24 Sept, 2019

E-Scooter Trial Extension on the Next Council Meeting Agenda

The City of Adelaide will vote on granting e-scooter operators Beam and Ride an additional three months trial until the end of January 2020 in its next meeting on Tuesday 24 September.

The additional extension will enable council staff to develop operating guidelines based upon feedback and to prepare an Expression of Interest (EoI) with a view to continue the use of e-scooters in the City of Adelaide.

Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Sandy Verschoor, said that e-scooters had proven to be a popular mode of transport.

“E-scooters provide people with even more options for getting around our city, and we are now also looking to include North Adelaide within the operating area for the extended trial period.

“Approximately 141,000 trips were taken by 33,000 users between April and September, showing that there is a solid demand for this convenient and sustainable transport option.”

Also on next Tuesday’s agenda is the request from Renewal SA to remove 11 trees from outside Lot Fourteen.

“The removal of the trees would enable a State Government-funded, multi-million dollar streetscape upgrade, which will not only open up Lot 14 to the rest of the city, but more importantly extend the much-loved cultural boulevard right down to the East End,” said the Lord Mayor.

“The Lot Fourteen redevelopment is an opportunity to reimagine what role the east end of North Terrace plays in the city and a key objective is to connect the Botanical Gardens with North Terrace in an integrated manner.

“The proposed improvements to the public realm would not be possible while retaining the existing trees, as the new, wider footpath and the construction work would most likely damage and impact the tree root zone, thus impacting on health and stability. The trees will be replaced with 12 semi-mature trees.

“This is an incredibly difficult and emotive decision to make, one of the hardest that this council has had to make. We want to retain the trees but there is no other way to progress with the project and complete the city’s premier boulevard,” said the Lord Mayor.

“It is important that we look at all the information before us and make a decision based on that.”

Council will also consider the draft community land management plan for Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14) for consultation, and opportunities for a Men’s Shed in the City of Adelaide. If endorsed, Council staff will implement a competitive expression of interest process for the delivery of a Men’s Shed project in the city.

“The Australian Federal Government’s National Male Health Strategy 2020 - 2030 recognises the usefulness of Men’s Sheds to improving men’s health outcomes,” said the Lord Mayor.

“An Adelaide Men’s Shed would provide opportunities for men to gather informally in the city, in a space and way that supports them to connect and be purposeful.”

Our Councillors continue to work hard to represent their constituents and the interests of all who visit the city and North Adelaide. To that end, one question on notice and eight motions on notice have also been lodged by members ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting.

More information is available in the agenda here.

The Council meeting commences at 6:00pm on Tuesday 24 September.

Paula Stevens