Adelaide City Council to create new CBD plan to turn city into world’s most liveable

A new city high school? Overhauled public transport? Better housing? Could this new plan turn Adelaide into the world’s most liveable city? Poll: Have your say.

Population growth, another city high school, more affordable housing and an overhaul of public transport would be examined as part of a comprehensive new plan for the Adelaide CBD.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor and Adelaide City Council chief executive Clare Mockler want to develop the high-level plan as part of a strategy to turn Adelaide into the world’s most liveable city.

It will be the first time a comprehensive strategic document detailing a future vision for the CBD has been prepared in three decades.

The support of elected members to commit council resources to the project will be sought during a briefing on Tuesday night.

Ms Verschoor said the council needed to strategically invest “in making Adelaide a vibrant and culturally alive city where our people have the jobs, opportunities and lifestyle they want in Australia’s most liveable city”.

“If our ambition is to increase our city population to 50,000 by 2041 then we need to plan where and how the growth is going to be managed and how we are going to best cater for the evolution of our city,” she said.

Adelaide City Council chief executive Clare Mockler and Lord Mayor, Sandy Verschoor. Picture: Supplied

“A city plan is our road map as to how to achieve that.”

Ms Verschoor said the plan would address critical issues such as transport, education, digital infrastructure, housing, the parklands, sport and recreation facilities, cultural institutions, links to Adelaide Airport, land use and zoning, main street precinct rejuvenation and population growth.

“If we are going to have more children in the city, then where are the playspaces? Do we need another school? If we’re going to have more pets, then where are the dog parks? How far away is anyone in the city to the green, open space of our Park Lands? What cultural infrastructure – libraries, community centres, city sheds – is needed and where they should be located?” Ms Verschoor said.

“It will allow us to imagine the city as a multitude of separate but connected spaces and places. Destinations for the best dining areas, to see performances and exhibitions, to go to night clubs or quiet places for reflection.”

The plan would guide council projects on climate action, greening of streets, parklands management, infrastructure and asset maintenance plans and main street masterplans.

“In essence, all future development must talk to the city plan, any access strategy must talk to the plan, the Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy, all of the main streets, assets and infrastructure plans, in fact everything should connect to the city plan,” she said.

“And then in turn, the city plan is an integral part of the Greater Adelaide Plan.”

Council chief executive Clare Mockler said the city plan would provide certainty to business and help attract investment to Adelaide.

“The state government is now reviewing the 30-Year Plan For Greater Adelaide which is how growth and investment will evolve in the state over the next 30 years and what the city plan will do is talk to that in the context of the city,” Ms Mockler said.

“It will look at role of the city to help support South Australia’s economy. A healthy city underpins a strong state.”