Business owners along Glenelg's iconic Jetty Road are fighting for survival, caught in what one expert describes as a perfect storm of major construction, severe disruption, and a dramatic drop in customer numbers.
A $40 Million Facelift's Painful Side
The upheaval is part of a massive $40 million revitalisation project aimed at giving the beloved coastal precinct a significant facelift. While the long-term vision promises a renewed Glenelg, the short-term reality for traders is one of financial strain and immense frustration.
Mark Raphael, the chief of Lighthouse Insights, has become a vocal critic of how the situation is being managed. He argues that the project has become a case study in how self-interest can override community cooperation and basic decency.
'Everyone's Protecting Their Own Arses'
"Everyone's too busy protecting their own arses," Raphael stated bluntly in comments made on November 13, 2025. He fears that the various parties involved are more focused on avoiding blame than on collaboratively finding solutions to support the struggling local businesses.
Raphael expressed his deep concern that the Jetty Road project, intended as an urban improvement, is instead turning into a harsh lesson in how fragmented interests can damage a community during a critical period.
The Human Cost of Construction
For the shopkeepers, cafe owners, and restaurateurs on the ground, the statistics translate into empty tables and quiet tills. The constant construction work has created significant access issues and detracted from the street's usual appeal, leading to a sharp decline in foot traffic.
Many are simply trying to keep their doors open, weathering the temporary chaos in the hope that the promised benefits will eventually materialise. The situation highlights the delicate balance councils and developers must strike between ambitious urban renewal and the immediate wellbeing of the small businesses that give a precinct its character.
