The team behind Glenelg’s Jetty Rd redevelopment project and how much they’re getting paid
Some business owners on Jetty Rd have been critical of the redevelopment project, saying the council’s not properly “equipped” — so who’s running the show?
Amid a tide of red-hot anger from businesses, Holdfast Council Mayor Amanda Wilson has defended the $40m Jetty Rd upgrade – and her under-siege team.
Hitting back at criticism, Ms Wilson told The Advertiser she was leading the project from the top, and that the team was “filled with qualified engineers and professionals”.
“We’ve employed the best engineers on this project, and they’re all working at 150 per cent at the moment,” she said.
“And I really appreciate what they’re doing.”
Her comments come as many shops continue to struggle to stay open, with visitors and locals staying away in their droves due to the ongoing roadworks and footpath revamps. Some have been forced to shut for good, unable to pay power bills and their rent.
Among them is Paul Turner, owner of Loud Cow Bar and Grill, who says he was forced to close his business because income had plummeted.
“The Mayor and the deputy mayor have unleashed untold economic damage to the people of Jetty Rd and those businesses,” he said.
Like other owners, Mr Turner has questioned the leadership of the Transforming Jetty Road project, which is led by the council’s community and business team.
It works closely with the Transforming Jetty Road Project Committee and the Jetty Road Mainstreet Committee. While Ms Wilson is overseeing the redevelopment, she relies heavily on chief executive officer Pamela Jackson, who is paid $279,687.17 a year.
All members of the council’s executive team report either directly, or through other management, to Ms Jackson.
Leading the community and business team is general manager Marnie Lock, who has an annual salary of $235,788.80.
Cherie Armfield is listed on council documents as the Transforming Jetty Road principal project manager.
Under the annual salary register, the position pays between $133,863.93 and $142,957.98.
The Transforming Jetty Road Project Committee is chaired by Ms Wilson and also consists of councillors John Smedley, Susan Lonie and Allison Kane. Also on the committee are independent members Ms G. Martin, Mr C. Morley, Mr C. Maios and Mr R. Troup. The chief executive, general manager of business and community and principal project manager also attend its meetings.
The Jetty Road Mainstreet Committee has 13 members, including nine business owners, two independent members and two councillors.
The business representatives are Attitudes Boutique owner Gilia Martin; Beach Burrito’s Angus Warren; Bayley Millard from Yo-Chi; Tony Beatrice from Cibo Espresso; Ikos Holdings Trust’s Adoni Fotopoulos; Karen Bailey from The Colley Hotel; Ryan Shipway from RD Jones Group; John Theodorakakos from Theodorakakos Property Group; and Martin Gilligan from Peter Shearer Menswear. The independent members are Stacey Mills and Saxon Smith, while the councillors are Ms Kane and Rebecca Abley.
A council spokeswoman said the project was being managed “by a team of qualified people with a combined decades of experience in business management, project management, engineering, landscape architecture, traffic management and business development”.
“Any suggestion on social media that those delivering the once-in-a-generation transformation of Jetty Rd, Glenelg, are not qualified is misinformed and lacks credibility,” she said.
The redevelopment came under fire again this week by the state’s Treasurer, whose family used to run a takeaway chicken shop on the busy thoroughfare.
Mr Koutsantonis, who spent a “huge part” of his youth at Bay BBQ Chickens, said the project was “heartbreaking” for many businesses who either had to close or reduce their operating hours due to reduced foot traffic.
“When this is finally finished, who’s going to be left?,” he said.
Yiros Shack Cafe is the latest casualty, closing after more than 30 years due to plummeting profits.
Formerly Makis Yiros – which was opened in 1992 by Makis Kallos, a Greek-born man who moved to Australia in the 1970s – its owner, Mash, who bought the business in 2020, said that in the month leading up to the closure he was still paying about $10,700 in monthly rent, alongside $17,000 in outgoings, while losing about 50 per cent in revenue.
Another business significantly affected by the redevelopment is the Stamford Grand Adelaide hotel, with management pulling out of crisis talks with the Holdfast Bay Council on Thursday.
The hotel, which has threatened legal action against the council over “false and damaging” statements about its request for financial compensation, has been forced to cut opening and staff hours after the council rejected rate relief over the Jetty Rd works.
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Originally published as The team behind Glenelg’s Jetty Rd redevelopment project and how much they’re getting paid
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