By ANNE BESTON
A group of Waiheke Island residents fighting to save an old store from demolition will put their case to Auckland City Council today.
The residents have already stopped destruction of the 1920s Rocky Bay store once, barricading it shut when a demolition crew arrived to pull it down last year.
The residents then took their case to the Environment Court and were successful in getting a stay-of-demolition order until the the long-term future of the store is decided.
Despite an appeal against the order last year it is still in place and now the group is taking its case to the Auckland City Council's planning committee.
They want to get the building listed as a historic site under the district plan. That would preserve the building and restrict any alterations or additions to it.
Waiheke resident and Auckland City councillor Mike Lee is leading the charge to save the store, which he says has links to artist C. F. Goldie, whose family lived in the area for 40 years.
"It's a place of special significance," Mr Lee said.
"We want to see it protected and ideally for someone to come in and operate it again."
Store owner Annette Robertson previously ran a cafe at the store but closed shop last year when she had problems complying with council planning rules.
Residents believe townhouses or apartments will take the store's place if it is demolished.
"It's just a shame to take away that sort of history," said local real estate agent Clive Lonergan.
"There isn't a lot of history on the island and you can go anywhere and see three ugly townhouses."
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Award-winning restaurant reopens after car smashed through doors during dinner
A customer seriously injured in the smash still has a long road to recovery ahead.