The Rundle Mall is a prime example of Adelaide’s need for renewal, quality place making and integrated design.
The relatively new Rundle Mall Management Authority is now in full swing preparing a master plan for Adelaide’s premier retail strip. The next Council will need to deliver some quick wins and be committed to implementing a unified vision. Plans cannot be left on the shelf - we need leadership and teamwork from Council, State Government and business to bring the heart of Adelaide back to life.
Some ideas I strongly support include:
• More unique stores and alfresco dining opportunities;
• Trading hours moving from 10am-7pm;
• Better access via an upgrade and integration of parking, cycling and public transport facilities;
• Extensive free WiFi to encourage people to study, meet for business and connect;
• More shade, especially greening via significant tree plantings;
• New high quality public realm upgrade – better pavers are a must;
• A focus on improving the laneways around the mall;
• Incentives for building owners to give heritage buildings an upgrade;
• Activation of heritage buildings via improved regulations to promote innovative uses (i.e. fashion designers) or residential living;
• Facilitation of apartment development opportunities;
• Recycling bins, drinking fountains and improved character lighting; and
• Contemporary art installations and activities for all ages.
Trading hours especially should see a significant quick win. Currently city workers stream out of offices at 5.30 only to find shops shut and restaurants not yet open – 50% of the 120,000 city workers currently don’t regularly shop or dine in the city!
Giving people a reason to stay in the city after work will add vitality, serve as a catalyst to promote city living and in turn create more opportunities for business.
23 million people pass through the Rundle Mall each year – my vision is to not only bring more people in, but give them a reason to stay longer and “talk up” the cosmopolitan lifestyle only the heart of Adelaide can offer.
30 September 2010
17 September 2010
"Lack of experience"?
Anne Moran’s statements in the press that I am inexperienced are false.
I have nearly 20 experience in State Government, Parliament and Local Government focusing on the planning and management of cities – cities are my life and I know government intimately. I am also the only candidate with any relevant tertiary qualifications:
• B.A. Town Planning
• Grad. Dip Town Planning
• Grad. Dip Environmental Studies
• Masters of Business Administration
• Graduate Member Australian Institute Company Directors
My research has taken me to 10 countries and 3 continents.
I have also been a councillor for the same length as all other candidates and the only one to be Deputy Lord Mayor.
I am also the only genuinely technologically literate Lord Mayor candidate - I offer professional leadership that understands the contemporary issues facing cities in the 21C.
Adelaide deservers a professional "thought leader" that wants to roll up his sleeves and help make Adelaide an international brand of excellence - please help me create a confident future for Adelaide.
I have nearly 20 experience in State Government, Parliament and Local Government focusing on the planning and management of cities – cities are my life and I know government intimately. I am also the only candidate with any relevant tertiary qualifications:
• B.A. Town Planning
• Grad. Dip Town Planning
• Grad. Dip Environmental Studies
• Masters of Business Administration
• Graduate Member Australian Institute Company Directors
My research has taken me to 10 countries and 3 continents.
I have also been a councillor for the same length as all other candidates and the only one to be Deputy Lord Mayor.
I am also the only genuinely technologically literate Lord Mayor candidate - I offer professional leadership that understands the contemporary issues facing cities in the 21C.
Adelaide deservers a professional "thought leader" that wants to roll up his sleeves and help make Adelaide an international brand of excellence - please help me create a confident future for Adelaide.
05 September 2010
Public Art & Street Art – We need MORE!
Our public art budget is abysmal, $180,000 per year. It should be at least double, if not triple, and used to generate greater contributions from State Government, the private sector and community.
Its time art hit the streets of Adelaide in a decisive and bold way!
Public art has been around since cities were invented. Monuments and memorials are the oldest and most obvious form of sanctioned public art, however increasingly all aspects of the built environment are seen as legitimate opportunities. Street furniture, lighting and the unfriendly blank walls that litter our communities are all opportunities to be unleashed.
Street art in particular is an emerging form of public art that is an increasingly popular part of progressive cities around the world. Street art is not graffiti, but in fact “all art on the street that’s not graffiti”. It takes many forms includes stencils, stickers, posters, installations and video projection.
