Rundle Mall, museum, universities and Adelaide Lord Mayor push for East End tram extension

A HIGH-POWERED push is being launched for an East End tram extension to forge the first stage of an Adelaide-wide light rail expansion.

Tram passing Adelaide Railway Station on North Tce.

THE East End needs a tram extension to kickstart redevelopment and forge the first stage of an Adelaide-wide light rail expansion, a powerful alliance of business, government and academia has declared.

Spearheaded by Rundle Mall businesses, the drive for a 1km link from King William St, along North Tce to East Tce is backed by Lord Mayor Martin Haese, the city’s two universities, museums, the State Library and the Art Gallery of SA.

Backers say a multimillion-dollar tram extension would inject more people into the area, sparking increased activity at businesses, cultural institutions and at the site of the planned redevelopment of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.

They are urging the State Government to make the extension the first stage of a planned multi-billion dollar metropolitan light rail network, called AdelLINK, which would include a line past Adelaide Oval to North Adelaide and Prospect. Public transport is a key federal election issue and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday announced funding for a rail link to Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre.

State Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan highlighted the economic benefits of expanding the tram network and declared only state and federal Labor had committed to the AdeLINK expansion, which also includes lines to Norwood, Adelaide Airport, Port Adelaide and Unley.

An alliance of business, government and academia has backed a push for a 1km tram extension along North Tce to East Tce. Photo Roy Van Der Vegt

Rundle Mall Management Authority’s chairman Eric Granger, who is spearheading the campaign for an East End tram extension, said it would ensure the area remained vibrant once the RAH Hospital moved to its new West End site. “The major value to the city would be to encourage more investment, with the benefits flowing on to the whole community, as has been seen with the Adelaide Oval redevelopment,” he said.

Mr Granger said the tram link would be a catalyst for new investment, including higher end retail and accommodation along North Tce, while the boulevard’s cultural institutions and events like the Fringe and Clipsal 500 also would benefit.

Connecting to the existing western North Tce line would help city commuters, he said, particularly students and staff shuttling between Adelaide and Uni SA’s eastern and western campuses.

Mr Haese, who is leading a group of mayors lobbying for the AdelLINK light rail network, said a first-stage East End link would generate extraordinary benefits for businesses and North Tce cultural institutions such as the museum, the gallery and the State Library.

Extending the tram to East Tce also would drive down vacancy rates in historic buildings on North Tce’s southern side by attracting residential and commercial tenants.

“I think a tram is exactly what the doctor ordered,” Mr Haese said. But he acknowledged a citywide tram extension would be expensive and would need to be done in stages. The $100 million Glenelg line extension to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, which opened in 2010, was approved by State Cabinet in 2008 and followed a City West spur completed in 2007.

The vice-chancellors of both Adelaide University and the University of South Australia said the eastern extension would make the city more student-friendly. “It would bring a tram stop right to our front gates,” said Adelaide’s vice-chancellor Warren Bebbington.

South Australian Museum director Brian Oldman said: “It would contribute to making the state’s great cultural institutions even more accessible.”

Mr Mullighan said there had been significant interest and support for light rail expansion plans since the Government in February commissioned a $4 million business case for AdeLINK, following it being declared a priority project by Infrastructure Australia.

“Expanding our tram network has the potential to attract investment, boost economic growth and encourage urban renewal and jobs, and bring residents and visitors to the city centre,” he said.

“The extension of the Glenelg tram line to the Entertainment Centre has proven to be extremely popular since it was opened.”

LEADERS SAY PLAN IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

“The extension would make coming to university easier for thousands of our students every day. It would bring a tram stop right to our front gates.’’

WARREN BEBBINGTON, ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY VICE-CHANCELLOR

Warren Bebbington.

“It will make visiting the State Library – and all the other cultural institutions – so much easier for the people of greater Adelaide.’’

ALAN SMITH, STATE LIBRARY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA DIRECTOR

Alan Smith.

“UniSA would support any expansion of public transport that makes movement across campuses for university students easier and helps position Adelaide as a student-friendly global education city.’’

DAVID LLOYD, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA VICE-CHANCELLOR

David Lloyd.

“It is the view of Zoos SA that the extension will be of assistance in the transport of potential visitors to the zoo and this would have flow-on benefits to us.’’

ELAINE BENSTED, ZOOS SA CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Elaine Bensted.

“The major value to the city would be to encourage more investment, with the benefits flowing on to the whole community, as has been seen with the Adelaide Oval redevelopment.’’

ERIC GRANGER, RUNDLE MALL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN

Eric Granger

“I think a tram is exactly what the doctor ordered.’’

MARTIN HAESE, LORD MAYOR

Martin Haese.

“It would contribute to making the state’s great cultural institutions even more accessible.’’

BRIAN OLDMAN, SA MUSEUM DIRECTOR

Brian Oldman.

“A city tram extension eastwards along North Terrace will make it easier for locals and visitors to connect to Adelaide’s great cultural attractions. It is essential city-building.’’

GREG MACKIE, HISTORY SA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Greg Mackie.

“An integrated light rail network throughout the city is a policy and financial no-brainer.’’

DANIEL GANNON, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SA DIRECTOR

Daniel Gannon.

“I think it’s absolutely incredibly vital and it should happen straight away.’’

THEO MARAS, DEVELOPER

Theo Maras.