Bollards coming for Adelaide's mall

Adelaide's Rundle Mall should have permanent bollards in place by the end of February to increase security, the lord mayor says.

"Places need to be safe and they also need to be seen to be safe. There's a perception and reality thing we need to manage," Martin Haese told ABC radio on Friday.

The action comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on states and territories to beef up security in public places following the deadly Bourke Street rampage in Melbourne.

Mr Haese says Rundle Mall is the city's main retail area and a key public space.

The bollards will be placed at either end of the mall and will be designed to allow traders access in vehicles at different times.

Mr Haese said the council also continued to work with the state government to ensure the safety of public events across the city.

"We recognise, quite unfortunately, that we're probably operating in a somewhat different environment than what we were a few years ago," he said.

"That's a little bit sad in itself but it might be a reality."