Glenelg businesses face downturn as road and tram upgrades head into summer trade
Tourist numbers have plummeted as a six-month tram closure and road works threaten to derail Glenelg’s crucial summer trading period.
Glenelg’s mayor says the ongoing tram upgrade and algal bloom are contributing to a temporary decline in the seaside suburb but has urged the rest of the state to not let it deter them from visiting.
The suburb has temporarily turned into a construction zone, as Holdfast Bay Council completes an “essential infrastructure” upgrade on Jetty Rd.
Mayor Amanda Wilson said the trams bring 700,000 people into Glenelg every year, and while residents continue to support local businesses, the lack of incoming tourists was significant.
“People are not catching the substitute buses,” she said.
“We can just see anecdotally that they’re coming down Anzac Highway with not many people in them at all.”
“There’s plenty of locals out there, but what we need is the greater Adelaide population to be coming down as well, which they’re not because so many of them come down on the tram.”
Ms Wilson said the roadworks were annoying, but necessary.
“One of the reasons was that there wasn’t enough power on the street,” Mayor Amanda Wilson said.
“We have businesses opening that couldn’t access power.
“So there’s had to be a huge amount of underground service work done to be able to bring in the power and future proof it.”
Concurrent with the Jetty Rd works is an upgrade of the Glenelg tram line which began in August and will see the major public transport system shut until January.
Morphett MP Stephen Patterson said the tram was one of the “main economic arteries” for the area.
“I don’t think the government really understood how important it is in terms of bringing people into the precinct,” he said.
“Back in 2017, when the tram line was shut for three weeks, that had a massive impact on the traders, let alone the fact that the tram’s going to be closed now for six months.
“I think even more concerningly, it’s going to close during summer, which is when these businesses do 60 to 70 per cent of their trade.
“There’s a perfect storm going on at the moment.”
The Graham family from McLaren Vale were almost caught out by the tram closure when they went to spend Sunday afternoon soaking up the sunshine by the bay.
The family-of-four visit Glenelg “when the weather’s warm” and often catch the tram from Moseley Square into the city.
“The tram being out is inconvenient for us because we’d drive into Glenelg, do things there, then get the tram with the kids and go into the city, but now that’s off the table,” Roy Graham said.
“We were unaware that it was happening. It was lucky we weren’t using public transport or we would have been caught off guard.”
Attitudes Boutique retail assistant Poppy Fleetwood, who is also a local, welcomed the tram upgrade.
“It’ll be good for the area, it hasn’t impacted us much. Business depends more on weather this time of year,” she said.
“It’s been really good this weekend, people tend to come out more when it’s warmer.”
Transport Minister Emily Bourke said blaming trams for the lack of foot traffic was “pathetic”.
“The real issue here is that people can’t walk into a shop,” she said, citing the roadworks happening on Jetty Rd.
Ms Bourke said the tram upgrade was necessary and would benefit the area in the long term.
“The local community has long been calling for this crucial upgrade which will make it safer, faster, and easier for people who use public transport, walk, cycle, or drive,” she said.
“This work is supporting more than 1000 jobs, with the project is on schedule for trams to commence by the start of the school year in 2026.”
She said replacement buses matched the frequency and capacity of the trams, and encouraged the community to hop on board.
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