Opponents say Royal Oak Warehouse bid threatens local business

Consultant Mark Tansley says The Warehouse would encourage retail in the declining Royal Oak town centre, as well as, further to the west of Manukau Rd. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Shops serving neighbourhoods in Onehunga, Royal Oak and Greenwoods Corner are threatened by a bid to build The Warehouse's latest store, say business owners and residents.

The company's application for resource consent to build a new store and other shops at 100 Pah Rd was heard by Auckland Council commissioners yesterday.

Twenty objections were based on concerns about retail competition but also increased traffic congestion on the airport link, parking scarcity and changing the character of the neighbourhood.

However, consultant Mark Tansley said 18,000 households would become closer to The Warehouse Royal Oak than to any other of the company's stores.

Refusal of consent for the "most dominant general merchandiser in New Zealand" could not be based on an argument that equivalent merchandise was available in other local stores.

Mr Tansley said Royal Oak town centre was in decline and The Warehouse would encourage further retail to the west of Manukau Rd.

Labour List MP Carol Beaumont spoke of concerns about the impact of a department store on local jobs and business.

Epsom resident Bridget Graham said the "huge prison-like structure" would have a negative impact on businesses of Royal Oak, Onehunga and Greenwoods Corner.

She said the Royal Oak town centre was 400m-800m from the site, formerly the Holeproof factory.

The Onehunga Business Association had forged a delicate bond between businesses and their local community.

"But if the community is driven away by the temptation to buy cheaper goods, this delicate balance will be destroyed.

"This goes against the principle of building stronger communities and helping them make their own strong identities within the new Auckland Council structure.

"A community that loses its shopping centre loses its heart."

Business Association manager Amanda Kinzett said its 419 members were worried about the effect the store would have on the area as a whole.

"The reality is, this business is car-based and people will come and go without stopping elsewhere."

Residents Cherrie and Michael England said the application fell outside the provisions of the District Plan "on so many counts that we are surprised the applicant would even contemplate it and the council consider it".

Mike Williams, who lives opposite the proposed Mt Albert Rd access to the store, said it would radically change the area, which has Seymour Park sportsfields, four schools and three preschools.

He was worried where people would park for Saturday games.

"It will make traffic busy for 16 hours a day instead of it going quiet after 6pm. It will create more hardship for residents and have a wider impact on residents and streets in Epsom."

The James Wallace Trust also objected. It said the proposal would adversely affect the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in the Pah Homestead and its protected view shaft through Monte Cecilia Park to Pah Rd.

If the building should go ahead, the trust wanted it to be painted dark green and hidden behind tall trees.

Council planner Clare Covington recommended the application be declined.

But lawyer Paula Brosnahan said The Warehouse had invested significant time and effort in designing the new store so it fitted into the local environment, which was a mixture of industrial, commercial and residential.

Company property executive Fiona Shilton said the project would create over 100 jobs during construction and 45 full-time jobs after opening.

The company paid $40,000 a year in council rates on the Pah Rd site and its development levy would run into several hundred thousand dollars.

She said it was likely to attract more shoppers and workers to the area and the council planned roadworks for the benefit of pedestrians and motorists.