The Town Square within the city centre site will be a valued place for the community to gather, relax and enjoy. Set amongst high quality, medium-rise buildings, the Town Square design focuses on creating energy and activity with a variety of shops, cafes, and community facilities that will surround and activate the space.

As a place for day-to-day use the Town Square will be ideally positioned to connect to the surrounding retail, commercial, civic, and accommodation precinct. The ground level layout and land uses of these surrounding buildings will seek to complement the Square and in the case of the Community Hub, provide indoor flexible areas that enable the Town Square activities to expand.

While our existing parklands host an impressive array of large events, there is an opportunity for the town square to host intimate ceremonies, gatherings, music and film events as well as being a place to meet.

Pedestrian movement through the site is achieved through a series of laneways linking to the existing street network including strengthened connection, via Stephen Street, to the Gawler Street precinct.

The core area of the town square is 1,500 square metres, however an adjoining piazza has been expanded through the amended master plan, creating a larger, total open space. IF required, adjoining roads can also be closed for large events. The square size has been designed to ensure:

• the space feels activated on a daily basis with an active edge (retail, hospitality, community uses)
• it can host small to medium community events (it is not a major event space – other Council venues can play this role – KSP, SSRP, Polo Grounds, etc)
• the site can accommodate sufficient built form/floor area to support employment and activity that intern – activates the space

Background - 2021 Town Square Consultation

In November 2021, community consultation on a concept design for the town square was undertaken. This was done in conjunction with Burke Urban Investments (BUI) releasing their masterplan for the overall site.

While Council’s consultation was targeted towards the Town Square, significant feedback for the City Centre masterplan was also received.

In March 2022, a Council Information Briefing session was held to provide updates on the feedback from the community. A summary of this feedback is available in the documents below:

• Snapshot of the Town Square Community Engagement
• Informal Briefing Session and Key Themes of Community Feedback on the Town Square
• Town Square and Stephen Street Concept Design Community Engagement Summary Report
• Additional Project / Broader Feedback Community Engagement Summary Report

Council understands that not all the feedback received for the Town Square was positive and further work is required to ensure the project closely reflects community aspirations.

Council will be undertaking further consultation on the Town Square to refine feedback already received, ensure nothing was missed and provide the community another opportunity for feedback on the project where there is opportunity for change.  The consultation will be focused on the next level of design to ensure that the proposed Town Square supports and reflects the desired uses aspired to by community. Keep an eye out on our Your Say page.