Statement from CEO Pamela Jackson

City of Holdfast Bay CEO Pamela Jackson responds to the FIVEAA breakfast segment which was aired on Thursday 17 April 2025.

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On Thursday 17 April, the FIVEAA breakfast show with David Penberthy and Will Goodings reported on the upgrade of Jetty Road Glenelg and claimed the project is a “disaster, a stuff up and that Council is considering shelving stage 2”.

These claims are unfounded.

Council stands-by the community consultation process that was conducted over the past six weeks, from 3 March to 16 April, and which gave everyone in our community – residents, traders and landlords – equal opportunity to provide feedback on three draft concept designs put forward for Jetty Road Glenelg.

Council received more than 1000 submissions in what was the biggest response in recent years to a Holdfast Bay consultation.

We want to thank everyone who took the time to provide feedback to us on what will be the most significant project Council has ever undertaken.

We respect that there are passionate and different views in our community and we worked diligently to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to share their feedback through Council’s official consultation channels.

An important consideration that the media has missed is the community's ongoing concern with pedestrian safety along Jetty Road, particularly at the Moseley Street intersection and on Colley Terrace.

The three draft concepts presented to the community were designed to consider the needs of residents, businesses and visitors, with pedestrian safety and accessibility at the forefront.

In doing so, we wanted the community to understand the trade offs associated with improved pedestrian safety, such as traffic delays. We have heard through this consultation process, pedestrian safety continues to be of concern and a priority.

Data collected during the consultation process will be collated and presented to Council and the consultation results will be published in full on Council’s website.

Mr Penberthy’s claims that the renewal construction works that are underway in the eastern end of Jetty Road are “not even close to being finished” are incorrect.

The renewal works in the city zone are on track to be completed by mid-year.

The construction programming was planned specifically to allow the traders in that end of the street, between Brighton Road and Partridge / Gordon streets to continue operating as normal – while construction takes place.

Stormwater works started in October 2024, which extended the life of the stormwater infrastructure for another hundred years.

In March this year, Council reported on an issue that was discovered with the newly-laid kerbs and worked immediately with our construction partners to remedy the issue.

As we are unwilling to compromise on the high standard of quality needed to deliver the best outcomes for our community and Jetty Road businesses, the kerbs and water tables were demolished and reconstructed at the correct level.

Our contractors took full responsibility for the error and bore all costs associated with the rebuild which has now been completed.