Allegro Music at Glandore notified of compulsory acquisition because of new Anzac Hwy exit loops

Two sisters are “heartbroken” after their Glandore music practice was earmarked for demolition for the Anzac Highway and South Rd upgrades.

Allegro Music practice business on Glandore will be acquired by the government to make way for exit loops at the intersection of Anzac Highway and South Rd. Picture: Supplied.

Two sisters have been left “devastated and heartbroken” after being told their Glandore music practice could be acquired by the government to make room for major road works.

For the past 18 years, Koula, 62, and Mary Raptis, 60, have run their professional music teaching practice, Allegro Music, from Anzac Hwy.

They bought the property after their former premises at South Rd was compulsorily acquired by the government for the Gallipoli Underpass project in 2007 – and said they were reassured then their next property would not be acquired in the future.

But on March 3, the transport department informed them their property – built by a World War II veteran who had been a prisoner of war – would be compulsorily acquired for a redesign of the Torrens to Darlington upgrade.

The construction of loop exits on Anzac Hwy – expected to start mid next year – would allow

motorists to circle back to merge with traffic on South Rd and then the North-South Motorway.

“If we’re compulsorily acquired … we’ve been told that we (can) be here until the end of next year. But, of course, we have to find a replacement property,” Koula of Glenelg said.

Koula Raptis (L) and Mary Raptis (R) were left devastated after they were notified that their Glandore music business could be compulsorily acquired by the government. Picture: Supplied.

The sisters are “devastated and heartbroken”, and fear they won’t find another suitable place.

“We’re devastated for the community as well because they don’t deserve this,” Koula said.

“You’ve got to find the right place with the right floorplan in the right location. Floorplan is important because the teaching rooms must be separated.

“We’ve got to spend extra money to do all those renovations to make it soundproof and to get the security.

A DIT spokesman said they’re negotiating with affected property owners to “facilitate a positive outcome”.

“As part of the department’s process, all interested parties are provided with dedicated case managers to assist them through the process and are offered further assistance of a buyers/leasing advocate to assist with their relocation,” the spokesman said.

“Landowners and tenants are entitled to seek their own independent advice, with reasonable fees reimbursed by the department.”

Mary and Koula said the property grew to become a cornerstone for music education in Adelaide.

Koula Raptis (L) and Mary Raptis (R) were left devastated after they were notified that their Glandore music business could be compulsorily acquired by the government. Picture: Supplied.

“Allegro Music has had a bold presence in Glandore for 37 years,” Koula said.

“Quite a few of our students have gone on to have musical careers and some have had prestigious positions whether it’s here, interstate, or overseas.

“We wanted to retire from here. That was the whole point of investing in this property.”

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis clarified “any public servants could [not] guarantee that” a property would not be compulsorily acquired.

“No one in the department can ever say to anyone who lives on a major arterial road that we might not need your home one day, because we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” Mr Koutsantonis told FIVEaa on Thursday.

“People who live near intersections and on main roads are always going to be at risk of acquisition because as traffic grows, and the population grows, and we have more and more urban infill, there’s going to be more cars on the road.”