SOUTH Australia's Premier Jay Weatherill last week launched the Property Council's new vision for Adelaide's CBD, titled 'City of Lights'.

Property Council of Australia (SA Division) Executive Director Nathan Paine said the Premier's decision to launch the new paper is a clear sign of a shared industry-government determination to revitalise the City.

"The Premier's dedication to a revitalised CBD has already been etched into history with implementation Adelaide City Development Plan Amendment and his support for the Splash Adelaide street activation project," Mr Paine said.

"These accomplishments represent progress against the high-level economic needs of the City, and show what can be achieved at street-level."

Mr Paine said "City of Lights builds on these accomplishments and fills the gaps in between." The new blueprint is the follow-up to 'Adelaide 2036: Building on Light's Vision', the Property Council's 2009.

The 2009 blueprint called for major city-building projects such as the Riverbank and Adelaide Oval redevelopments, the upgrade of Rundle Mall and the rezoning of boulevards surrounding the CBD to take advantage of vistas across the Park Lands into the City.

The Property Council said that with almost half of the recommendations of Adelaide 2036 having been delivered or appreciably progressed, City of Lights takes the next step, dropping down to street level to make regulatory and other changes that will free up investment in CBD activation.

According to the Property Council, key new recommendations include:

• Legislate to create a small bar category to enable small laneway bars to obtain fast-track approval for liquor licensing as a special category of low-risk, culturally-desirable licenced premises;
• Commit a percentage of the Open Space Fund to help resource activation of Park Lands and Squares;
• Appoint a Government official to coordinate a year-round program of City-based events to extend the "Mad March" vibe year-round;
• Abolish stamp duty on off-the-plan sales of new apartments of up to $500,000 for a period of two years, after which it should be brought into line with house-and-land packages;
• Deliver a tram loop around the city as a key catalyst for urban regeneration; and
• Introduce a "no car" housing loan to recognise the additional purchasing power available to households for whom vehicle ownership is unnecessary.

"We don't necessarily expect the Weatherill Government will immediately endorse and agree with every recommendation in City of Lights, but the fact that the Premier is launching this document speaks volumes about the Government's intent," Mr Paine said.

"City of Lights provides the "how to" guide for City activation; we have the shared will, major city activation projects are underway, the community is on board; now it's time for us to roll up our sleeves and finish the job."

The Property Council's blueprint for Adelaide, City of Lights, is available from the Property Council of Australia website at <http://www.propertyoz.com.au/>.