s.

[crawf]

Noticed there was a mini festival in Rundle Mall on Thursday evening, with a couple of food trucks and a Fringe-style show in a mini tent. It definitely enhanced the unique atmosphere of Rundle Mall even in appalling cold conditions. Great stuff

When are the catenary lights being installed?

[Matt]

My only criticism is that there should be more forceful attempts to floodlight all the attractive buildings in the mall at night. This would enhance this sensation of majesty created by the clear sight lines. Furthermore I hope the council increases the incentives available to property owners to restore the facades of buildings butchered in the 50-70s.

This.

[Wayno]

Furthermore I hope the council increases the incentives available to property owners to restore the facades of buildings butchered in the 50-70s.

The ACCs heritage incentive scheme (HIS) is quite generous as it stands today. 50% of costs up to a limit. However as I understand the HIS kitty contains heaps of spare cash (think arsenal) so increased generosity is probably warranted for select buildings.

I wonder if the ACC approaches building owners about this program? instead of waiting for them to take the initiative: http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/asse ... -flyer.pdf

Minor Projects:
Funding of 50% of the total costs up to a maximum grant of $20k.

Major Projects (projects over $40k in total):
Funding of 50% of the total costs up to a maximum of $100k, and 25% of the remaining costs up to a maximum grant of $150k (the total funding for a major project cannot exceed
a grant of $250k).

Possible works include:
• re-roofing works
• verandah works
• salt damp treatment
• paint removal and re-pointing works
• front fence works

[tomo]

Eucalyptus trees would not have worked in the tight confines of the mall for numerous reasons, including adherence to a main chunk of the design ethos envisioned by the architect.... as to the idea that they do not belong else where in the city and the suburbs...?!?! They would've worked an absolute treat in Victoria Square.

They did use them in Victoria Square, remember the big uproar? People, including members of the council, were complaining that Eucalyptus was not an ideal choice because they shed limbs and branches easily, causing mess and becoming a safety hazard. It's true they shouldn't be planted anywhere in a city. They are bush trees and they don't call them 'widow makers' for nothing.

This is a discussion from sometime ago but I've heard further grumblings about the planting of Eucalyptus trees in city landscapes and wonder why Australians are so poorly educated about them. The reality is that Eucalyptus trees are not single species. I think people know that but they seem unaware of that actually means when it comes to landscaping with them. With over 700 species they are an immensely diverse genus. I have a small garden so I've decided to use them as pot plants. The pots are large but not that large, about a meter in height. The problem with landscaping of Victoria square and Rundle Mall is that they fail to use trees that would make it more unique or at least a distinctly Australian/South Australian. It is just another page torn from a European or American magazine or should say downloaded.

[Wayno]

This is a discussion from sometime ago but I've heard further grumblings about the planting of Eucalyptus trees in city landscapes and wonder why Australians are so poorly educated about them. The reality is that Eucalyptus trees are not single species. I think people know that but they seem unaware of that actually means when it comes to landscaping with them. With over 700 species they are an immensely diverse genus. I have a small garden so I've decided to use them as pot plants. The pots are large but not that large, about a meter in height. The problem with landscaping of Victoria square and Rundle Mall is that they fail to use trees that would make it more unique or at least a distinctly Australian/South Australian. It is just another page torn from a European or American magazine or should say downloaded.

Interesting first post Tomo. Welcome to the S-A forum.

My technical knowledge of trees is limited to whether they look attractive, give shade, attract birds, drip sap, and drop leaves (or even whole limbs as is the case with some Australian natives, sometimes with disastrous consequences). Not sure your average aussie should be educated on the 700 variants, but maybe some education to debunk myths would be good.

What variety of Australian native trees could have suited Rundle Mall & Vic Square?

[Maximus]

Perhaps Tomo is this guy...?

Dean Nicolle is a consultant arborist, botanist and ecologist specialising in the systematics and ecology of the eucalypts (genera Angophora, Eucalyptus and Corymbia) and in the arboricultural assessment of trees.

Currency Creek Arboretum is a specialist eucalypt arboretum ('zoo of trees'), with its main purpose being research into Australia's most dominant natural group of plants, the eucalypts. The arboretum has the largest collection of eucalypt species in the world, with over 900 species and subspecies (and over 7000 individual plants) having been planted on the site. The arboretum has been established and is managed by Dean Nicolle.