The Adelaide City Council’s draft strategic plan, released today, slates redevelopments for the Adelaide Central Market Arcade, Grenfell and Currie Streets and the CBD’s laneways, among other projects by 2020.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said several major upgrades to city infrastructure flagged in the document were “urgent”.

Grenfell, Currie streets

Among them was an overhaul of Grenfell and Currie Streets, in preparation for or adaptation to the extra buses that would be using the road once the new O-Bahn is complete.

“When the O-Bahn system is done it’s going to lift the number of buses [using the street] by 30 per cent,” said Haese.

“It’s a fairly intensely trafficked road already.

“The road surface barely copes – there needs to be work done there.”

The draft strategic plan says the East-West roadway could become a “public transport boulevard”.

“We’re in discussions with [the State] Government” about the roadway, said Haese, however, “there’s no design at this point in time”.

City council CEO Mark Goldstone told InDaily the council was researching surface treatments used around Australia that could help Grenfell Street cope with the increased traffic.

Haese said that while there needed to be a redevelopment of the street, nearby car parks meant closing the East-West thoroughfare to cars – originally proposed by then Thinker in Residence Fred Hansen – would be impractical.

Central Market Arcade

A master plan for the central market arcade will be completed by 2017 and redevelopments will begin by 2019, according to the draft plan.

The arcade’s lease ends in 2018, and businesses will be looking to the council, which owns the building, for what happens next.

Haese calls the redevelopment a “once in a 100-year opportunity”, with potential for a multi-storey development.

What council decides to do with the area may also affect the future of the Sir Samuel Way courts building, and will be a key consideration for an overhaul of Victoria Square.

Laneways

The draft strategic plan stresses the importance of the laneways that connect the Adelaide Railway Station to the Central Market, and the laneways that emanate from Rundle Mall – especially Gawler Place.

The Adelaide Railway Station to Adelaide Central Market link and Rundle Mall laneways, including Gawler Place are “priorities for completion by 2018”.

Haese told InDaily that there was “great potential” for Gawler Place to become a “piazza” with restaurants, outdoor dining, and upgraded pedestrian access.

He said elements of the 20-year Rundle Mall Master Plan, including the Gawler Place upgrades, could be expedited.

The grand plans are not set in stone – the draft strategic plan will be considered by the council next Tuesday before being put out for public consultation.