1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Homelessness is a thing, as we know, and the Adelaide 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: City Council is trying to find fifty new homes a 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: year by targeting property owners to convert spaces above shops 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: into accommodation into well essentially permanent homes. How's that going 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: to work? Are they up for that sort of challenge 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: that the land owners themselves? Of course, the property owners. 7 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Doctor Jane Lomax Smith, Lord Mayor of the City of Adelaide, 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: Lord Mayor. 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: Good morning, Good morning, good to speak to you. 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: What's been the response. 11 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 2: Well, people are really interested and we've been talking about 12 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 2: it for many months, and interestingly, people have been doing 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: it of their own accord. We keep finding places that 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 2: have already started the conversions and I'm really impressed. But 15 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: I think many of them are just enthusiastic because they've 16 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 2: seen that the council is not there to stop them. 17 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: The council wants to help them. And I think that 18 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: knowing that there are regulations and there are rules, but 19 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 2: we have a staff member who's only job is to 20 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: guide them through all that has given them some confidence. 21 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: Are there incentives for people to do this right reduction? Yeah? 22 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 2: Well, of course, the first thing is that the rates 23 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 2: for accommodation are twenty percent lower than the rates for offices, 24 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: so if there's a conversion, then that's an immediate drop 25 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 2: in rates. The really good news is that we have 26 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: lots of incentives across the board, and we're making sure 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: that they're prioritized for the outcomes of housing. Previously, if 28 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: you had any building that was say heritage listed, or 29 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: that needed sustainability that might be noise reduction or heat 30 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: and cool retention, double glazing and things such as that, 31 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: bringing insulation in, there were grants available. But we're making 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: sure that there are grants specifically for accommodation outcomes because 33 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: we want The outcome we want is more people living 34 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 2: in the city. And however we do that obviously, if 35 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: you build a massive new town block, you might put 36 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: three hundred people in, but it seems almost criminal to 37 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: have shops that have no one living above them, and 38 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: you know, low scale office buildings that are completely vacant. 39 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: It seems, you know, it's bought bad for the owner, 40 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: and it's bad. If we can really just encourage any 41 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: number of those really to converge, then it will be 42 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: someone that isn't desperate for accommodation because we have the 43 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: lowest rental vacancy level in the country. It's less than 44 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: one percent. It zero point six percent, which means that 45 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 2: it's really tough, and it's we're not just talking about 46 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: people who are homeless. We're talking about people who have 47 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: jobs and can't find accommodation. 48 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: They are desperate, absolutely, And as I was saying earlier, 49 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: I went to a couple of options over the weekend 50 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: and open inspections and because of a lower advertised price, 51 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: lower than what much lower in fact than what they're 52 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: ultimately going to get, the places were packed with hundreds 53 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: of people, which just shows you how how can people 54 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 1: are to get hold of some property at the moment. 55 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: But mixed use so residential upstairs, business downstairs. What's the 56 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: rate reflect is it? Do you split it in half 57 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: cheaper up How do you determine how that is paid? 58 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 2: It has to do with the floor area. So whatever 59 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: you've got on the ground floor, if it's a commercial, 60 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: is rated at commercial and it's twenty percent less for 61 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: whatever they ca it's notionally office space, and obviously it's 62 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 2: more expensive. The other good outcome of this is that 63 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 2: the more people you have living over the shops. The 64 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: better the shops do, because of course they're going to 65 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 2: spend money locally. That's what you see in villages and 66 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: towns all over Europe. There's no drama with shops closing 67 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 2: down because everyone's shopping just below. So it will help 68 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 2: the retail sector, it will help property owners, and what 69 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 2: I really want to do is help the housing crisis. 70 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: We've had office towers converted to accommodation in the city, 71 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: most notably, I suppose the tax office comes to mind 72 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: to me the former tax officer on King William Street 73 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: next to Edmund Wright House that's now primarily student accommodation. 74 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: Do we have other big empty buildings like a towers 75 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: that are sitting empty at the moment. 