Plan for old hospital expected tomorrow
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill’s string of master plans continues tomorrow when he is scheduled to unveil his long awaited blueprint for the old Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) site.
It is the final piece in the Riverbank Precinct puzzle, but critics want less talk and more action.
The pressure is on the Premier after he declared the Torrens Riverbank will rival the world’s best recreational greenspaces.
Planner Tim Horton was closely involved before his integrated design commission was scrapped.
He predicts an expanded museum, art gallery or cultural centre with some up-market accommodation and at least 30 per cent returned to parklands.
“There is plenty of scope to get it wrong, but I think the process that they’ve followed to date is a good one,” Mr Horton said.
There are plenty of opportunities for the valuable site, but Mr Horton said there is also a list of definite ‘no’s.
“I doubt we’ll see a major Myer music bowl or student housing,” he told 7News.
Opposition leader Stephen Marshall claims two big-ticket items have been left largely forgotten.
He said the old Mitsubishi site redevelopment was a grand promise, but still lacks essential private investment, along with the Bioscience precinct at West Thebarton.
“The Government lost interest in this precinct, then they moved onto Tonsley,” he said.
“They’ve only actually signed up one non-Government tenant in that entire site.”
