Adelaide City Council have released its 2036 vision on how to double its population including a North Adelaide tram extension

Adelaide City Council have resurrected a tram extension to North Adelaide as part of its plan to make the city a more desirable place to live and double its population by 2036.

Adelaide City Council has released its City Plan 2036 on how to grow its population. Picture: Brett Hartwig

A tram to North Adelaide and a light rail loop around the CBD are key to making the city a more desirable place to live and work, helping it to double its population by 2036.

Adelaide City Council has released its 2036 City Plan for public consultation, which outlines its vision to sustainably grow the city’s population from 26,000 to 50,000 people.

At the heart of the plan is transit diversity and the need to invest in infrastructure in areas of high population growth such as West Tce, East Tce and O’Connell St.

The idea to extend the tram to North Adelaide has again been resurrected to create a ‘city spine’ and link key attractions such as the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and Adelaide Zoo.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the tram extension was an “aspirational wish”, however given major developments such as Eighty Eight O’Connell, it was more relevant.

“The potential for it to occur gets greater because of the infill development in North Adelaide and the new swimming pool makes access more significant,” Dr Lomax-Smith said. “It’s a state government initiative, but the council is very supportive.”

Work continues on the Eighty-Eight O'Connell development. Picture: Keryn Stevens

She said more controversially would be a proposed city rail loop to connect East Tce, Hutt St, Halifax St and West Tce to provide people with hop-on and hop-off options across the city.

In order to grow the population, the plan states approximately 1000 dwellings per year would need to be added over the time frame and with a focus on the city’s western edge.

Thirteen ‘neighbourhoods’ were scored on their liveability and growth potential, with the Grote St, West Tce, Light Square and Whitmore Square as having the highest potential.

West Tce would be developed as a pedestrian boulevard, with the road narrowed and vehicle volumes and speed reduced by redirecting traffic to South Rd, the plan states.

“We have three terraces which are absolutely stellar in terms of location, development and facilities and we have one that is a 10 lane motorway that separates the buildings from the parklands,” Dr Lomax-Smith said.

Artist Impressions of the Tram going down O'Connell Street in North Adelaide

“It would be rational for us to have a narrower route and to re-route most of the through traffic and have high-rises there with a sea view.”

Other ‘under-utilised areas’ on the western fringe, such as open lot carparks and expansive vacant allotments, should be acquired and developed by the council, the plan states.

Future housing diversity would include adaptive reuse of warehouses and vacant spaces on top of shops, and a focus on medium density housing of four-to-six storeys on the southern fringe.

Artist Impressions of the Tram going down O'Connell Street in North Adelaide

And as the population and temperatures increase, the aim would be for a ‘greener and cooler city’ created by a grid that enables 20 minutes of walking in continuous shade.

The council would seek partnership opportunities, advocate and facilitate implementation of the plan, which was informed by 400 datasets and stakeholder engagement, once endorsed.

Former Labor Premier Jay Weatherill committed to a tram extension to O’Connell St and Prospect Rd, as part of a $259m pledge, but lost the 2018 election.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis told The Sunday Mail there was a study underway to look into potential options for extending metropolitan rail corridors.