Adelaide City Council reopens Gawler Place after $17.6m upgrade
Another thoroughfare has officially been reclaimed from cars and opened for the people, but opinions are already divided on the new-look lane and its hefty price tag. VOTE IN THE POLL
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A $17.6 million upgrade of one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares has opened today in what has been labelled a “once in a generation” opportunity to spruce up the area.
However, the project – which came in at $9.7 million over its original budget – has divided traders and passers-by on whether it was worth the hefty price tag.
Adelaide City Council reopened the street, which straddles Rundle Mall, on Tuesday.
It has wider footpaths, new pavers, parking for bikes, public art, more trees, improved lighting and more seating.
The upgrade was costed at $7.85 million when it was announced in 2016, but blew out to $16.96 million last year because of complexities around undergrounding services.
Nearly another $1 million was added to the cost in August this year because work was expanded to nearby Featherstone Place.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor defended the cost, saying it was a “once in a generation” opportunity to improve the area.
“We have actually future-proofed the area for the next 50 years, as well as created a beautiful pedestrian space, ” Ms Verschoor said.
“(The cost) has been worth it because of the amount of undergrounding that had to happen (like) stormwater.”
“Any of the other options (we were considering) would have meant that within 10 years we would have been back underground trying to re-fix the surface.”
More than 16,000 people use the southern section of Gawler Place each day, while a further 9500 use its northern section.
The upgrade includes 800m of stormwater and drainage, 35,000 pavers, three pieces of public art and 15 mature trees.
Rundle Mall Management general manager Johanna Williams said the redevelopment would support traders.
“As one of the city’s most significant links, an upgraded Gawler Place now becomes a place in itself, complementing private investment and further improving the customer experience,” she said.
However traders and pedestrians were divided about whether the upgrade was a success.
Pei-ru Chen, of Marion, was adamant it was not money well spent.
“It’s just looks like concrete, so of course not,” Ms Chen said.
Maslin Beach resident Minka Lock said the precinct did not look “dingy” anymore.
“Maybe not worth $18 million, but it looks good,” Ms Lock said.
John Lawry, of Leabrook, supported any investment in infrastructure.
“I like the way there is an integration (between both sides) and the sense that this is a people space, rather than a car space,” he said.
Just Bliss Chocolates manager Yasemin Uisal said while the shop lost trade while the work was being carried out, the final product was worth the money.
“We dealt with the dust every single day, but finally it is open and looks amazing – 10 times better than before,” Ms Uisal said.
Gawler Place last had a major upgrade in the 1960s.
The project was part of the 2011 Rundle Mall Masterplan, and the next step would be looking into the bus corridor down Grenfell and Currie streets.
