Peel Street and Leigh Street are about to get a whole lot better folks! A mission to brighten up these city laneways has begun, with up to 400 metres of ambient lighting going across the streets very soon.
We can just see it now – a balmy summers night bar hopping between the laneways under gorgeous layers of glowing festoon lighting. And finally, Peel Street will be trialling It’s “Long Weekends on Peel Street”, where the laneway is closed off to traffic awkwardly driving through the strip.
Renewal SA General Manager for People and Place Management, Georgina Vasilevski says the addedadditional ambient lighting adds to Adelaide’s evening and night-time economy.
“Improvements like these make a big difference in encouraging people to visit and invest in our CBD by spending longer in our laneways, dining with friends and family,” Ms Vasilevski said.
“Since the introduction of the Small Venue Licence in 2013, approximately 70 new venues have popped up across Adelaide’s laneways stimulating 900 jobs and $70 million in economic activity.”
The activation lighting adds to the revitalisation of Adelaide’s small streets and laneways reinforcing the unique qualities that make Adelaide accessible and liveable.
Renewal SA and the City of Adelaide are working in partnership to improve ambient lighting and revitalise our laneways. In June 2016 the South Australian Government and City of Adelaide committed $14.6 million to transform a network of small streets and laneways between the Adelaide Central Market and Riverbank to create a destination where communities and businesses can thrive.
The network includes Bank Street, Leigh Street, Topham Mall, Bentham Street and Pitt Street. In addition, Peel Street is being closed to traffic in a trial known as ‘Long Weekends on Peel Street’. The changes are the first steps towards a long-term plan to enhance Peel Street.
City of Adelaide Director of Operations, Beth Davidson-Park, says the new lighting is great for all the local businesses because it allows for a more vibrant and cosmopolitan place.
“This is a great opportunity to have more people enjoying outdoor dining on weekends, relaxing and enjoying the sunshine and atmosphere,” Ms Davidson-Park said.
“It’s exciting to see our laneways thriving with growing numbers of pedestrians walking through, and the new lighting makes the area even more safer and appealing.”
Alfred’s Bar director Scott Quick from Peel Street says the concept of the festoon lighting is a good one.
“It’s great to see Renewal SA and the City of Adelaide trialling lighting options for Peel Street and is a talking point for people coming to the street,” Mr Quick said.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing a permanent lighting solution and with the right installation and soft globes, I feel that the festoon lighting could help create a ‘connected community’ between all the venues along Peel St.”