Overhaul for Adelaide's Victoria Square

Public events, chill-out zones and food-themed activities are the keys to reinvigorating Adelaide's Victoria Square, according to a survey from the Adelaide City Council.

The study of more than 800 city residents, workers and business owners listed a top five of future uses including more major events, garden areas for relaxing, food and wine-based activities and spaces for exhibitions.

Respondents also stated the city's heart was more of a thoroughfare than a destination, owing to difficulty in crossing multiple lanes of traffic, a lack of seating and background noise.

Feedback from the Future Use Study, compiled by Harrison Research in July, will be incorporated into the Council's recently announced multi-million dollar square overhaul.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said a draft masterplan for the precinct would be unveiled later this month, with site works expected to start in mid-2010 after a detailed public consultation, stating "as Adelaide's centre stage, the square will provide a dynamic focal point for the community and a space in which to celebrate the unique South Australian culture and identity."

The Council held confidential talks about the redevelopment last week, debating several design options including a plan to close parts of Victoria Square to traffic or to reduce the number of lanes open to cars in surrounding streets.

Consultant design team leader Kevin Taylor, of Taylor Cullity Lethlean, said those ideas would still need to be considered in more detail by the council. Taylor added that the aim of the makeover was to create a public space that would "tease people out" of surrounding buildings and bring them into Victoria Square.

The council has already committed $24 million over the next five years to fund the redevelopment, and also plans to seek Federal Government funding as well as private partnerships.