Riverbank pretty pictures not yet a plan
Development in the “airspace” over the city’s rail lines, two new pedestrian bridges over the Torrens, and a new crossing on King William Road are all being floated as potential visions for Adelaide’s riverbank.
The ideas, some of which have been sourced from the public, are all possible inclusions in Adelaide’s Riverbank Integration Masterplan.
However, despite being officially launched on Sunday by Renewal SA – in addition to a State Government launch last Monday complete with flyover – the plan itself has not been written yet.
Renewal SA is still publically consulting on a range of ideas which may or may not be included in the final plan.
Many of the projects currently up for discussion – including a swimming pool on the banks of the Torrens – have not had any detailed work done on them by Renewal SA and are literally nothing more than artists’ impressions.
“Yesterday was really the formal launch of a month-long formal consultation process,” Renewal SA head Fred Hansen told InDaily.
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“This is the balancing act that has to be always done at this stage. You want to give enough detail so it sparks people’s ideas.
“But you don’t want to get so much down as if it’s already decided – why bother asking me, if you’ve already made up your minds.”
The website for the plan lists several ideas, which Hansen said had been worked out to varying levels of detail.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER THE RAIL YARDS. This project was needed to connect the new Royal Adelaide Hospital with the river, Hansen said.
The bridge was likely to be the first stage of eventual development over the top of the train lines.
Hansen expected eventually other businesses would develop in the “airspace” over the lines by building supporting structures over them, as the Convention Centre had already done.
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TWO NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES across the Torrens. They are slated to cross the Torrens east of King William Road, one on either side of the existing university footbridge.
The two new bridges are the key to creating an unbroken pedestrian and cycle “River Path” between Hackney and Bowden. The path and the bridges are among the most detailed elements in the plan.
A CITY POOL. The pool has been illustrated on the north bank of the Torrens. Hansen said the idea – the “least detailed” part of the plan – had come from public consultation in March on the Riverbank Masterplan.
“We weren’t even thinking of something like a city pool,” Hansen told InDaily.
“We tried to reflect that here, but not with great detail. It was really just to be able to have it as a concept.”
NEW WETLANDS in Bonython Park, which could be used to improve water quality in the Torrens.
TRAFFIC LIGHTS for King William Road. At the moment there is only one pedestrian crossing between the CBD’s square mile and the River. The six-lane road is a major impediment to Renewal SA’s vision of an unbroken north-south path.
Hansen described the current situation as dangerous, and said the plan was looking at ways to add a new pedestrian crossing to King William Road.
WAR MEMORIAL WALK along Kintore Avenue. This project, considered by Renewal SA to be a short-term priority, would include a range of streetscape upgrades to the area including wider footpaths between Rundle Mall and the river.
A public survey attached to the project sheds some light on Renewal SA’s priorities.
Questions on the proposed pedestrian paths through the Riverbank are included, as are questions about a new entertainment plaza near the Festival Centre. The pool is not mentioned.
Survey-takers are asked to pick between three short-term projects – the War Memorial walk, the Royal Adelaide Hospital pedestrian bridge, and improvements to the existing river path.
One of the firm details in the plan is the finish date for the entire masterplan– South Australia’s bicentary year, 2036.
