South Australia Government calls tenders for $900 million redevelopment of Adelaide Festival Plaza by developer Lang Walker, SkyCity expansion

THE Festival Plaza sculptures often maligned by Adelaideans are to become part of the redevelopment that will change the face of the city.SEE THE NEW PICS

• Cabinet signs off on Festival Plaza development
• Approval for Festival Plaza, Casino development deal
• Court battle over Festival Plaza developer’s secret carpark letter
• State Government’s ideas for Festival Plaza overhaul
• Skycity committed to casino revamp despite delay

THE Festival Plaza sculptures often maligned by Adelaideans are to become part of the redevelopment that will change the face of the city.

As the State Government on Thursday called for tenders on the initial works for the plaza rebuild, it was revealed that public consultation had shown support for retention of the giant art by Otto Hajek.

More greenery and a skate park are also at the top of the public wishlist, but the State Government says feedback shows people are generally happy with the redevelopment’s present design, as shown in images here.

Two formal agreements have been signed with private investors in the site. Premier Jay Weatherill said these would allow the $900 million revamp to proceed, with an August start expected.

The project includes a $430 million development by Walker Corporation that involves an office building, retail area, carpark upgrade, Festival Plaza upgrade and a $300 million expansion of the Adelaide Casino.

“Together the projects are worth more than $900 million and expected to support about 2500 jobs during construction and at least 400 ongoing jobs,” Mr Weatherill said.

The Advertiser revealed this week that the project was given State Cabinet approval on Monday. That followed speculation that a deal with private developers was on the brink of collapse.

From above - the what Festival Plaza Development could look like.

“The Festival Plaza will become a landmark site in the heart of Adelaide’s Riverbank Precinct, bringing together all of the precinct’s icon sites such as the Adelaide Oval, the Festival Centre, the Convention Centre and the Riverbank Bridge,” Mr Weatherill said.

“The upgraded Festival Plaza will become a unique world-class hub for the arts, culture, tourism and entertainment. It will be defined by a number of key places including the new square, the northern promenade, integration with King William St, the Art Space Plaza, a reimagining of Station Road and a new entry to Adelaide Railway Station.”

Consultation on the Government’s detailed plan for the plaza found the public was concerned it would scrap Hajek’s “garden” of sloping concrete pillars.

More than 2000 people attended a public engagement day and feedback on the concept designs was positive overall. The Development Assessment Commission received 38 submissions on the draft plans.

What will the Festival Plaza revamp look like?

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“People were excited by the planned new event spaces and water features of the new plaza,” a Renewal SA spokeswoman said.

“Understandably there were concerns about the impact to plaza artworks, which are recognisable features of the current public realm.”

Urban Development Minister Stephen Mullighan said part of the artwork would be retained in some form, but the details of what would be kept were yet to be finalised.

Casino operator SkyCity this month revealed a $243 million capital raising effort to help fund its $300 million Adelaide expansion with an 80-room luxury hotel, restaurants and premium gaming areas.

Construction work affecting the casino and Adelaide Railway Station includes lowering Festival Drive, with the temporary closure of the railway station’s northern entry, forcing footbridge traffic through an alleyway next to the Intercontinental Hotel.

Developer Lang Walker said the project had “huge” potential. “It is the culmination of four years’ hard work, consisting of international research, evolving project concepts and plans,” he said.