“Banksy” is the most famous of a long list of internationally celebrated street artist, I love his work and highly recommend you visit his web site and see his new movie…it is excellent.
Street art communicates with everyday people about socially relevant themes in their daily lives. It adds color, life and vibrancy and gives people a chance to make important social and environmental statements. Artwork that utilises public space also allows the artists, who may otherwise feel disenfranchised, to reach a broader audience. Some forms of public art are also designed to encourage audience hands-on participation; pieces that use water, sound and play spaces are all excellent examples.
I recently teamed up with some of Adelaide’s street artists to make a bid for council funding - we got $40,000 to tackle Adelaide City Councils very own blank walls. These walls not only detract from our urban environment but send the wrong message to our local artists. This was the surprising result!
Our main streets (Rundle, Gouger, Grote, Hutt, Hindley, Melbourne, O’Connell and Sturt St) are all sadly lacking public art. We also have so many laneways in the CBD that are screaming for well lit, safe and colorful outdoor gallery experience that would help renew and revitalize the heart and soul of our city. www.melbournestreetart.com speaks volumes about how they have embraced this city movement, Adelaide needs to step up and get serious about having fun on the streets of our city.
I want to be a cultural leader that says Council is keen to stimulate public art. We need a Lord Mayor that says good street art is welcome and creating landscapes with meaning is important.
Council needs to tap into public art as a means of contact with the community about social and environmental issues. The new Albert Einstein on a bike mural in the Central Market by Peter Drew is a great example; it says council will be 60% carbon neutral by 2012.
Community art is also really important and I would like to congratulate “Higher Ground” on their fantastic new mural in Light Square; a colorful depiction of historical characters and icons on Adelaide’s past.
Let’s not be afraid of a bit of controversy. Public art is a great opportunity to provoke the public, connect communities and generate questions and ideas about Adelaide’s future.
What do you think?
Its time art hit the streets of Adelaide in a decisive and bold way!
Public art has been around since cities were invented. Monuments and memorials are the oldest and most obvious form of sanctioned public art, however increasingly all aspects of the built environment are seen as legitimate opportunities. Street furniture, lighting and the unfriendly blank walls that litter our communities are all opportunities to be unleashed.
Street art in particular is an emerging form of public art that is an increasingly popular part of progressive cities around the world. Street art is not graffiti, but in fact “all art on the street that’s not graffiti”. It takes many forms includes stencils, stickers, posters, installations and video projection.
“Banksy” is the most famous of a long list of internationally celebrated street artist, I love his work and highly recommend you visit his web site and see his new movie…it is excellent.
Street art communicates with everyday people about socially relevant themes in their daily lives. It adds color, life and vibrancy and gives people a chance to make important social and environmental statements. Artwork that utilises public space also allows the artists, who may otherwise feel disenfranchised, to reach a broader audience. Some forms of public art are also designed to encourage audience hands-on participation; pieces that use water, sound and play spaces are all excellent examples.
I recently teamed up with some of Adelaide’s street artists to make a bid for council funding - we got $40,000 to tackle Adelaide City Councils very own blank walls. These walls not only detract from our urban environment but send the wrong message to our local artists. This was the surprising result!
Our main streets (Rundle, Gouger, Grote, Hutt, Hindley, Melbourne, O’Connell and Sturt St) are all sadly lacking public art. We also have so many laneways in the CBD that are screaming for well lit, safe and colorful outdoor gallery experience that would help renew and revitalize the heart and soul of our city. www.melbournestreetart.com speaks volumes about how they have embraced this city movement, Adelaide needs to step up and get serious about having fun on the streets of our city.
I want to be a cultural leader that says Council is keen to stimulate public art. We need a Lord Mayor that says good street art is welcome and creating landscapes with meaning is important.
Council needs to tap into public art as a means of contact with the community about social and environmental issues. The new Albert Einstein on a bike mural in the Central Market by Peter Drew is a great example; it says council will be 60% carbon neutral by 2012.
Community art is also really important and I would like to congratulate “Higher Ground” on their fantastic new mural in Light Square; a colorful depiction of historical characters and icons on Adelaide’s past.
