'Token' $1500 council payment for roadwork-disrupted Wellington businesses

Thursday, 12 September 2024

Caffeinated Dragon Games owner Rhys Kaan: ‘It is not much but it is something.’

A $1500 payment to select Wellington businesses affected by council road works is being described as “token” by even the mayor who suggested it.

Mayor Tory Whanau’s amendment at a council committee meeting on Thursday, which will see staff go away and investigate a “micro-grant” of $1500 to help Thorndon Quay businesses, passed resoundingly – only councillors Nicola Young and Tony Randle voted against it.

And while virtually all around the council table agreed the payment was council tokenism, what divided them was whether it was an insult to businesses whose losses far exceed $1500, whether it went far enough, or whether it was a gesture to show struggling business the council was listening.

Mayor Tory Whanau: ‘We are trying to do all we can because the government isn’t.’

“This is a token, this is a little bit of help, we are trying to do all we can because the Government isn’t,” Whanau said. While the drop in business, caused by roadworks, was one cause of lower trade in the central city, Whanau said “thousands of layoffs and working from home” was also adding to suffering.

The amendment came while the council was about to vote on a petition led by Thorndon Quay business owner Paul Robinson, calling for a pause of the $55m bus lane and cycle way project so the council can review the state of the pipes. That petition was rejected.

Robinson previously found out that there was $5.2m of “must do” pipe work beneath Thorndon Quay and argued the new roadworks would have to be dug up. The council says most of the pipes are not beneath the major works but Robinson, citing council maps, says otherwise.

Wellington is on track to have 30km of new bike lanes by the end of the year, but the fast changes are leaving behind a trail of disgruntled shopkeepers.

Robinson said the $1500 may mean something to some businesses but he expected his building would have dropped up to $5m in value due to the works.

But on Victoria St, Rhys Kaan has been going through months of ear-shattering noise as the council rebuilds the library across the road from his shop Decaffeinated Dragon. He won’t be eligible for the payment but it would mean everything, he said. Business was down by up to 80% and he was aiming to move shop.

It could help with the move, as well as paying rent and bills; “It is not much but it is something,” he said.

Councillor John Apanowicz said the $1500 payment was a “slight token” but the perspective of businesses was that the council did not care. “We are trying to change,” he said.

But councillor Nicola Young said $1500 would make “no difference” other than making councillors feel good.

“Businesses are dying and a Panadol is not much good,” she said.

Randle said the council should have laid out the help it was going to give before starting on the project.

“This is less about letting businesses sleep better, it is more about us sleeping better.” he said.