This will be a major disruption for many commuters who rely on the network for daily travel and pressure will be put on Auckland Transport (AT) to ensure it provides adequate alternatives (whether or not this happens remains to be seen).

It will also be deeply impact local businesses which depend on commuter traffic.

Speaking to RNZ, Shobanna Rachodji mentioned how difficult the disruption caused by the proposed rail link outside their flower shop, Roma Blooms, on Albert St, has been over the past eight years. The latest announcement is another blow for the company.

Rachodji had pinned his hopes on a busy summer season, but, with the first closure falling just after Christmas this year and lasting for an entire month, that hope was dashed.

“We’re training the city, we’re helping tourism, we’re helping people that we were hoping would be a lot more crowded during this time.”

Rachodji also said business owners in affected areas were not adequately informed about these disruptions because they, like everyone else, only found out during Friday’s announcement.

“We had to discuss with them before buying shares for those months.

“What do we do with our stock? We pre-ordered.

They are also concerned that insufficient financial support will be available for affected businesses, mentioning the targeted $12 million financial hardship fund that was launched in 2021 to provide rent relief for businesses, but which they say does not only benefited the owners.

“This is simply looking after the owners, it has nothing to do with how our time was wasted throughout the project, so no compensation for lost time.”

The same concerns were raised by Viv Beck, chief executive of Auckland’s inner-city business association, Heart of the City.

Beck pointed out that some of these companies have already endured almost a decade of hardship caused by the Urban Rail Link work.

“Watching this press conference, I really came away thinking that the government and Auckland Council, as sponsors of this project, have been doing a great disservice to the businesses affected for almost a decade,” he said. she declared.

“It’s been a fight every step of the way to get support for them. »

The works and associated closures are, as Jon Reeves, national coordinator of the Public Transport Users’ Association, called them, a “necessary evil”, but that does not mean the impact cannot be minimized. Authorities must do everything they can to mitigate the impact of these lengthy service cuts that Aucklanders are about to experience.

Auckland Council and its transport arm will need to work hard to ensure the people and small businesses that rely on these commuters don’t suffer even more than they already have. Distress funds, rent relief, reduced rates – it’s time to do everything we can to ensure that the necessary evil does not force Aucklanders to endure (further) unnecessary hardship.