Lord Mayor pushes for new West End tram loop

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison wants the tramline to be looped through the West End, saying it would inject life into the neglected side of town.

In his final few months in office, Mr Harbison will lobby the State and Federal governments to help fund a western tram loop along West Tce, Morphett or Gray streets then onto Grote St and back to Victoria Square (see map).

In campaigning for the August 21 Federal Election, both Labor and Liberal parties say they will look at the idea.Mr Harbison said the western loop had already been identified by the State Government as the next best tram project following the now-completed $162 million extension from North Tce to the Entertainment Centre on Port Rd.

He was confident it would be supported by both levels of government considering the first extension had “paid off so handsomely”. “The south end of the city has already seen a surge in developments because of the easy access now offered to Rundle Mall and the State Government also expects to see urban regeneration to the Clipsal area (Bowden),” he said.

“And with the Federal Government’s renewed interest in cities … I’m hopeful we and the State Government may receive some assistance.”

Mr Harbison said a western loop was better than expanding the line to North Adelaide because the north side of town was already so densely populated, with limited opportunities for growth and change.

“The western precinct is a very large area, it’s centrally located but presently it’s just a sea of rusty roofs.”

Mr Harbison denied he was just calling for the extension now, when he is about to leave the City Council, and will not have to see the project fulfilled.

“I’ve advocated for this from the very start.”

Adelaide MHR Kate Ellis (Labor) said she had yet to see a proposal but would be “interested in further details”. “The previous tram extension has been a huge success and we know from overseas experience that trams can be a great driver of urban renewal,” she said. “But to work, these kind of projects need to be done properly.” Liberal candidate Luke Westley said it was “certainly viable”, although he had not received a formal funding request. “I will be more than happy to look at a proposal once the Lord Mayor puts something to us,” he said.

Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the government was already busy with the next extension to Port Adelaide and Semaphore, although he believed the western loop was a likely goer “at some point in the future”. “Any project such as a western loop would be a valuable benefit to the city and help to drive enormous growth,” he said.

He was unsure how much it would cost to fund the project.

via Messenger News