Frustrated Holdfast Bay ratepayers demand council stop $40m Jetty Rd revamp as Opposition weighs in

Angry Glenelg locals are already fighting against a council decision to go into debt for a $40m Jetty Rd overhaul – now they have help.

Holdfast Bay Council has been urged to “pull its head in” amid growing community outrage surrounding a controversial $40m redevelopment of Jetty Rd.

Frustrated ratepayers are “totally appalled” at council’s decision to proceed with the upgrade, despite an overwhelming number of residents firmly against a proposed funding model that includes borrowing $30m and would result in a 7.1 per cent rate increase.

State Opposition leader David Speirs said the council needed to “pull its head in”.

Holdfast Bay Residents Alliance member Ken Daly said the inevitable debt set to hit ratepayers was “too much”.

“We agree that it needs to pause, it needs to go back to public consultation to get the people who are paying the bills – the ratepayers – to have a real understanding and input to this project,” Mr Daly said.

“We’re not against upgrading Jetty Rd – we all look forward to upgrading council assets and having a great place to live, but the debts are going to go to $60m. The amount of borrowings are too large.”

Ken Daly, centre, with Opposition MPs and frustrated Holdfast Bay residents. Picture: Charlie Dadds

5049 Coastal Community Association president David Cruickshanks-Boyd surveyed nearly 1400 locals and found 92 per cent were against it.

David Cruickshanks-Boyd at Tuesday’s press conference. Picture: Charlie Dadds

“We said, ‘this is what’s going on; the debt’s going to increase, the rates will increase … do you support that increase to upgrade Jetty Rd?’,” Mr Cruickshanks-Boyd said. “We got 92 per cent saying ‘no way’.”

Last month, councillors voted to proceed with the redevelopment plans under the council’s 2024-25 budget.

The project has $10m in federal funds, and council will borrow the rest, whacking ratepayers with a 2.3 per cent levy over three years – on top of a 4.8 per cent CPI increase.

In March, Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson unveiled a $40m revamp of the 1km stretch of Jetty Rd to improve carparking, public transport and shopping, and the dining and entertainment sectors.

She conceded the project required “a significant contribution from ratepayers”, adding the decision was in the “best interests of our whole community”.

“We are confident this transformation of our main street will benefit everyone who uses Jetty Road, will result in a significant economic boost across the breadth of the city from Glenelg North to Kingston Park, and will also unlock redevelopment potential and further private investment in and around Glenelg,” Ms Wilson said.

“We have heard our community crying out for years for an upgrade of Jetty Road, Glenelg which supports more than 300 local businesses and has a million visitors each year.

“The state opposition should be campaigning on our behalf for a state government contribution to this project, which will be of state significance.”

Artist impressions of Jetty Road at Glenelg. Picture: Supplied

Jetty Rd in Glenelg last year. Picture: Ben Clark

Opposition leader David Speirs acknowledged Jetty Rd was in a “bedraggled” state and needed repairs, but called on council to “step back”.

“Our message to council is pull your heads in a little bit here, cut your cloth accordingly,” Mr Speirs said.

“Absolutely do an upgrade to Jetty Rd, but not one that lumbers this community with such high rate rises in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and not one that saddles the council with unbelievable debt for generations to come.

“The Holdfast Bay council is meeting again tonight and has the opportunity to rescind this decision. I urge them to listen to worried ratepayers and put a pause on the proposed rate rise.”

Originally published as Frustrated Holdfast Bay ratepayers demand council stop $40m Jetty Rd revamp as Opposition weighs in