Let’s not be afraid of a bit of controversy. Public art is a great opportunity to provoke the public, connect communities and generate questions and ideas about Adelaide’s future.
What do you think?
15 August 2010
Design & Fashion
Design & art is the backbone of Adelaide’s economy and international branding – this should mean fashion as well. We also excel at education and training...there is great potential to not only keep local designers here but also attract others that are keen to learn.
Fashion is an important driver of community culture, style and thinking; in Europe socially responsible design is all the rage. It’s regional or fairtrade materials, supporting local talent and keeping money circulating in their own economy.
Our “main streets”, especially the Mall, Hindley & Rundle, need to pursue a good mix of local, national and international designers. We should not compete in generic brand stores with Westfield that make us look like a clone. The city needs a classy and edgy point of difference and Adelaide City Council should be more proactive in seeking this mix.
The city’s main streets should have greater autonomy to oversee an infusion of higher quality and diverse shops. My support for Renew Adelaide is also about activating unused shops and studio spaces at low cost to seed innovation. ABC did a story on this - its online here.
I’m a design fan…I love my Mac and Denmark was inspirational. Wandering down Rundle Street is better than ever thanks to the big picture efforts of Steve Maras – but we need laneways and smaller spaces for local designers to seed innovation and get a fair go. A complementary mix of local markets is also critical; Rundle Street markets could do much more to promote local designers - how cool are the Gilles St Markets?!
Having a Lord Mayor that can infuse these values into the city would be a good start to rethinking the role of design and fashion in Adelaide. Council could also provide leadership through dedicated grants program for designers, especially to have events that bring people to Adelaide, brand us nationally and internationally and make it vibrant, colourful and fun.
Good design is about connecting lots of ideas – that’s my job, indeed my passion for progressing Adelaide. I hope to have the support of like minded creative’s who want to make this town synonymous with good a quality design ethic.
Fashion is an important driver of community culture, style and thinking; in Europe socially responsible design is all the rage. It’s regional or fairtrade materials, supporting local talent and keeping money circulating in their own economy.
Our “main streets”, especially the Mall, Hindley & Rundle, need to pursue a good mix of local, national and international designers. We should not compete in generic brand stores with Westfield that make us look like a clone. The city needs a classy and edgy point of difference and Adelaide City Council should be more proactive in seeking this mix.
The city’s main streets should have greater autonomy to oversee an infusion of higher quality and diverse shops. My support for Renew Adelaide is also about activating unused shops and studio spaces at low cost to seed innovation. ABC did a story on this - its online here.
I’m a design fan…I love my Mac and Denmark was inspirational. Wandering down Rundle Street is better than ever thanks to the big picture efforts of Steve Maras – but we need laneways and smaller spaces for local designers to seed innovation and get a fair go. A complementary mix of local markets is also critical; Rundle Street markets could do much more to promote local designers - how cool are the Gilles St Markets?!
Having a Lord Mayor that can infuse these values into the city would be a good start to rethinking the role of design and fashion in Adelaide. Council could also provide leadership through dedicated grants program for designers, especially to have events that bring people to Adelaide, brand us nationally and internationally and make it vibrant, colourful and fun.
Good design is about connecting lots of ideas – that’s my job, indeed my passion for progressing Adelaide. I hope to have the support of like minded creative’s who want to make this town synonymous with good a quality design ethic.
11 August 2010
Inspirational cities
Spiritual Varanasi
The oldest continually inhabited city in the world, Varanasi has been a cultural and religious centre for thousands of years. Many prominent philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians have lived here. A must see for culturally minded adventurers.
I have a strong respect for India and would love to see Adelaide connect with this global player. Hundreds of millions of Indians know Adelaide because they love cricket!
Innovative San Francisco
With much of its wealth coming from the information economy, San Francisco has a strong university culture. They consider highly educated workers a long-term investment.
Their friendly style, mix of Victorian and modern architecture and appreciation of food and wine reminded me of home. San Francisco embraces international culture and the gay community. They also focus on each neighbourhood having their own unique character.
A third of all commuters use public transport. San Francisco leads the nation in electric car infrastructure and are planning and promoting the value of medium density walkable communities.
We love Adelaide!