76 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And the issue across the city is that there 77 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: have been really upmarket high rise conversions, and they do 78 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: it all the time in New York, but it usually 79 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: costs a bit more because everybody wants a window and 80 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: to convert air apartments or the old Queen Vick Hospital. 81 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 2: To convert them, you generally have to put a hole 82 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 2: down the middle so you get a light well, and 83 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: you have to build different kinds of lifts and water 84 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: and electricity supply. So it's the most effective and cheapest 85 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: job is in just a two story building that's got 86 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: shops on the ground floor. It helps if we've got 87 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: a separate entrance. Otherwise you have to build one of 88 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: those in maybe two floors. But once it gets higher 89 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: than that, if it's got a big floor print floor plan, 90 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: it's a problem to get light in all the rooms. 91 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 2: So different sizes of building bring different problems. But the 92 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 2: good news is we you know, we're not here to 93 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 2: stop people. We want to help people. We want to 94 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 2: help property owners. And having a member of staff whose 95 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: only job is to sort of triage and guide them 96 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: through the legislation, the plant, the accreditation, all the things 97 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: they need that we hope will be really helpful. And 98 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: if anyone has any property, we'd love to talk to them. 99 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: We've actually done a bit of an ordered and we've 100 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 2: found that there are easily one hundred and forty eight 101 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: properties that we think we can adapt. But we do 102 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: our talking to some property owners. But that's clearly what 103 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: we have to do. People have to think of it, 104 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: they have to want to do it, and they have 105 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: to see that there are some dollars to help them 106 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: and actually being able to put fifty thousand dollars into 107 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: a development actually might just take the pain away for 108 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:50,479 Speaker 2: property owners. 109 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely, So okay, one hundred and forty eight properties, and 110 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: presumably that's at least one dwelling then possibly even more 111 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,559 Speaker 1: in depending on the side the building. 112 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,919 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's not going to solve the housing crisis, because 113 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: I say it's wicked not to give it a go. 114 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: A couple of other issues. While I've got you, the 115 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: Adelaide Aquatic Center to close this week. You disappointed it's 116 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: not staying open at least until the new center is built. 117 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: Oh well, I'm a swimmer and I love that pool. 118 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: I mean I felt a bit nostalgic, and I know 119 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: the staff were really mortified that it was closing. They've 120 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: all been they've all found other jobs in swimming centers, 121 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: and a few of them have retired. A few of 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: them were casual it self. I'm sorry that it has 123 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 2: to close, but the government's done the amazing job in 124 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: relocating all the swim clubs and activities to nearby pools. 125 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 2: They've invested big time in upgrading other people's pools, which 126 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 2: is a great legacy from this project. But it's a 127 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: matter of trying to get everything in a small space, 128 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: and what they have done is trying to decrease the 129 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 2: footprint because it's a really badly designed I mean, I 130 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 2: love the pool, but it was an outdoor pool. It's 131 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 2: just had a tent shaped thing stuck on the top. 132 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 2: What they've done is they've economized on floor area, pushed 133 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 2: everything into a smaller plate, and they've been able to 134 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 2: return some area to parkland. So I'm disappointed, but at 135 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 2: the end of the day, goodness is going to be 136 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: an amazing product. The other thing that's really astounding, and 137 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: I keep going on about not wanting to demolish buildings 138 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: because the building you don't demolish has got the best 139 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: environmental values because you're not losing all those embedded energy details. 140 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 2: But they have managed They're recycling just about everything in 141 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 2: the building. They're giving materials to other clubs, they're putting plants, 142 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: moving the plants, reusing the concrete. I mean, I just 143 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: think that this is going to be a really good 144 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 2: sustainable development plus all the other measures in I mean, 145 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: I know, no one's really interesting in car parking, but 146 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: the present car parking is solid and it doesn't let 147 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: water drain in to keep the trees alive. And the 148 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: new design is permeable, and you know, to have a 149 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: permeable car parking area is you know, cutting it. That's 150 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 2: what we want. We want to keep the trees all 151 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: So you know, I'm as much as anyone sorry that 152 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: trees were cut down. But at the end of the day, 153 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: the government's putting in really advanced trees so that it's 154 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 2: a bit quicker turnaround. And at the end of the day, 155 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: I can't wait for it to open. 156 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: Yes, shame it's closing early. It was promised to stay 157 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: open while the new work continues, but nevertheless it is closing. 