A LAST-DITCH bid to keep the iconic Mall's Balls in the centre of Rundle Mall has been voted down by Adelaide City Council.

Councillors voted at last night's meeting to reject the proposal and pursue its plan to shift the Balls 3m to the side as part of the shopping strip's $30 million upgrade, scheduled to start next month.

The council also voted to move the 135-year-old fountain closer to the Adelaide Arcade entrance instead of pursuing the original proposal to shift it out of the mall.

Councillor Sandy Wilkinson, who put forward the motion for the Mall's Balls to stay in the centre, told the meeting moving them would "ruin" the symmetry of the strip and obstruct the reflection of the shops.

However, Councillor Houssam Abiad told the meeting the balls should be moved in line with the master plan, which intends to create a clear passage down the centre of the strip.

The master plan, endorsed last July last, has been criticised by the Mall's Balls creator, Bert Flugelman, 89, who has said the move would "destroy the symmetry" of the mall.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said the details of the master plan would be finalised within two weeks.

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