Mayor of Marion visits businesses in revitalised Edwardstown

Four new businesses that are part of the success story that has become the Revitalisation of the Edwardstown Employment Precinct received a visit from the Mayor of Marion, Kris Hanna, last week.

All the businesses either moved or relocated back to Edwardstown since the City of Marion began the Edwardstown revitalisation project in 2019. They include:

• Adelaide Harley Davidson Bike Works: The business began trading in a small shop in Edwardstown in 2010 and moved across the road to South Road, Melrose Park, when they became a Harley Davidson dealership. In 2020, they returned to Edwardstown occupying the old meat works building at 1074 South Road.

• Simmonds Heating and Cooling: A family business, Simmonds Heating and Cooling operated from Somerton Park, Holdfast Bay until recently moving to their purpose-built premises at 1084 South Road.

• MDC Camper Trailers: MDC Camper Trailers recently moved to Weaver Street, Edwardstown following the compulsory purchase of their previous premises on South Road by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport as part of the T2D Torrens to Darlington Project.

• Rodney Robertson & Associates: Exhibition and point of sale signage business, Rodney Robertsons property at Edward Park, Edwardstown was destroyed by a $5M fire in December 2021. In true community spirit the Edwardstown community supported the business, including temporary accommodation influencing Rodney Robertson’s decision to stay in the area. They are now located in new premises on Deloraine Road.

Mayor of Marion Kris Hanna said he was fascinated to hear first-hand why the businesses had chosen Edwardstown as a base.

“Edwardstown’s industrial district has completely bounced back from setbacks such as the demise of Adelaide’s car industry, and COVID-19 more recently,” Mayor Hanna said.

“This is a precinct of hardworking businesses, many of them in traditional manufacturing but in fact very diverse overall.

“Four years ago, Council set out to upgrade the area to help local businesses.

“With some grant funding, a small budget from Council and plenty of goodwill from the local business community, we supported more than 70 activities including street tree planting, marketing for the precinct, networking events and workshops.

“We have also encouraged recycling of waste which has earned businesses some extra cash as well-being environmentally responsible.”

The Edwardstown Employment Precinct Project Team was a finalist in the recent 22nd Annual Leadership Excellence Awards hosted by Local Government Professionals Australia.

Over four years the project reported business output growth of 16.2 per cent, equating to $224 million; wages and salaries growth of 7.7 per cent (CPI), equating to $21 million; and value-added growth of 9.4 per cent equating to $46 million.

Image: Mayor of Marion Kris Hanna at the Adelaide Harley Davidson Bike Works in Edwardstown with General Manager Kareena Savva.

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