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Repair work to Orewa’s leaky Nautilus apartments has moved a step closer, but the proposal to close one side of Keith Morris Lane for around two years so that the works can take place has angered business owners and landlords.
Prendos NZ is project managing the work and has been looking at options for a ground level site: this is needed so that materials can be delivered via hoist to the building.
Last year Prendos applied for exclusive use of the library car park at the base of the 12-storey Nautilus – this was turned down by the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.
Prendos’ alternative is to seek that one side of Keith Morris Lane be closed off for the duration of the work – expected to take around 22 months. Affected businesses were advised of details of the plan in recent weeks.
Emi Deli café is one of five businesses under the Nautilus, and owner Jonathan Ma says the effect on his business would be devastating.
The plan put forward by Prendos includes a two metre-high fence and builders’ yard, as well as a row of shipping containers, outside the businesses.
Mr Ma says this will block all the natural light that comes in from that side of his café and close off his side entrance.
The lift used to hoist materials up the side of the Nautilus will be right outside, adding to the noise and disruption.
Parking capacity near the café will be halved and access from the pavement made difficult. At times the footpath may need to be closed for safety reasons.
“My business relies heavily on foot traffic and if this goes ahead I don’t think we can survive,” Mr Ma says. “It will be dark and noisy and hard for customers to park and get in and out. When there are so many competing businesses, why would people go to all that trouble to come in here?”
He says the plan should have been discussed with business owners and landlords at the start. “We were not consulted, and now we have a big fight in front of us,” he says. “The Nautilus repairs were a Council issue, therefore the council/library car park should be used – it’s also the best option.”
Also under the Nautilus on Keith Morris Lane are landscape architects Shafer Design. Owner Robin Shafer says the proposal would affect her business because of dust, noise and darkness. “Natural light is important in a design business,” she says. “For a few weeks we could live with it, but two years is a very long time.”
Prendos NZ director Natasha Cockerell says the plan is “not a fait accompli”, although she admits that Keith Morris Lane, or Orewa Library car park are the only two options they have.
“We approached Auckland Transport (AT) after the local board said no to the library car park option and Opus did a traffic impact assessment,” she says. “We are talking to affected people. We only have the two options, the experts say. Our preference is for the car park, because of the effects on businesses, which have been in the forefront of our minds from the start. But that’s something that we have to go to the local board with.” She says once she has instructions from the Nautilus body corporate, Prendos will negotiate with various parties.
In the meantime, business association Destination Orewa Beach (DOB) is working with the business owners and landlords. DOB is currently attempting to organise a meeting between the affected businesses, the local board, Prendos and Rodney MP Mark Mitchell to see what can be sorted out.
