$253.5 million transformation of Adelaide’s Festival Plaza gains approval after nearly a decade of waiting

After eight years of debate and delay, construction is finally set to start on the public square at Adelaide’s Festival Plaza following official approval of a tweaked design.

The approved design for Adelaide’s Festival Plaza, which features extra space for events.

• The breakthrough that broke the plaza upgrade deadlock
• Concerns raised over design’s ability to stage major events

Work will start this month on a $253.5 million transformation of Adelaide’s Festival Plaza, including escalators from the Riverbank footbridge and major landscaping – eight years after the project was first proposed.

Planning approval was granted this week for the project’s publicly funded component, which involves a substantial revamp of the square bordered by Parliament House, the Festival Centre, Casino and King William Rd.

The State Commission Assessement Panel approved design, revealed by The Advertiser in April, includes dual escalators at the Adelaide Railway Station’s northern entrance, linking the plaza with the lower-level southern end of the Riverbank footbridge, space for large events, a “misting” water feature and free wi-fi access.

The long-awaited construction is part of a $600 million project, which also includes a planned 27-storey office tower and a 1560-space underground carpark being built by Sydney-based Walker Corporation.

An artist’s impression of Adelaide Railway Station’s northern entrance, connecting to the Riverbank footbridge and Festival Plaza via dual escalators.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said Festival Plaza’s public area would become a world-class events and open public space for all South Australians to enjoy.

“The Festival Plaza public realm will become the premier open and events space in the heart of the Riverbank precinct that will continue the area’s transformation,” Mr Knoll said.

“This project has been a long time coming and we are finally going to see shovels in the ground later this month on some parts of the plaza with further works to ramp open over the course of the rest of year.

“Construction of the Festival Plaza public realm will be staged to align with the other major components of the redevelopment.”

The construction’s first stage will involve landscaping on Station Rd, between the plaza and Casino, in time for the October opening of the Casino’s $330 million expansion, including a hotel.

The Railway Station’s northern entrance, which will include vaulted ceilings and shops, is expected to be reconnected permanently to the Riverbank by early next year.

Most of the Plaza work is scheduled to finish late next year.

Walker Corporation has previously indicated a green light for the plaza’s public component would enable similar landscaping on top of the carpark, now under construction, and a go-ahead for the office tower and premium retail/entertainment precinct – the latter within a three-level complex fronting the plaza.

The approved design for Festival Plaza.

The former Labor government in 2012 gave Walker Corporation exclusive rights to develop the precinct and in 2016 signed a development agreement for the carpark and Plaza, expiring in 2026.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the “exciting” project would further improve the Riverbank precinct for the whole community.

“The Festival Plaza redevelopment is the type of project we need and welcome in the city at this time as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19,” she said.

“I’m particularly pleased our arts community will benefit from a new public space that’s designed to host performances, events and festivals.”

Originally published as $253.5 million transformation of Adelaide’s Festival Plaza gains approval after nearly a decade of waiting