Nautilus faces ‘rock and hard place’ decisions

The owners and landlords of businesses in Keith Morris Lane, under the Nautilus, are feeling a little more positive after voicing their concerns about the impact that repair work on the building may have on them.

Repairing the leaky Nautilus requires street level access for around two years – the two options are using the Orewa Library carpark, or closure of one side of Keith Morris Lane (HM May 4). Business owners say that closing part of Keith Morris Lane will be disastrous for their operations, while the local board, which is responsible for the library, is concerned about public safety, noise and access to parking.

A meeting held by Destination Orewa on May 3 to discuss the issues was attended by business representatives, Prendos NZ, a representative of Rodney MP Mark Mitchell’s office and Julia Parfitt and Janet Fitzgerald of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board. Auckland Transport and Orewa Library representatives are expected at the next meeting.

Both Shafer Design owner Robin Shafer and Emi Deli owner Jonathan Ma say there was a sense of being listened to and working together, which was positive. They see the library carpark as the best option, and say businesses may be prepared to share their carparks under the Nautilus with the public to make up any shortfall if this option is chosen.

Prendos director Natasha Cockerell says that an amended proposal, expected to reduce the amount of space needed in the carpark, is being worked on and will go before the local board as soon as possible.

However, local board chair Julia Parfitt says the big problem will be public safety. “We want the best outcome for everyone concerned,” she says. “Our board understands the position that local businesses are in. However, although Prendos’ new proposal for the library carpark will ask for less space, it may still not be good enough from a health and safety perspective.”

The traffic report that Prendos commissioned from Opus identified several issues with using the carpark. These include the narrow entrance, lack of turning space for large vehicles, safe access to the public toilets and pedestrians. The report says all these risks need to be fully addressed before the carpark could be a viable option.

Mrs Parfitt says that compensation may also be sought. “Auckland Transport will charge Prendos for use of the street, and we would expect to do the same and use that money for improvements to the library,” she says.

Mrs Cockerell says that the library carpark remains Prendos’ preferred option. She says there is no Plan C.

“The Nautilus Body Corporate, and Prendos are seeking the safest way forward, with the least disruption,” she says.

 

“When you’re dealing with a large building in a built up area, there was always going to be a significant impact,” she says. “It’s about mitigating those effects.”