What is ‘Main Street Revitalisation’?

    Main streets are the physical, economic, social and cultural hearts of their communities. They are important places for trade and commerce and play a crucial role in community connection and neighbourhood character. 

    Main street revitalisation refers to the planned process of implementing initiatives and fostering main street environments that support thriving main street communities. 

    How is Council delivering main street revitalisation?

    In 2020 City of Adelaide identified Hindley Street, Hutt Street, Melbourne Street and O’Connell Street as priority main streets for an intensive program of Main Street Revitalisation. 

    Successful main street revitalisation plans deliver initiatives that are tailored to place and Council values the knowledge and aspirations of our community members and stakeholders. To progress main street revitalisation Place Coordinators were appointed as single-point-of-contacts for each of these main streets in March 2021, and commenced a process of targeted data gathering and stakeholder engagement. 

    What we heard from the community informed the development of the Vision and Master Plans and an ongoing program of activation with initiatives implemented to add vibrancy. 

    The Main Street Master Plans reflect and respond to the individual character, circumstances and aspirations of each of the priority main streets.

    What is a ‘Place model’ approach to main street revitalisation?

    A ‘Place model’ approach is about doing some things quickly to make a difference, experiencing, and evaluating what works, before investing in long-term change. 

    It is based on listening to and asking questions of the people who live, work, and play in our places to discover their needs and aspirations and then implementing solutions.

    Work continues in each main street on short- and medium-term initiatives to add vibrancy to each street and trial and test new approaches that may be adopted in the longer term.

    Where is Council on the main street revitalisation journey?

    The place-led approach to main street revitalisation for all four priority main streets has been underway since February 2021. 

    Since this time, City of Adelaide has embarked on a targeted engagement program through Lord Mayor’s Roundtable sessions and conversations with dedicated Place Coordinators on each priority main street. Concurrently, data gathering has included focus group sessions, City User Profile Survey targeted questions, Residents Survey targeted questions and business / stakeholder engagement.

    Over this period, Main Street initiatives have been implemented to add vibrancy to each street and to trial and test new approaches that may be adopted in the longer term. 

    The Main Street Master Plan drafts for Melbourne Street, Hutt Street, Hindley Street and O’Connell Street were presented to Council in December 2021, with the draft long-term vision and objectives approved for key stakeholder and community engagement. Community feedback on the draft Vision and Objectives was outlined in a report to Council on 14 December 2021. 

    A Main Street Revitalisation and Master Plan update was presented to The Committee on 17 May 2022, and further investigations and analysis to support the progress of the concept plans were undertaken. The May report presented outlined the next steps for implementation of short-term initiatives, and a recommended approach for the spend of the State Government election commitment funding of $3 million for Hutt Street and $1 million for Melbourne Street.

    The following Master Plan update to Council in August 2023 included designs and indicative costings.

    The delivery of the Main Street Master Plans is now being progressed through Council’s Infrastructure team according to the priorities and budget allocations set by Council as part of the annual Business Plan and Budget process.

    The 2023/2024 Business Plan and Budget includes an allocation of $2.4 million for the delivery of the Hindley Street Detailed Design, with an indicative forward estimate within the Long-Term Financial Plan for Hindley Street of $12.6 million for construction occurring in 2024/25 and 2025/26. 

    Place Coordinators continue to work with local communities, traders and stakeholders across the city to deliver an annual program of activations and initiatives that add vibrancy and contribute towards the shared vision of places within the city. 

    How will my feedback impact on improvements on our priority main streets?

    Feedback you provide will be used to inform community priorities and identify new opportunities for each main street. When combined with existing research and data, feedback assists in guiding the implementation of the main street revitalisation action plans for each main street.