The manager of a popular rooftop bar in Adelaide city fears for the future of his venue if construction of a new 38-storey skyscraper in Festival Plaza goes ahead.
Walker Corporation is yet to receive development approval for the 149m tower that could be built behind Parliament House and alongside the existing Festival Plaza tower, opposite the railway station.
But the project has received the support of the South Australian Government, which said it would create more than 9500 jobs.
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Palmer Hospitality Group manages rooftop bar, 2KW on North Tce, which has sweeping views of Adelaide Oval and the Festival Theatre.
Director Martin Palmer said it would be a “great shame” if the skyscraper went ahead, blocking the bar’s drawcard view.
“What we’ll see is basically a big and large, steel tower,” Palmer said.
“We lose and the city loses a very unique view that has become an important thing for people in Adelaide to experience.”
Plans for the second Festival Plaza Tower include two storeys dedicated to food and beverage stores, a terrace level dining area, commercial office space and public event spaces.
Palmer said if the development goes ahead, it will mean the business will have to rethink its marketing.
“It will change the business because we will use one of our absolutely unique things and in hospitality to have a unique element is very, very important,” he said.
“We hope that we can adapt and survive.”
SA Greens planning spokesperson Robert Simms called the new tower a “monstrosity”.
“There’s only one thing worse than a skyscraper towering over Parliament House and that’s two skyscrapers,” Simms said.
“This 38-storey monstrosity will totally overshadow the Plaza. It’s a sad indictment on the Labor Party that yet another office tower is the best they can come up with for this iconic site.
“I hope that taxpayers will not be asked to subsidise this capture of our public space and the government must reveal how much the Walker Corporation will be paying to lease this site.”