Leaders warn Hutt St revitalisation plan risks becoming 'another Jetty Rd debacle'

Adelaide City Council faces fierce criticism over its $29m Hutt St revitalisation plan after politicians and business leaders warn poor consultation risks another devastating Jetty Rd-style debacle.

An artist impression of what Hutt St could look like with a protected bike path and parallel parking. Picture: Adelaide City Council

Adelaide City Council’s multimillion-dollar plan to revitalise Hutt St risks becoming another Jetty Rd debacle without proper communication to residents and business owners, CBD leaders have warned.

The damning comments come as politicians ramp up pressure on the council to rethink the strip’s contentious revitalisation that could see on-street parking being slashed in half.

The council earlier this year consulted the public on five options to create wider footpaths and a protected bike lane, between South Tce and Carrington St.

The most controversial option – costing $29m and slashing parks from 132 to 72 – sparked

business outcry, despite consultation showing 55 per cent of respondents were in favour.

SA Best MP Connie Bonaros told state parliament on Wednesday night consultation had been “less than satisfactory”, with residents “unaware” of it and what was being proposed.

Ms Bonaros said 1039 respondents indicated the council failed to engage suburban visitors, who account for 87 per cent of Hutt St’s annual $102m spend, according to council data.

However, the council said the consultation had the “highest single survey response to date for an infrastructure project in the city” and acknowledged ongoing stakeholder feedback.

In a motion, Ms Bonaros called on the council to retain 60-degree parking and for any works to be clearly communicated and staged to avoid impacts similar to those on Jetty Rd, Glenelg.

SA Best MP Connie Bonaros told state parliament on Wednesday night consultation had been “less than satisfactory”. Picture: Supplied

“Business owners are quite rightly fearful of not only the loss of carpark spaces but the devastation to their livelihoods during the construction of any proposed works,” she said.

“The Jetty Rd example is front and centre of their minds at the moment.”

Holdfast Bay Council’s $40m Jetty Rd upgrade – aligned with the state government’s six month tram shutdown – has been plagued by business closures and complaints.

Adelaide MP Lucy Hood and federal Adelaide MP Steve Georganas echoed similar concerns about the Hutt St consultation process in a joint letter to the council earlier this month.

Property Council SA executive director Bruce Djite said for the council to initially propose Option D that nearly halved the car spaces “reflected how flawed consultation was”.

Property Council SA’s Bruce Djite also criticised council’s handling of the project. Picture: Tom Huntley

“One can only wonder – after seeing the carnage that is Jetty Rd in Glenelg – why the city council would look to replicate this damage in the CBD,” Mr Djite said.

Businesses anxiously wait

Ideal Shoe Repairs owner Richard Libraleto said business owners had been in “limbo” and regardless of the consultation, were “desperate for a final decision”.

Star Discount Chemist’s Clara Tran confirmed there was “a lot of anxiety among traders” and “we need a decision by the end of the year because we need to plan what the future of our businesses will look like”.

Hutt St traders Richard Libraleto and Clara Tran are pushing for a decision on the Hutt St revitalisation to plan how it will affect their staff and businesses. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The council last month agreed to revisit two designs – which included reinstating 60-degree parking to either retain 89 spaces, or 110 spaces with wider bike paths but affecting outdoor dining – to be presented at a special meeting on Tuesday night.

The council’s city infrastructure director, Tom McCready, said the council was confident the project would benefit the community, “support precinct activation and economic development”.

“In regard to comments made in parliament about construction works in another council area, … we are fortunate in that we do not face a compressed construction time frame nor the challenge of a tramline closure,” Mr McCready said.

“The Hutt Street project will be undertaken incrementally, in stages, to minimise disruption.

Precinct parking map shows 2130 on-street parking places within a five-minute walk of Hutt St. Picture: Adelaide City Council documents.

Consultation with stakeholders and local communities will be comprehensive before it starts, with ongoing engagement throughout the life of the project.”

The council has consistently stated there are 2130 on-street parking spots within a five-minute walk of Hutt St, which included 684 spots within 125m or a two minute walk.

Tuesday night’s council papers detailed construction of the preferred design, once chosen, would take about 18 months.

Originally published as Leaders warn Hutt St revitalisation plan risks becoming 'another Jetty Rd debacle'