South Road upgrade claims another scalp – six month old Billy Hyde Music superstore at Marleston

After only six months in business, and initially being told they could stay put, a Marleston music business will be bulldozed to make way for South Rd upgrades.

After only six months in business, and initially being told they could stay, Billy Hyde Music at Marleston will be bulldozed to make way for a South Rd upgrade.

National Operations Manager Craig Maria said the chain had chosen their current location only 12 months ago and at the expense of sites in Brisbane and Sydney.

“The superstore represents a multimillion-dollar investment in the state, with the business employing 15 people here in South Australia,’’ Mr Maria said.

“Less than seven months after opening, despite documents suggesting any impact would be relatively minor, we’ve now been told they’re going to knock our entire building down. An anything-but-minor impact on our business.”

Billy Hyde Marleston store manager Mark Oosterveld at the store in May. Photo: Mike Burton

Store manager Mark Oosterveld said; “It would be nice if the government had either provided more reliable information or planned more than five minutes ahead”.

Mr Maria provided documents to The Advertiser which show the government had last year only warned of a loss of up to 4.5m, or about one car length, from the building carpark along Richmond and South roads.

A West Torrens Council spokeswoman confirmed that the Commissioner of Highways in December 2020 had given the existing building on the site the all clear for rezoning, and it had told the owners; “As the existing building is located clear of the above requirements consent from the Commissioner of Highways is not required in this instance’’.

Owners of more than 220 properties between Anzac Highway and the River Torrens were told this month their homes and businesses will be bulldozed to make way for the final stage of the North-South Corridor project – but not until late 2024.

Member for Badcoe Jayne Stinson said she doorknocked extensively in the area and it had become obvious that many residents and business had not been told they would have to move.

Billy Hyde Marleston National Operations Manager Craig Maria provided this form he says was given to the business by the Transport Department, indicating the government would need a strip of land up to 4.5m on the South Rd and Richmond Rd borders of the business.

An aerial photo of the Billy Hyde store on the corner of South and Richmond roads. Image: Google Maps

She called for a map to be released to the public and follow up with similar doorknocking to tell all those who would be impacted.

Ms Stinson said; “The seizure of large swathes of land is devastating for my community, and the poor communication from the government is making it so much tougher’’.

“They’re only causing more confusion and heartache with their secrecy and ineptitude.

“It’s ridiculous that some landowners haven’t received notification, that mail has gone to wrong addresses and that renters have been left in the dark.”

Mr Maria said there had been delays with communication, as a letter telling them of the resumption had arrived last week but was dated November 3. The Transport Department said the delay was coaused because the property title had not been changed after sale and the notification had gone to the previous owner.