Adelaide is the 349th biggest, yet 8th most liveable city in the world. What a fantastic achievement. With a healthy economy, quality universities and a thriving arts culture I believe we can move up the list.
While we don’t want Adelaide to be exactly like any other city, we can learn from their strengths if we are open to new ideas.
I believe it is possible to embrace Adelaide’s parklands, heritage, arts and sustainability values as strategic advantages to create economic prosperity.
How would you like to see Adelaide develop?
The oldest continually inhabited city in the world, Varanasi has been a cultural and religious centre for thousands of years. Many prominent philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians have lived here. A must see for culturally minded adventurers.I have a strong respect for India and would love to see Adelaide connect with this global player. Hundreds of millions of Indians know Adelaide because they love cricket!
Innovative San Francisco
With much of its wealth coming from the information economy, San Francisco has a strong university culture. They consider highly educated workers a long-term investment.Their friendly style, mix of Victorian and modern architecture and appreciation of food and wine reminded me of home. San Francisco embraces international culture and the gay community. They also focus on each neighbourhood having their own unique character.
A third of all commuters use public transport. San Francisco leads the nation in electric car infrastructure and are planning and promoting the value of medium density walkable communities.
We love Adelaide!
Adelaide is the 349th biggest, yet 8th most liveable city in the world. What a fantastic achievement. With a healthy economy, quality universities and a thriving arts culture I believe we can move up the list.While we don’t want Adelaide to be exactly like any other city, we can learn from their strengths if we are open to new ideas.
I believe it is possible to embrace Adelaide’s parklands, heritage, arts and sustainability values as strategic advantages to create economic prosperity.
How would you like to see Adelaide develop?
Inspirational Cities
Liveable Vancouver
The world’s most liveable city is characterized by high-rise residential and mixed-use development. The compact core is called "ecodensity”. Vancouver has emphasised quality design and planning that contributes to environmental sustainability, affordability and liveability.
With a large trolley bus fleet and strong focus on pedestrian and cycling, Vancouver has seen a decrease in cars but an increase in vibrancy, activity and demand for housing. A fantastic example of how a pro- development and pro-environment culture can come together to create prosperity and international excellence in building cities.
Exciting Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an important business partner and gateway to China for Adelaide. You may be surprised to know that less than 25% of Hong Kong's land is developed with 40% dedicated to parks and reserves. Intensely urbanised, the city has made an effort to promote a green environment. 90% of daily commuters are on public transport.
Hong Kong has positioned itself as a financial centre, successfully moving from an industrial to service economy. Known as a centre for modern architecture with vibrant street life and excellent markets, Hong Kong is an organised city with a clean city culture.
Vibrant Melbourne
Melbourne is renowned as a cultural centre with a fantastic network of historic lanes and arcades with busy shops, cafés, nightclubs and street art.
Listed as the second most liveable city in the world, Melbourne blends heritage and contemporary architecture and features an integrated public transport system. Don’t we all love Melbourne’s trams!
The mix of city high rises and abundance of parks, gardens and diverse multicultural city characteristics works well. The result is urban renewal, a thriving economy and buzzing city.
The world’s most liveable city is characterized by high-rise residential and mixed-use development. The compact core is called "ecodensity”. Vancouver has emphasised quality design and planning that contributes to environmental sustainability, affordability and liveability.With a large trolley bus fleet and strong focus on pedestrian and cycling, Vancouver has seen a decrease in cars but an increase in vibrancy, activity and demand for housing. A fantastic example of how a pro- development and pro-environment culture can come together to create prosperity and international excellence in building cities.
Exciting Hong Kong
Hong Kong is an important business partner and gateway to China for Adelaide. You may be surprised to know that less than 25% of Hong Kong's land is developed with 40% dedicated to parks and reserves. Intensely urbanised, the city has made an effort to promote a green environment. 90% of daily commuters are on public transport.Hong Kong has positioned itself as a financial centre, successfully moving from an industrial to service economy. Known as a centre for modern architecture with vibrant street life and excellent markets, Hong Kong is an organised city with a clean city culture.
