Adelaide Councillor proposes monitoring of Hutt St but it’s too late for one trader

SECURITY guards could be deployed by the Adelaide City Council to halt the escalating violence that has left Hutt St traders and residents on edge.

Councillor Alex Antic says the issues at Hutt St now need immediate action Picture: Dylan Coker

• Alex Antic: Lasting solution needed for ‘Shut St’

SECURITY guards could be deployed by the Adelaide City Council to halt the escalating violence that has left Hutt St traders and residents on edge.

But the drastic proposal has come too late for one fed-up cafe strip owner, cancelling their lease over persistent drug and alcohol-fuelled violence.

Councillor Alex Antic will put forward a motion for the council to dispatch a team of “precinct safety and surveillance officers’ on the ground at Hutt St. .

Cr Antic told the Advertiser they would observe and report signs of anti-social and criminal behaviour to the relevant authorities.

Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran says more businesses could leave Hutt St.

He hoped it would prompt immediate action to the issues on Hutt St and protect local ratepayers.

“It’s an extreme idea but I think some of the circumstances down there have warranted it,” he said, adding: “I think the situation has been reached where this is needed.”

But Cr Antic’s motion will have to get the approval of his fellow councillors before their officials can even investigate the potential measure at the council’s April 27 meeting.

A property for lease on Hutt St in Adelaide. AAP Image/MATT LOXTON

Several sources told The Advertiser that the owner of Bici Espresso — one of the hot spots for the issues plaguing the street and who had spoken out about the fear — yesterday cancelled their lease.

The Advertiser approached the cafe for comment.

Along with Cr Antic, Cr Anne Moran has also been extremely vocal calling on the council to quickly act to help embattled traders on Hutt St.

But she said it was becoming too little too late even with five CCTV cameras to be shortly installed in the area.

The Hutt Street Centre on Hutt St.

“I’m very upset that we did not put in any short term measures, it’s too late now the people are scared today we needed to act,” she said.

“Now that one has gone we are going to lose more.” Adelaide Travellers Inn owner Gary Locke said while his business could handle the anti-social behaviour, others were crying out for help.

“It needs a lot of help, people are leaving shops empty,” he said.

At the centre of much of the division and complaints is the Hutt St Centre, with some traders complaining of random and “aggressive behaviour” of some of the men.

One said the bulk of the trouble was when the centre, which operates on restricted time and provides shelter and assistance to the homeless, was closed.

Hutt St Centre chair Phil Donato OAM said the organisation wanted to be part of the solution to any “perceived problems” with its presence in the area.

“We would like the opportunity to be the good neighbour and help the traders in terms of any perceived problems they may have,” he said.