Second victory for St Heliers protest group

Protesters rejoice after demolition of the cottages was stopped yesterday. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Protesters trying to save three art deco houses in the Auckland waterfront suburb of St Heliers have had another small victory.

The Spanish-style houses in Turua St were built in the 1930s but due to be demolished to make way for commercial development.

Local residents took their fight to the Environment Court to save the old buildings which, they said, embodied the seaside character of St Heliers.

Yesterday, as the wrecking crew began tearing down the back of one of the houses, Environment Court Judge Laurie Newhook issued a restraining order until 4pm Monday and the demolition stopped.

Today he turned down an application from developer Mike Markham to have the protesters' application thrown out of court.

He also extended the order preventing any further demolition until 5pm on Wednesday, the day the application from the St Heliers protest group would be heard.

The protesters wanted the court to order the Auckland Council to invoke a heritage protection order so the heritage value of the buildings could be assessed and then possibly protected from demolition.

The protest group, Save Our St Heliers, said the council gave the developer permission to tear down the buildings based on misleading information.

- NZPA