Port Dock development an abandoned eyesore, fed-up neighbours say

It’s been billed as pristine waterfront living, but Port Adelaide residents say delays have plagued the site for years, turning their neighbourhood into ”something out of a dystopian movie”.

Resident Andrew Curran at home in Port Adelaide where an unfinished development has been left stagnant for months. Picture: Matt Loxton

Fed-up Port Adelaide residents say they’re living in a “war zone” after work stopped on more than 20 unfinished homes months ago.

Frustrated neighbours told The Advertiser work at the Port Dock site halted in October and barely any tradies have been on site since then.

Resident Andrew Curran, who moved into his two-storey townhouse last year, said the development was a “dog’s breakfast”.

Port Adelaide residents say delays in a development at Port Dock has left their neighbourhood looking like a "war zone".

“We are on the waterfront but if you go one row back, it’s like something out of a dystopian movie,” Mr Curran, 58, said.

“It’s like a war zone, there is just garbage everywhere.

“The houses are quietly rotting away as you’ve got windows that are completely open, so you don’t know how much water is getting in there when it rains.”

It comes after some homeowners waited more than four years for their townhouses to be finished at the waterfront site, which is being managed by developers Kite Projects.

The project was thrown into doubt when builders Qattro went into liquidation in September 2023, owing more than $4.5 million to creditors.

Kite Projects has since employed builders Xtraordinary Constructions, but locals fear the project could be further delayed.

Mr Curran says the neighbours have had to fork out thousands on rent while they waited for their homes to be finished. Picture: Matt Loxton

Residents have been waiting more than four years for their homes to be finished. Supplied.

Mr Curran chose to finish his home himself when Qattro went bust after his move in date was continuously pushed back.

The civil engineer says his house was riddled with issues upon getting the keys, forcing him to pour in an additional $20,000 to $30,000 from his own pocket.

But he says that pales in comparison to what some of his neighbours have to spend on rent while they wait for their properties to be finished.

“These people are knockabouts, retirees and they’re not people with deep pockets – some of these people are out of pocket well above $100,000,” he said.

“It’s devastating, some of these people are psychologically and emotionally in a bad, bad place as it won’t end.

“It’s this torture that just goes on and on as nobody gives a shit.”

They say no work happening on sites for months. Picture: Matt Loxton

Neighbours say rows of homes have been left to rot in the development. Picture: Matt Loxton

Another resident Andy Gilfillan feared neighbours waiting for their homes to be built were being shut-out by the developers.

“It all looks good from the waterside, they have tizzied it all up, but it’s just hiding what is happening,” Mr Gilfillan said.

“The government has washed their hands of it, they don’t want to know anything about it, but these poor people are being left in the dark.”

He said it was “depressing” to see work start on another leg of the development while homeowners waited for their homes to be completed.

He said one neighbour has been living in a caravan while they waited for their house to be completed. Picture: Matt Loxton

Renewal SA sold the Port Adelaide site to Kite Projects in 2016.

A spokeswoman for Kite Projects said work was undertaken on the development up until Christmas, with “a handful” of tradies currently on site.

A spokeswoman for Xtraordinary Constructions said work restarted on January 13, with the next set of homes to be handed over in March.

A spokesperson for local MP and Deputy Premier Susan Close said anyone experiencing delays should contact her Port Adelaide electorate office.

Originally published as Port Dock development an abandoned eyesore, fed-up neighbours say