Liquorland franchisee Chris Hart said the Dunedin City Council was "running roughshod" over the process for its Albany St upgrade.
Mr Hart, who owns Leith St Liquorland on the corner of Albany and Leith Sts, aired his complaints about consultation last year and yesterday said his concerns remained.
"I find it rather disingenuous of the council to say that they’ve engaged with all stakeholders when they haven’t," he said.
Last April, the council agreed to re-consult on the project after initial legal advice found the consultation process was "potentially open to challenge".
Since then he had not heard from the council or seen any updated plans.
"Those councillors saying that there has been dialogue, they’re a bunch of dickheads.
"It just breaks my heart to think that these guys have got no commercial sense in their whole body."
Recent council work to upgrade stormwater infrastructure in Albany St had "run over time, over budget and just wrecked trade", and he was concerned the same would happen with the planned Albany Street Connection.
"Once again, no consultation in regards to what part of the road is going to be closed for any part of time, how it interrupts businesses and even the scale of the works going forward.
"And if it’s anything like the [stormwater project], it’ll be a complete disaster."
At Tuesday’s infrastructure services committee meeting, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich raised concerns around the project going to tender as soon as next month, despite businesses in the area feeling they had not been fully consulted.
Mr Radich said he had been approached by concerned businessmen Jason La Hood and Greg Paterson.
His comments sparked a fiery discussion between councillors, some saying the mayor was undermining council staff.
Neither businessman could be contacted for comment yesterday.
Cr Brent Weatherall said yesterday the council should have learned lessons from the controversial consultation for George St upgrades.
A petition with 6500 signatures to keep the two-way traffic flow in George St, "had no effect on the final design", he said.
"There’s one thing consulting — there’s another thing listening.
"I cannot see how any procurement contracts could go out to market until the final design has landed."
He said he was pleased Tuesday’s meeting highlighted the "possible gap of appropriate process" and hoped key stakeholders’ concerns around accessibility and parking had been addressed.
"Parking availability, especially around connections of George St, needs protecting and it concerns me that a majority of two is all that’s required from a parking committee of only three councillors."
Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the council had consulted on the Albany St project in 2022, when it received 113 submissions, and in 2023.
"Since the [April] 2024 consultation was delayed, we have been focusing on revising our design for the project to accommodate the concerns raised previously," she said.
Ms Benson said an updated design for the walking and cycling connection between the harbour path Te Aka Ōtākou and Dunedin’s tertiary area and CBD would be available in a few weeks.
The council would then meet key stakeholders — including Albany St landlords and businesses, the University of Otago and Otago University Students’ Association — to discuss the design.
"At this stage the new design allows for more carparks on the north side of Albany St, close to the university library, to be retained, which is what we have been working through with the landlords."
The final design would go to tender next month and the project’s revised parking changes would be considered by the hearings committee, Ms Benson said.
"This has caused some delays for the project, compared to our original timeline, but we recognise the importance of working with the various parties who have an interest in this important work to make sure we get it right for our community."
Cr Sophie Barker said while there had been "extensive consultation" in the past, she was glad further consultation with key stakeholders had been held to look at resolving "sticky issues".
Councillors should have been updated on the project more frequently.
"If people can see plans for key works, then they’re more accepting of the work that needs to be done to achieve them ..."
