Adelaide City Council’s long term financial plan details nearly $700m of renewal works are needed

Adelaide City Council plans to spend almost $700m to renew its assets. But some are concerned about the timeline of upgrades.

Adelaide Bridge linking the CBD and North Adelaide. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

Adelaide City Council says the Adelaide Bridge needs $60m of upgrades to preserve its future and to allow for a tram extension from the CBD to North Adelaide.

The council has forecast the works as part of an unindexed $673m spend over eight years to renew all of its existing assets, including the Torrens Weir and Rundle St UPark.

The bridge renewal would allow for a tram to link the city with key attractions, such as the Adelaide Aquatic Centre and Adelaide Zoo, as outlined in the council’s 2036 City Plan.

An artist impression of the tram going down O'Connell Street in North Adelaide

The council is preparing its draft long term financial plan, which includes being able to fully fund its asset renewal program — this year it funded 94 per cent of the desired program.

Acting chief operating officer Anthony Spartalis told the city finance and governance committee last week it planned to achieve its goal over eight years.

“If the council wants to get back to 100 per cent level of funding our renewals in the first year, it’s 10.5 per cent rate increase,” Mr Spartalis said.

The bridge currently carries more than 30,000 vehicles a day.

“The transition (over eight years) is designed to alleviate the impact on ratepayers of a 10.5 per cent increase in year one and spread that over time.”

Mr Spartalis said the council would not undertake borrowings to fund asset renewal, which included upgrades to buildings, water infrastructure, lighting and open space.

The nearly 100-year-old Adelaide Bridge was forecast for renewal in 2030/31 and the council would advocate for state and federal assistance.

The bridge carries more than 30,000 vehicles a day, thousands of pedestrians and has a 26-tonne load limit.

An assessment of the concrete arch bridge in 2022 exhibited signs of deterioration and a reduced asset life, however the council said there was “no likelihood” of it collapsing.

The Rundle St UPark would need a $15m investment over two years from 2029/30 to extend its useful life, while the Torrens Weir would require $40m in 2028/29.

Councillor Henry Davis feared spreading the asset renewal program over eight years would lead to further deterioration and, as a result, increased costs.

“If you don’t fix it this year, it’s more expensive the next year,” Cr Davis told the meeting.

“Drawing it out over multiple years doesn’t help.”

Councillor Jing Li agreed “that delaying the problem doesn’t shrink the size of the issue” but it does give time and “time can generate all sorts of possibilities”.

The committee will meet again next week before a draft long term financial plan is released for public consultation.