Adelaide opens business plans for consultation

The City of Adelaide has opened the city’s draft 2019-20 Integrated Business Plan, with the council pledging a ‘renewed focus on main streets, city businesses growth, street greening, and unique experiences.’

Key features of the draft plan include:

• Freezing of the rate in the dollar for the fifth year in a row, in recognition of the real and ongoing cost of living pressures facing the community;
   

• Removal of all outdoor dining fees to support the city’s hospitality industry;
   

• Investment of $38.2 million in city infrastructure, including $8.1 million towards street upgrades and greening, ensuring Adelaide remains one of the world’s most liveable cities;
   

• Spending of $15.9 million in Park Lands projects and maintenance, including $4.1 million to improve community facilities with play spaces, lighting, landscaping and accessibility;
   

• Allocation of $800,000 for tree planting and street greening projects in the city’s south west and north west areas;
   

• Funding of $370,000 to develop Master Plans for Melbourne, O’Connell and Hutt Streets, as well as $800,000 for safety improvements to Whitmore Square;
   

• Continuation of the renewal of Jeffcott Street in North Adelaide and completion of the Gawler Place Development;
   

• Investment of $5.8 million in grants, sponsorships, incentives and support to Council’s strategic partners;
   

• Progressing the next stage of the redevelopments of Eighty Eight O’Connell Street and the Central Market Arcade;
   

• Allocation of $1.9 million towards business growth and innovation opportunities including $266,000 for entrepreneur support initiatives. This is in addition to $213,000 in support of
  Renew Adelaide, $267,000 for Study Adelaide, and $373,000 to the Adelaide Convention Bureau;
   

• Providing sponsorship/grant funding to assist artistic, cultural and community organisations, including $1.9 million for festival and event sponsorship, $1.0 million for Splash Adelaide city activations, and $120,000 to support live music;
   

• Furthering Adelaide's reputation as a connected and smart city with the continued rollout of Ten Gigabit Adelaide;
   

• Delivering community celebrations, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve that are open and inclusive and provide a safe and family friendly environment in the city;
   

• Developing a new approach to business waste and recycling services as well as delivery of best-practice approach for waste reduction; and
   

• Continued investment in incentive programs of strategic importance to the city such as $1.6 million for climate change initiatives and $1.3 million for heritage preservation grants.

Acting Lord Mayor, Houssam Abaid, said that the city’s councillors were keen to hear from their community.

“Following five months of discussion and collaboration, I’m confident that we have crafted a balanced Integrated Business Plan which will support the city’s continued economic and cultural growth.

“I encourage anyone interested to have their say about how we are supporting our capital city’s growth through initiatives that promote increased private investment, attract more visitors, help to grow our residential population and create new jobs.”

Cr Abiad said the final Integrated Business Plan would be formally voted upon by Councillors on 25 June once feedback from the consultation period has been considered.

The draft plan is available here.