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https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 251c3a4806

Holdfast Bay’s mayor says the Jetty Rd redevelopment project was going ‘flawlessly’ despite multiple business closures

Multiple businesses have now closed amid the Jetty Rd redevelopment, despite the mayor saying to date there “had not been one single issue” in the upgrade.

Glenelg’s mayor is insisting the Jetty Rd redevelopment is going “flawlessly” despite multiple businesses being forced to close in what an industry expert says is “disgraceful” for traders.

Independent Supermarket Retailers Guild chief executive Colin Shearing has slammed the $40m redevelopment of Jetty Rd that has been attributed to businesses closing down, and others reducing operating hours.

He said the Holdfast Bay Council’s lack of consultation, and its involvement in the Jetty Road Mainstreet Committee, had “intimidated” business owners and “almost surreptitiously” prioritised the council’s intentions over the impacts they may have on businesses.

Mayor Amanda Wilson “completely rejected” the allegation and said all members of the committee “even went out for a drink” after the last meeting.

She said the upgrade had been going “flawlessly” and to date there “had not been one single issue”, but the project’s successes had been “completely lost in the hysteria”.

The Jetty Road Mainstreet Committee is made up of 13 members, including nine business owners, two independent members and two councillor representatives.

The committee’s chair, Gilia Martin – who is the owner of Attitudes Boutique – said allegations of intimidation were “unfounded”.

“We care about traders, we’re made up of landlords, traders, councillors who are going to be listening to conversations and advocating for Jetty Rd,” she said.

“We’re a subsidiary of the council. We have to abide by all of the rules and regulations of the council.”

Mr Shearing said Jetty Rd businesses were facing a “war zone” – with the further closure this week of Yiros Shack Cafe.

“The perception is that this is a bureaucratic building disaster. If (the council) had been consulting right from the get-go we wouldn’t see this disaster unfolding before us,” he said.

“Business knows what business wants, and councils will never understand that. (Councils) need to facilitate the process, they should be roads, rates, rubbish and have these very intelligent business owners getting into a committee and taking the lead.

“Businesses should be going to the council and saying ‘hey guys, this is what we’ve come up with’, and ‘this is why we think this won’t work’; at the moment that’s never happened.”

Ms Wilson said everyone should “be excited” about the Jetty Rd redevelopment which would “be finished really, really soon”.

She said “people think (the project) is chaotic” but “it’s not at all”.

“It’s so well managed,” she said.

“All of the shops are open and this weekend we’re going to start opening up for outdoor dining.”

Yiros Shack Cafe, Loud Cow Bar and Grill and Vodafone Glenelg have all permanently closed.