City Council under fire over cheaper paver plan

FIRST ON 7: The Adelaide City Council is under fire over plans to roll out cheap paving across the CBD.

Light-coloured pavers have already been rolled out in Pirie St, but critics have slammed them as cheap and nasty and want the council the go for a darker option.

A new urban design plan proposed white concrete pavers for most footpaths throughout the CBD and large parts of North Adelaide.

“They show up the gum, they look cheap and they’re glarey when you’re walking along on a sunny day,” City Cuncillor Sandy Wilkinson said.

David Chick from Adelaide City Council said: “There’s pros and cons… generally darker colours radiate more heat and that’s certainly a concern.”

The council estimates the charcoal pavers would cost an extra $10 million, but critics say adding pigment to the concrete is cheap.

“For a marginal increase in cost, we could have the dark gray pigmented flagstone,” Mr Wilkinson said.

The council has agreed to trial the charcoal pavers on one city street.

In another stir, North Adelaide’s historic bluestone curbs have not been guaranteed a future in the strategy.

“It would be a shame to rip up what people come and see and replace it with boring old concrete,” City Councillor Anne Moran said.

The city council said that had been picked up and they want to ensure the bluestone curbs are retained.