George St’s future imperilled

Who would want to be high street retailers these days? They are up against internet selling as well as big-box, drive-to shops.

But, as some George St retailers see it, they are also up against their own council.

The Dunedin City Council’s planning and environment committee decided last month to reject the staff recommendation and the choice favoured by a clear majority of the council’s Central City Advisory Group on George St. That recommendation was for increased emphasis for pedestrians but with two-way traffic. A one-way option would remain in the wings.

Instead, the committee voted 9-5 to proceed with a business plan and a design to convert George St to one-way with an option to go back to two-way still possible in the future.

When independent consultants Urbanismplus was appointed in July to review the previous one-way plan, after an outcry about the previous plan and alleged lack of consultation, Mayor Aaron Hawkins said the plan was to be reviewed to make sure it was still fit for purpose.

"George St is the heart of our city and we are committed to getting this right," he said.

Although it is possible that, in the long run, the councillors might be proved correct in getting this right, the change could also be the final straw for some of these retailers.

Wishful, idealistic thinking about largely excluding cars does not make it realistic for small-city Dunedin. Wipe out many retailers — small local businesses and the outlets of national chains — and the heart will be in a poor state to attract pedestrians at all.

The attitudes of some of the councillors is worrying. They claim to know what is best for the small businesses and retailers even if they have never run such enterprises. They know better than the favoured recommendation they received. They also seem to be willing to sacrifice better bus access for the one-way option.

One councillor cited the stadium as an example of a project that attracted strong opposition and came to be loved. Cr Chris Staynes might also have quoted the millions wasted on the South Dunedin cycleway that next to no-one used.

Cr David Benson-Pope, meanwhile, described George St as public space that "doesn’t belong to a few invested loudmouths".

But George St exists as a shopping street, supplemented by eating and drinking premises. Destroy the "loudmouths"’ businesses and there will not be much left.

While councillors represent the wider public interest, they are dealing with the lives and incomes of various businesspeople.

Most Dunedinites agree the main shopping street is special. Many cities, including Christchurch, have lost their heart. Dunedin’s is fragile. Slow, incremental change is the most it can handle.

Measures have discouraged motorists from using George St as a thoroughfare over the years. Traffic was encouraged to use the loop around London St, Filluel St and above the Octagon. Turning from George St into cross streets was restricted. Most recently, the Barnes dances for pedestrians at the main intersections has slowed traffic further.

Already, motorists avoid George St when they can. Speeds along George St are already low.

Councillors could have combined some of their green ideology with practicality if they had backed the recommended two-way option with increased pedestrian emphasis and the option to convert to one-way in the future.

One-way makes access to the Meridian car park more difficult. It will increase congestion in surrounding streets, and make matters especially fraught during hospital construction. Residents living in the central city will also be inconvenienced.

Those with the most intense interest in the success of George St as a public space are the businesses. The stakes are so high for them they should be listened to. Councillors are, in effect, claiming they not the business owners know what is best for the businesses.

The council has sought expert advice and consulted with those most directly affected, and councillors are going their own way.