‘Absolute nightmare’: Wellington resident fed up with Civic Square works

Friday, 15 November 2024

Civic Square construction has left Wellington residents frustrated, with delays, noise, and closures disrupting everyday life. Aaron describes the ongoing works as a “nightmare,” with overnight noise impacting his family’s well-being.

Living in an apartment right in the heart of Wellington’s CBD should be a dream, but to Aaron Passmore, it’s “an absolute nightmare”.

Passmore and his family have been living across the road from the capital’s Civic Square and Town Hall for roughly five years, but they’re now desperate to leave what was meant to be their forever home.

“We would like to get out of here as quickly as possible,” he said.

He told Stuff, construction had been non-stop, and sometimes even overnight.

“We’ve been told a number of times certain dates will be achieved, but they haven’t,” he said.

Wellington City Council’s chief operating officer, James Roberts, said the site was really complex, which was why there had been delays in completing the work.

The Civic Square area was very much a work in progress.

“There’s some real challenges with it… now that we understand the weaknesses of the land in that particular spot and what earthquakes can do… we’ve got to get [those buildings] fixed.”

Roberts asked locals to “hang in there”.

Once the works, including earthquake strengthening, were complete - expected in early 2027 - Civic Square was going to be “an awesome place,” he promised.

For the full story, watch the video above.