HOLDFAST BAY Council wants to know if the owner of Glenelg’s iconic Buffalo restaurant has abandoned ship.

It especially needs to find out whether a proposed million-dollar upgrade is going ahead. The owner, Troy DeYoung, did not respond to calls from CoastCity Weekly last week and in August — or to the latest inquiries from Holdfast Bay Council.

The council’s assets general manager, Steve Hodge, told a meeting last month he had tried to speak to Mr DeYoung but it appeared the upgrade would not happen soon.

“I’ve written to Troy DeYoung ... offering our assistance in any way possible, but have heard nothing back,” he said.

media_camera Concept designs for the Buffalo redevelopment.

media_camera How the Buffalo, on the Patawalonga in Glenelg, looks now. Picture: Simon Cross

“I did ring his project office, who said they couldn’t see anything happening in the foreseeable future. There’s a bit of an internal issue there with the company but that’s as much as we know at the moment.”

Mr DeYoung also owns an O’Sullivan Beach salvage business.

The State Government’s planning authority granted approval to the project in August on the condition that Mr DeYoung began construction within 12 months.

The upgrade involves redevelopment of the restaurant, including an outdoor bar and alfresco dining area, along with work on its Patawalonga River kiosk, deck and dock. Chief executive Justin Lynch told the meeting he had similar problems when contacting Mr DeYoung.

“I made it known I wanted to see him the day after the approval ... so we’re very keen to see him progress that approval and not sit on it,” he said.

By next March, it will be three years since plans were lodged with the Development Assessment Commission.

media_camera Concept designs for the Buffalo redevelopment.

media_camera Concept designs for the Buffalo redevelopment.

Meals have not been served at the restaurant since 2013.

Glenelg ward councillor Bob Patton said he was concerned by the lack of communication.

“It’s high time something was done, it’s not a good look as people walk past it every day and it’s not getting any better,” he said.

“He’s got 12 months to do something about it, but it would be nice to get a firm date of when it might start because its been bandied around for years.”

In December 2016, a DAC spokeswoman said the delay in a decision on the $1 million project was because it had been “awaiting the provision of further details and plans by the applicant”.

Mr DeYoung said the DAC was also to blame because it took two to three months to get back to him each time with more questions.

The original HMS Buffalo brought the first settlers to Glenelg in 1836 but was destroyed in a shipwreck four years later.

The Buffalo restaurant was launched as a replica of the ship — though with ceiling heights raised for the comfort of present-day diners.