Prominent Jetty Rd, Glenelg landlord Andrew Taplin blasts council's handling of $40m strip upgrade

Glenelg's largest landlord has blasted the council over its $40m Jetty Rd upgrade, saying abandoned night works have left traders facing a summer of disruption.

Glenelg’s most prominent Jetty Rd landlord has slammed the local council’s handling of its chaotic $40m upgrade of the precinct, saying more could have been done to avoid a summer of disruption for worried traders along the beachside strip.

Taplin Group managing director Andrew Taplin says he’s been kept in the dark about why the council shelved plans to undertake night works, which would have fast-tracked the project and opened up more of the street to cars and pedestrians heading into the peak trading season.

“The return communication hasn’t been what I would expect, and if it was private enterprise you’d probably be publicly criticised if you were doing this sort of thing,” he said.

“Originally it was planned that there would be night works and after hours works and that’s not happening. I know that’s upset a number of local traders. A lot of people supported the scheme and they did so on the basis of, ‘here’s what we’re promising you’, and it hasn’t come through exactly as it should have.

“Glenelg makes its hay in the summer months, particularly December and January, and it’s going to be really important to get the street reopened, even if it’s not fully reopened, so people can get access and get down here and support the traders.”

Arshia Ghayem at his family’s Massey Espresso Cucina Dolce cafe on Jetty Rd. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Holdfast Bay council accelerated construction work for the Jetty Rd face-lift to coincide with the state government’s six month Glenelg tram shutdown and tram grade separation project.

That has required sections of Jetty Rd to be shut down to cars until the end of December as the council looks to complete the entire project by the middle of next year, more than a year earlier than originally planned.

But the road closures and maze of temporary pedestrian walkways have left many traders on the strip in a fight for survival – and others shutting their doors altogether – amid a huge decline in visitor numbers to the precinct.

The scene of disruption on Jetty Rd. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A Holdfast Bay council spokeswoman said it had managed to shave five months off the total construction time as part of its accelerated approach.

But the significant financial cost involved with night works, and the additional disruption to local residents and traders, were key reasons behind the council’s decision not to proceed with night works.

“Night works were considered during planning but have been limited for several reasons,” she said.

Property developer and major Jetty Rd landlord Andrew Taplin has slammed the works. Picture: Ben Clark

“Many businesses in the precinct operate both day and night, and extending construction into the evening hours would significantly impact trade and amenity. Night works also create noise and disruption for residents and hotel visitors and incur substantial additional costs.

“For these reasons, night works were not planned as part of the accelerated schedule, although some low-impact work occurs on Saturday mornings.”

The Taplin family is the biggest landlord in the Jetty Rd precinct, owning a string of properties along the strip, including The George hotel which opened its doors for the first time earlier this year.

Mr Taplin said the group had provided rent relief to tenants hit hardest by the roadworks.

“We’re the biggest landholder down here at Jetty Rd, and we’re the biggest property management group, and we’re working very closely and doing what we can to support them through these times,” he said.

“We have to be in the trenches with them, to support them – this is their livelihood.”

Arshia Ghayem, a manager at his family’s Massey cafe, said that like many other Jetty Rd traders, he held serious concerns about the impact of the roadworks on the crucial summer months and upcoming major events.

“November, December, the Christmas pageant, the City-to-Bay, the Tour Down Under – all these events that happen once or twice a year, we rely on those because they’re the heavier hitting days – now we just won’t have that,” he said.

Visitor numbers to Jetty Road have dived. Picture: Emma Brasier

“You pay the rents on Jetty Rd, and it’s a lot, and you pay that money because you know you’re going to get the foot traffic, you’re going to get the tram, you’re going to get all the benefits of the beach. But now we’re paying the same rent and you’re getting none of those benefits. We’re lucky we have the regulars, but not everybody has that.

“The earlier part of Jetty Rd (upgrade), that was all night works and people barely even noticed they were there. There’s more cafes down where we are, there’s more people usually ... and they just decided to do day-time works, which is very interesting to me.”

A Christmas at the Bay event with market stalls, crafts, face painting and carols will be held on December 6 in Moseley Square and Jimmy Melrose Park in place of the annual Glenelg Christmas pageant.

The Jetty Rd upgrade includes a new entry statement at the Brighton Rd end, new traffic lights, pavers, footpaths and road surface, a new shared zone with pedestrians on Durham St and stormwater upgrades.

The council spokeswoman confirmed that by “late December”, paved footpaths and garden beds between Moseley Square and Sussex St would be completed, and the section of Jetty Rd west of Partridge St would reopen to cars.

The remaining works on pavements and side streets will be completed by mid-2026.