Adelaide Casino loses bet on carpark spots for $330 million expansion
Crucial carpark spaces at the Festival Plaza redevelopment will not be ready in time for Adelaide Casino’s $330 million expansion opening in October.
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The long-awaited Festival Plaza carpark will not be ready in time for Adelaide Casino's $330 million expansion opening in October, as had been expected, after a delay to tycoon Lang Walker’s plans for the prime Riverbank square.
The long-awaited Festival Plaza carpark will not be ready in time for Adelaide Casino's $330 million expansion opening in October, as had been expected, after a delay to tycoon Lang Walker’s plans for the prime Riverbank square.
SkyCity has a deal to lease 750 spots in the five-storey, 1560-space, underground carpark, which Festival Plaza developer Walker Corporation yesterday said now would be complete by mid-2021.
SkyCity Adelaide general manager David Christian confirmed to The Advertiser that the spaces would not be ready for its expansion, which includes a 12-storey, 120-suite hotel, rooftop bar, conference and function amenities as well as three signature restaurants.
“While we are disappointed the carpark won’t be ready for our October 2020 opening, we are working with all stakeholders to ensure our customers will not be impacted by the delay,” Mr Christian said
The nearby Adelaide Festival Centre, which operated a smaller carpark on the Festival Plaza site that closed in 2017, has had to rely on other options for patrons.
Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll said: “It’s disappointing that the Festival Plaza carpark won’t be ready for the Adelaide Casino opening, which is going to be a huge shot in the arm for the Riverbank precinct.
“The State Government will continue to work with all stakeholders in the precinct as it is developed into one of the city’s great public spaces.”
A 23-storey office tower and three-level entertainment/retail complex proposed for Festival Plaza by Walker were approved in 2016.
Walker Corp has been at loggerheads with the Government over its bid for a second office tower in the $600 million Festival Plaza development.
A Walker spokesperson said an agreement had just been reached with South Australian contractor Built for the project’s next stage, which would involve more than 1000 SA workers delivering the carpark and plaza.
“This follows $50 million of earlier works, including the demolition of the former car park, services diversions, excavation piling and in-ground works, along with the concrete foundations for the plaza and tower,” the Walker spokesperson said.
“This agreement with Built now means more than $120 million in contracts have been awarded to local businesses on the project to date, which included one of the largest CBD earthworks contracts in South Australian history.”
Mr Knoll said the Adelaide Railway Station’s northern entrance would be closed between April and December, as part of the Festival Plaza redevelopment, but opened for AFL and major cricket games.
This would enable construction of a revamped northern entrance, featuring a “grand arcade” with shops, Dunstan Playhouse connection and “a significant ceiling-based sculptural artwork”.