Looking West
Date: Dec 03, 2024
Category: Insights
A proposition to repair our city
Infrastructure means more than roads
The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project being advanced by the Australian and South Australian Governments is aimed at completing a dedicated, non-stop north-south transport corridor through the length of Adelaide. Are we thinking ambitiously enough about how this project – a once in a generation project in terms of its scale – could benefit the city more widely? What could its completion mean beyond its important yet functional goal of improving Adelaide’s transport network?
The T2D project, which will tunnel the major north-south transport route beneath the city’s inner western suburbs, presents an unprecedented opportunity to reclaim urban space for regeneration, public use and ecological restoration. By markedly decreasing surface traffic, the project is set to improve air quality and could could foster the creation of green belts that seamlessly connect the urban core to the coast, enhancing mobility and connectivity to natural spaces.
The T2D project, which will tunnel the major north-south transport route beneath the city’s inner western suburbs, presents an unprecedented opportunity to reclaim urban space for regeneration, public use and ecological restoration. By markedly decreasing surface traffic, the project is set to improve air quality and could could foster the creation of green belts that seamlessly connect the urban core to the coast, enhancing mobility and connectivity to natural spaces.
Map of Adelaide depicting where the Torrens to Darlington corridor will intersect with the suburbs and where the proposed urban development clusters will be located. The proposal would include relocating Adelaide airport to Parafield, 20km north from the Adelaide CBD.
Brownhill Creek, an award winning example of ecological restoration in Adelaide | Photographer: Dan Schultz
Reclaiming spaces for life
More than a transport corridor, the T2D project envisions city shaping as a key benefit, with increased infill mixed use development, a holistic enhancement of urban life, better connecting communities and promoting ecological rejuvenation. We’re excited by the ambition of the project, and we would like to think a little more ambitiously about how to capture the opportunities it creates.
For instance, as industry moves further out from the city, the increasing availability of the previously light industrial lands immediately west of the city offer enormous potential to contribute to housing supply and supporting population growth in line with the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan objective of increasing population density across the city to 46% over the next 30 years.
With these two drivers in mind, we would like to share a vision for the transformation of the city’s west, using a series of tactical urban responses that capitalise on the benefits the completion of the North-South Corridor will bring to the city, while improving the environmental condition, liveability and housing supply across the western suburbs.
For instance, as industry moves further out from the city, the increasing availability of the previously light industrial lands immediately west of the city offer enormous potential to contribute to housing supply and supporting population growth in line with the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan objective of increasing population density across the city to 46% over the next 30 years.
With these two drivers in mind, we would like to share a vision for the transformation of the city’s west, using a series of tactical urban responses that capitalise on the benefits the completion of the North-South Corridor will bring to the city, while improving the environmental condition, liveability and housing supply across the western suburbs.
The infrastructure of the living
A green network
Maximising the benefits of tunnelling our road infrastructure across the city, key arterial routes from the city to the coast could be regenerated, creating green corridors from the beach to the city (and continuing to the Adelaide Hills). These routes would promote active transport options such as walking and cycling. They would serve as crucial green corridors, improving air quality and offering recreational opportunities, enhancing residents’ physical and mental well-being.
The corridors could link existing golf courses to the west, north and south and would create an expansive network of recreational areas that encourage outdoor activities and social interaction. This initiative would further biodiversity and ecological connectivity, creating habitats for local wildlife and promoting environmental stewardship among the community.
The corridors could link existing golf courses to the west, north and south and would create an expansive network of recreational areas that encourage outdoor activities and social interaction. This initiative would further biodiversity and ecological connectivity, creating habitats for local wildlife and promoting environmental stewardship among the community.
Speculative vision of the western suburbs, including a repurposed airport site as a new urban development with new housing, green spaces and connection to both Adelaide city and the sea.
Keswick Creek would be transformed into a functional green space with new amenities, bike networks, pedestrian access as well as improved stormwater management reducing flood risks for the city.
Richmond Road reimagined with improved cycle lanes, pedestrian access, as well as new public realm and a new tramline connecting West Beach to Adelaide City.
Reimagining the western suburbs
Anzac Highway reimagined with an over the railway urban development, offering expansive community spaces that blend seamlessly into the Adelaide Park Lands. The vision includes new cycleways, creating easy connections to the city and surrounding green areas.
Caring for Adelaide
Adelaide’s uniqueness lies in its perfect balance of nature, culture, affordability, and accessibility, making it a highly liveable and appealing city to live. Framed by the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Gulf of St Vincent, and the northern plains, the city is surrounded by world class food and wine regions, with a diversity of cultural offerings that compare with many global cities of a similar scale.
The challenges inherent in such a transformation, such as land acquisition, funding, contamination remediation, and ensuring meaningful engagement with Traditional Owners, require thoughtful planning, collaboration, and a commitment to innovative solutions. Through careful management and a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth, the vision for Adelaide’s western suburbs can be realised, making it a more liveable, resilient, and dynamic part of the city.
The challenges inherent in such a transformation, such as land acquisition, funding, contamination remediation, and ensuring meaningful engagement with Traditional Owners, require thoughtful planning, collaboration, and a commitment to innovative solutions. Through careful management and a focus on sustainable and inclusive growth, the vision for Adelaide’s western suburbs can be realised, making it a more liveable, resilient, and dynamic part of the city.
Bowden Main Park showcases how repurposing infrastructure can be used as a driver to improve the public realm | Photographer: Sweet Lime Photography
About
Tim is a Studio Director of our Adelaide studio. He has over twenty years’ experience as an urban designer and landscape architect with skills ranging from master planning and strategic design to detailed design of the public realm.
Peter is a Studio Director in the Adelaide studio. He has over thirty years’ design experience delivering significant multi-disciplinary landscape and public realm projects in South Australia, interstate and internationally.
