Road works ‘killing us’ say Island Bay businesses

Saturday, 22 June 2024

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Wellington city council is being criticised for soft-soaping Island Bay business owners who say they are facing potential closure as “beautification” work drives customers elsewhere.

The work is part of the council’s village “improvement” and safety project, which includes stormwater upgrades, changes to parking, resurfacing and widening footpaths, new lighting and seating, additional speed humps and new, separated bike lanes.

Construction began in January and is not expected to be finished until at least October. Stop-go traffic measures are in place on weekdays from 9am to 4pm.

The council had tried to temper the likely financial impact on retailers with a voucher programme where shoppers could go into a draw to win a $100 voucher. However that back-fired after winners were given Visa Prezzy cards that could be used anywhere.

“You could opt in or opt out,” Fran De Gregorio, owner of The White Room Gallery said. “We opted in obviously. You’d be stupid not to. But then I realised it was a Prezzy card that wasn’t even purchased from locals. I kicked up a big stink about that because what’s the point of that? Why is our local council supporting a big international company? I even heard one woman had apparently used hers in Auckland.“

She and other business owners say the construction work has had a major impact on them – “it’s killing us” – and could force them to shut if it continued in the same way for another four, or more, months.

In an email sent to councillors on Monday, De Gregorio reiterated their concerns explaining how the disruption and reduced accessibility were “severely” affecting foot traffic and sales. The promised “staggered” programme had not panned out and car parking would not be reinstated until the entire project was completed, she said.

“We simply cannot wait until the project ends for this to happen.”

De Gregorio was also concerned for pedestrian safety as there were no clear crossing areas and people were having to negotiate wire fences and road cones.

“Right now I feel like I’m in jail … like we’ve been hit with a triple whammy. You’ve got inflation, then you've got [public sector] job losses – and Island Bay is really impacted by that — and now this on top of everything.”

Meanwhile Judy Davies, who has owned Hairwaves Studio on The Parade for 23 years says the work has rekindled divisions over the controversial cycleway. She has had car parks outside her salon commandeered by the contractors.

“They’ve been barricaded and used as somewhere to park the diggers and other equipment at night for months.”

She too was unimpressed with the council’s giveaway competition. “It was a joke, the idea was OK – $100 to spend in the store you won it from – but that didn’t happen. You give someone $100 [and] off they go … money wasted as far as I’m concerned.”

Davies said foot traffic was definitely down and she felt for other businesses which, unlike hers, didn’t have loyal regulars that could be relied on for support.

“I’m probably one of the last remaining original business owners. I feel sorry for the ones who haven’t been here very long.”

One of those is Nish Kulai, who took over ownership of the Blue Belle Cafe from his former boss late last year. He has had to lay off at least three staff since the upgrade began, and has taken on evening work to compensate for the loss of daytime customers.

Work directly outside his shop is due to start shortly, meaning even more disruption for his often elderly customers. “It is already really, really bad. I don’t know how long I can take it for,” he said. “It really is killing us.”

Council spokesperson Victoria Barton-Chapple said the $6500 voucher promotion in Island Bay was a pilot to support suburban businesses where “ prolonged works” were being undertaken.

“By making a purchase at one of the participating outlets [people could] go in the draw to win a $100 voucher.The initial voucher prize was in the form of a Prezzy card, but feedback from businesses suggested some preferred to provide a credit to ensure purchases were made in-store.“

Businesses could now choose their preferred option, she said.

However Southern/Paekawakawa ward councillor Nureddin Abdurahman questioned whether the promotion was worthwhile. He had spoken to a number of shop owners and, like them, felt there were other ways the council could support the community.

“Everyone is hurting at the moment. To be honest I think the council needs to better engage with these businesses; ask how can we help you.”

Island Bay Residents’ Association chair Sheila Hart urged the community to support their local businesses if “we want them to stay in the Bay”.

“We understand the challenges that all businesses in Wellington are facing. The cost-of-living crisis, the significant workforce layoff –20% of our committee lost their jobs – and the ongoing works on the parade for our local businesses,” Hart said.

“We are all in this together, and everyone is feeling the impact.”

Barton-Chapple said there had been more than 300 entries and 18 winners since the promotion started in March, with 21 businesses in the Village participating.

The council received 1197 submissions including 13 submissions from organisations during consultation on the upgrade in 2022. Of those 66% were strongly opposed or opposed the proposal, while 32% strongly supported or supported it.

Footnote: The morning The Post turned up to talk to business owners, most of the council vehicles and machinery, normally parked overnight, had been removed, and some of the wire barriers taken down. Work, which usually began around 9am hadn’t started and there was no sign of the usual traffic control measures.

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