Property owners threaten legal action over $40m Jetty Rd upgrade

The contentious Jetty Rd development is encountering significant opposition with major property owners threatening legal action.

A major property owner is threatening legal action over proposed upgrades to Jetty Rd in Glenelg. Picture: Holdfast Bay Council

Drastic measures have been taken to halt the makeover of Jetty Rd in Glenelg, with a major property owner threatening legal action against the $40 million upgrade to ensure the community is properly consulted.

Work on the controversial development began in January, and sparked a war of words between the Holdfast Bay Council and two ratepayers groups when first announced in 2024.

Ratepayers in the area have been hit with a 2.3% special levy to help pay for the upgrades, which will see the installation of footpaths along Jetty Rd, at the expense of more than 60 car parks.

Now, Karidis Corporation, owner of several properties along Jetty Rd, is threatening legal action, claiming the community has not been properly consulted.

Concepts of the $3.6 million upgrade of the Jetty Road precinct at Glenelg. Picture: Supplied

Peter Karidis spoke before an assembly of community members on Thursday, saying that Karidis Corporation is not trying to “stop the process”.

“What we are here to do is make sure that we as a community are consulted properly.”

Chair of Taplin Group Andrew Taplin, told 7News that he had formally written to the Holdfast Bay Council, but had received no response.

“People just want to get answers and know what’s going on,” he said.

Andrew Taplin is Chair of Taplin Group, one of SA’s largest property developers and the single largest property owner on Jetty Rd. Picture: Mark Brake

Holdfast Bay mayor Amanda Wilson told The Advertiser the council has been engaged in “massive” community consultation throughout the process, having received feedback from nearly 1000 ratepayers.

“It’s the most amount of responses we’ve ever had,” Ms Wilson said.

Ms Wilson said the council received a letter from business owners, but there was no threat of legal action.

“There’s been requests for further information, all of that information’s been provided.”

“There’s been no threats of any action because nothing that we’ve done has been unlawful.”

Ms Wilson said the council is continuing to seek community feedback, with public servants walking up and down Jetty Rd talking to locals about the development.

Holdfast Bay mayor Amanda Wilson. Picture: AAP/Roy Vandervegt

“It’s still out for consultation, we just really want all of our residents to get involved and fill out the consultation and let us know what they think.”

“That’s the most important thing.”

The planned removal of car parks was met with anger from business owners, many of whom were concerned that customers would take their money elsewhere.

“The three concepts they’ve put forward are all detrimental to the area, detrimental to trade, and not really lift Glenelg to where it needs to be,” Mike Papatolis from the Ballet Wine Bar told 7News.

Anthony Caruso of Caruso’s Fruit and Veg said he hadn’t had “any consultation”.

Despite claims that the Holdfast Bay Council has not consulted business owners, a consultation and feedback page is available on the council website, which the council said had been viewed over 25,000 times.

In a statement provided to The Advertiser, Holdfast Bay Council said 11 community drop-in sessions had been held, and an eight page brochure providing information about the draft concept designs and community consultation had been distributed to approximately 20,000 homes and businesses throughout the council area.

A 2024 survey of 1400 residents by 5049 Coastal Community Association president David Cruickshanks-Boyd found 92 per cent of respondents were against the upgrade.

The first stage of the project – a $246,000 drainage upgrade in the city zone – was completed in November to extend the life of the stormwater infrastructure for 100 years, Holdfast Bay Council said.

The development is expected to be completed in 2027.

Originally published as Property owners threaten legal action over $40m Jetty Rd upgrade