Vibrant Melbourne
Melbourne is renowned as a cultural centre with a fantastic network of historic lanes and arcades with busy shops, cafés, nightclubs and street art.Listed as the second most liveable city in the world, Melbourne blends heritage and contemporary architecture and features an integrated public transport system. Don’t we all love Melbourne’s trams!
The mix of city high rises and abundance of parks, gardens and diverse multicultural city characteristics works well. The result is urban renewal, a thriving economy and buzzing city.
01 August 2010
Cycling in Adelaide & Copenhagen
Many would recall the Council debacle with the ‘attempted” Sturt Street Copenhagen bike lane; now being ripped out due to community opposition. Having just returned from Denmark I now understand what a mistake the lane was.
In summary we do not need a Copenhagen lane, but a Copenhagen network painted on all our roads ASAP. This is a cornerstone of my campaign - we are a car dependant (and overweight) community in need of a culture shift to a healthier, sustainable and more productive society.
Extremist? Hardly! We need a logical balance between cars and bikes that has social, environmental and economic benefits. If you only follow one link please have a look at this video regarding cycling in Copenhagen – it’s amazing and may redefine your aspiration for Adelaide’s future.
Copenhagen is an innovative cycling city; every day 38% of citizens commute by bike and the goal is to grow that to 50% by 2015. By comparison only 5% commute by bike in Adelaide, yet it is the fastest growing mode of transport.
Their infrastructure is truly amazing; as comprehensive as our roads and footpaths. My analogy would be to suggest we Australians only think “transport” in two dimensions compared to their three. Bicycle paths are regularly separated from cars, often have their own traffic signals and there is an impressive system of interconnected routes facilitating fast and safe city wide movement.
The cycling conditions are exceptionally favourable; flat terrain, equitable space and car drivers that have been “calmed” to respect all street users. Overall cycling is accepted as a healthier, environmentally friendly, cheaper and often quicker way around town; it is as normal as driving a car.
Check out the AMAZING web site dedicated to bikes and fashion - Marketing magazine lists Cycle Chic as one of the top 10 fashion websites on the web.
Some fast facts:
• 9 out of 10 Danes have a bicycle;
• Only 15% of cyclists use helmet because it’s safe;
• Every Dane cycles 1.1 km on average each day;
• 24% of trips below 5 km are by bicycle;
• 45% of all Danish children cycle to school;
• 44% of all Danish households don’t have a car;
• The average travel speed in Copenhagen is 15 km/h for cyclists and 27 km/h for cars;
• Physically inactive people die 5-6 years before physically active ones; and
• Productivity gain is the main benefit from cycling – cyclists are healthier and thus less absent from work.
2.2 meters is the standard width of cycle lanes in Denmark, making conversation possible, overtaking safe and couples even hold hands! 2.5-2.8 meters is Copenhagen’s new standard, offering space for three cyclists next to each other; that’s a lot more attractive than our 1.6 metre lanes whilst cars get all the space they need.
What Adelaide needs urgently is complete network painted on every road in Adelaide with lanes of at least 2 metres, maybe more in places. This will mean losing some car lanes, but must happen to succeed. This cycle network needs to appear quickly, be boldly presented and marketed as a new way of thinking that is good for you, the environment and economy.
The mistake Council made was to build the laneway before the community was ready; like colouring in a picture before the pencil sketch is finished. Once decent widths are marked out and the personal and community benefits communicated I believe we will see a critical mass of bikes in use – I’m gunning for a paradigm shift.
Making Adelaide a cycling city is a perfect example of the collective political will needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance people’s health and quality of life. The cost of health Australia faces due to inactivity and obesity is spine chilling and decreasing CO2 emissions is one of the most important challenges the world faces today. Adelaide’s vision should be to be a world's best cycling city by 2025, starting now. We have the most appropriate climate, wide roads, flat terrain and significant leverage from via the “Tour Down Under”. I also believe the community are ready and are seeking bold leadership to provide a fair balance for all transport modes.
So is Copenhagen the best in the world? I am no expert and recommend the following from Dutch cyclist David Hembrow - an excellent blog on Copenhagen compared to the Netherlands – where cycling appears even more prevalent.
Please spread this blog if you like what you read because I am the candidate that supports cycling for Adelaide's Future - we need the right leadership to make this happen.
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