State Government should take control of Riverbank Precinct from Adelaide City Council, says authority chairman

THE State Government may consider stripping control of the Riverbank Precinct from the Adelaide City Council if it continues to “oppose every proposal”.

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THE State Government may consider stripping control of the Riverbank Precinct from the Adelaide City Council if it continues to “oppose every proposal”.

Rivebank Authority chair Andrew McEvoy called for the State Government to “step in and legislate” to take over the entire riverbank precinct for the sake of the city and its future, after city councillors slammed an interactive lighting proposal.

Mr McEvoy said “the authority is quite concerned about what the elected members’ response to the lighting proposal means for all the other projects we would like to work on in the future within the City of Adelaide”.

City councillors this week slammed Renewal SA’s $600,000 “Reeds of Reflection” lighting project for the second time — after it presented a further two lighting options — saying they were “underwhelmed” and that it lacked elegance.

They are due to vote on the project design at Tuesday night’s council meeting, but Mr McEvoy said not only were “the council’s elected members holding up important work, it’s also a waste of taxpayers’ money”.

An artist’s impression of the proposed ‘Reeds of Reflection’ lighting installation on the Riverbank Precinct. Picture: Renewal SA

“If this situation regarding our lighting proposal was happening in the private sector, the company would just take its money elsewhere,” he said.

“We need to get on with the job of making the most of our beautiful riverbank for the benefit of all South Australians and the economy and not be held back by dithering, bickering and delay for delay’s sake.”

Urban Development Minister Stephen Mulligan said he shared Mr McEvoy’s frustration.

He said the Government may consider stepping in and legislating to take over control.

“These jointly funded projects are worth tens of millions of dollars, but when it comes to projects solely funded by the State Government, some Adelaide City Councillors consistently oppose each and every proposal,” he said.

“I’d like to think that legislation wouldn’t be necessary, but if this type of behaviour continues the Government may consider it.

“In the meantime I’ll be seeking a meeting with the Lord Mayor to discuss a way forward.”

Mr McEvoy said more than $5 billion of major investments — including the Adelaide Festival Centre upgrade, the Adelaide Convention Centre extension and Adelaide Oval — over the past seven years has come from government, universities and the private sector.

“The Riverbank Authority works in partnership with Renewal SA and I would like to point out that City of Adelaide officers and executives work really well with Renewal SA staff,” he said.

Adelaide’s Riverbank Precinct at night, in February this year. Picture: Matt Turner

Riverbank Authority chairman Andrew McEvoy

“However, we are faced with the opposite situation when it comes to the elected members of council.”

The Advertiser first revealed that councillors opposed the proposal condemning it as too glitzy for the Riverbank.

The design — which has taken 18 months to develop and would boast timed animations for hourly light shows, with touch panels, microphones and motion sensors for the public to interact with — was presented first to the Adelaide Parklands Authority, which gave its support for the project.

Construction on 15 light clusters and animated LED lights spread along the southern riverbank path between King William Rd and Montefiore Rd bridges was due to begin this month, and be completed by early 2018.

City councillors gave in-principle support for a feature lighting installation, on the condition Renewal SA came back with other design options.

The State Government body was last month due to present at a council workshop — but was scrapped from the agenda after the Riverbank Authority chair Andrew McEvoy wrote in The Advertiser that the “proposed concept’s high-quality design and interactivity will enhance Adelaide Riverbank’s growing popularity with visitors and locals, creating economic and social benefits”.

Renewal SA had engaged with Tourism SA, galleries, indigenous groups, the Office for Design and Architecture SA and council administration — just not with elected members — and the reeds became the preferred option.

Adelaide’s picturesque River Torrens and riverbank precinct.

It presented to two additional options, a triangular shape and curved spire, to councillors this week but even Lord Mayor Martin Haese said he was “underwhelmed” and was missing that “elegance”.

Councillor Phil Martin said he was concerned that “we will get something that looks like an over-decorated Christmas tree”.

Councillor Meagan Hender said “my option would be not to have anything at all and the reason I say is because this is the money shot, this is the postcard of Adelaide”.

Councillor Anne Moran, who said the light display “looks like it’s been designed by engineers, it looks very male, it’s not pretty” condemned Mr McEvoy’s comments.

“We were asked our opinion, did he want us to lie? They (the lights) were pretty awful,” she said.

“Everytime you disagree with the Government or its municipalities do we have to risk getting sacked? It’s ridiculous.

“He should grow up and come back with some better designs.”

Ms Moran said the dislike was unaminous and Mr McEvoy should take it as “12 sensible people who didn’t like them”.

“In all likelihood we have allowed him to dodge a bullet because I suspect the general public wouldn’t like them either,” she said.