158 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: So that's that the other issue. And thanks to Julie 159 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: who's reminded me on a text this morning we were chatting, 160 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: not you and I, but I was here on five 161 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: double A with listeners about a proposal the Adelaide City 162 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: Council's put forward. And I understand from media reports at 163 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: the time you're all in favor of it reducing the 164 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: width of West Terrace, taking traffic away. How well on 165 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: God's Earth is that going to work for people coming 166 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 1: in and out of the city. 167 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: Well, oddly enough, they're not coming in out of the city. 168 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: And it's one of the ironies. North Terrace and West 169 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 2: Terrace are through arterial roads and most of the traffic 170 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: on West Terrace and North Terrace is going through the city, 171 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: so these are not coming in and it will be 172 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 2: if we had better public transport, perhaps if there were 173 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 2: a ring road that took it away. As it is, 174 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 2: our terraces are our premium, both retail and residential areas 175 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: East Terrace, South Terrace, North Terrace are fabulous. But West 176 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: Terrace is a ten lane motorway. And I know because 177 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 2: I live close to West Terrace that if you're up 178 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 2: about two or three stories you can actually see the sea. 179 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: It is premium land. Not only can you see the sea, 180 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: you're looking at the parklands. But believe me, if you 181 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: ever try and get across West Terrace, you take your 182 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: life in your hands. It's ten lanes. I'm reasonably agile. 183 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: I can just out get to the center island before 184 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 2: the nights change, and there I am stranded in the middle. 185 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 2: It's amazing. It's a huge motorway. 186 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: People shouldn't be stranded on. And I see this happening 187 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: on Greenhill Road at the Hut Road intersection with George 188 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: Street on the other side. The lights only take people 189 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: halfway across, and that's just nonsense to be standing in 190 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: the middle. But that's another story. You've got roads feeding 191 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: into West Terrace, Port Road feeds in, and Zac Highway 192 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: feeds in. Goodwood Road feeds in. There's no escaping it's 193 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: a major road and narrowing it down. I mean, where 194 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: on earth is all that traffic going to go well? 195 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 2: As I say, this is an aspiration, it's a dream. 196 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 2: If you don't want to have aspirations and you want 197 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 2: business as usual, then it's pretty boring. 198 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: But a drink can become a nightmare. If all that 199 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: traffic ends up on you know, stranded in one corridor 200 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: along Railway Terrace at my end, that's a nightmare. 201 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: No I said that you would need to build a 202 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: ring road and improve transport in other places. As it is, 203 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 2: people go the shortest distance. And believe me, there are 204 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 2: a lot of times of the day when Morphitz Street 205 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: is bumpered mumper and so is West Terrace. It's not 206 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: functioning well now. And just think about it. If you 207 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: could live on West Terrace and it learnt all car yards, 208 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: that's an aspiration. If you want business as usual not 209 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: to do anything, well that's fine, but I think you 210 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: have to plan for the future, not planned for the past. 211 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: We need to put it underground, don't we. I mean, 212 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: the traffic isn't going to go away. It's still going 213 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: to come in from Flagstaff Hill, for instance. All the 214 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: people living out there are still going to come in 215 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: on Goodwood Road and end up on West Terrace. So 216 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: if they don't go above ground, well they need to 217 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 1: go under it. 218 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 2: The thing I've learned about traffic management is you don't 219 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 2: fiddle with something in one place and expect a miracle 220 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: to occur. It's a whole network issue and it will 221 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 2: have to be changed if it's changed with considerations about 222 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: how everything flows. You can never just fiddle in one place. 223 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 2: That's a risk for the desire. But we're the city 224 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 2: of Adelaide and we have aspirations to make it a 225 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 2: better place to live. Can't blame us for that, no. 226 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: Indeed, Lord Me are always good chatting with you. Thank you, 227 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: thanks a lot, Bobby, Jane Low, Max Smith