Adelaide City Council staff have cut four Hindley St upgrades since 2013

Major projects to improve the city’s “ugly cousin”, Hindley St, were axed by Adelaide City Council staff without approval by elected members.

‘Ugly cousin’ … Hindley St in Adelaide’s CBD has had four different upgrades quietly axed by city council staff. Picture: AAP / Mark Bake

Major projects to improve the city’s “ugly cousin”, Hindley St, were axed by Adelaide City Council staff without approval by elected members.

Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad has launched a broadside at staff after it was revealed they had abandoned four council-endorsed proposals since 2013.

Chief executive Mark Goldstone has conceded staff had taken an “an inadequate approach to Hindley St”.

The King William St entry to Hindley St. Picture: AAP / Mark Bake

Upgrades between King William and Morphett streets and three planning projects for the party strip and the broader West End, including a Hindley St masterplan, were quietly shelved. Cr Abiad said urgent action was needed.

“This is long overdue. Previous council administration and parts of this administration have ignored Hindley St, especially between King William and Morphett streets,” he said. “It is a significant tourism destination for the city. It requires day economic activity and day retail offerings as well.

“The state of the street is not providing enough safety for revellers.”

The Sunday Mail revealed last year that a push to make Hindley St a one-way street between Morphett and King William streets had been revived following an incident involving a pedestrian.

Footpaths would be widened to create a tree-lined boulevard, costing $15.5 million.

An artist impression of a one-way part of Hindley St, proposed last year.

Cr Abiad said that should be an option.

“We need to have some serious conversations about it,” he said. “Hindley St can no longer be Adelaide’s ugly cousin.

“(One of them should be) considering one-way streets as possibility. The State Government needs to come to the game on this.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said Hindley St had been an “ongoing frustration”.

“(But) it is something that we can look at and start doing some implementation in the area,” she said.