Predictably, the jury was not happy with the removal of car parking, although council has defended only 10 spaces have been taken away from 1250 in the CBD area.
More favourably, some have been swayed by the good-looking planter boxes which are livening up Graves Street.
Nothing wrong with adding a bit of beauty to the main street and making it more attractive.
However, I’m not sure a trial was the way to go. It is added expense, however minimal, and just opens the door for negative criticism.
I understand council is trying to do the right thing by including the public, as it is often criticised for not doing so, but this opportunity was given through the process with WAX Designs during the past 12 months.
If people chose not to engage then, that’s their bad luck.
Council should have just gone ahead with its CBD plans, copped the negative feedback and, after a while, everyone would have become accustomed to the changes and maybe even grown to like them.
Council said it wants the public to have input on things like which pavers they want. But, inevitably, given the choice, people are going to be split in opinion about which they prefer.
Ask a landscaper which paver is hardier, likely to stand the test of time yet is attractive and just go with it!
Rundle Mall has also undergone a redevelopment recently.
Shoppers and business owners were inconvenienced as workers dug up the entire mall and replaced it with paving and beautification which doesn’t really seem to be much improvement on what was there before.
If money is going to be spent, people want to see significant change. And, whilst on the subject of change, nobody likes it but they get used to it eventually!
Amie Price, Editor
