Simon Arcus: Business Central CEO on the need for financial compensation for businesses impacted by the Golden Mile works

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce says the council needs to financially compensate businesses affected by the Golden Mile works. 

Construction on the Kent and Cambridge intersection with Courtenay Place will begin in April, as part of the project to revitalise the city's tired night-life stretch. 

Mayor Tory Whanau previously floated a business support package, but officials yesterday said that was no longer an option. 

Business Central CEO Simon Arcus told Mike Hosking that while the works need to be done, support for operators is a must. 

He says it's not good enough to put businesses and livelihoods in peril and not offer any protection. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The most contentious of plans is underweing Wellington the Golden
Mile April. It's starting new details show the first eight
months includes road layout changes, pipeworks and trees. Then it's
two years worth of work widening foot paths, adding cycle ways,
specialist bus lanes and rain gardens which don't require watering anyway.
The Business Central CEO Simon Archuss with as Simon, very
good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
To you, very good willing to you too, Mike how I.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
I'm well, thank you remind me you four again this.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
For this in a sense that something has to be done.
If you've walked down Courty Placed in the last few years,
it's a pretty depressing site and it needs and Key's
getting that way too, so we need a bit of
a lift. The again, that is the lack of conversation
for businesses. But no doubt we may discuss that.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
Why didn't we learn that lesson from the CRL in
Auckland where businesses have fallen by the wayside and everyone went, jeez,
we better do it better when we do it somewhere else,
And we're doing it somewhere else and we're not doing
it better.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, it's the lesson learners we're talking about the Mike.
I mean, I think in terms of an act, the
council in terms of you know, this area, they ended
up with a twelve million dollar front. They were that
aware of the of the risks. It doesn't necessarily all
need to be spent, but you've got to make sure
that businesses they put it in peril and people's livelihoods,
their employees are protected. And this Council isn't doing it.

(01:17):
And it's not good enough.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
As an exercise. From go to we're not at the
woe yet, but from go to when eventually the woe comes,
how would you rate this?

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Look, I mean, we're go to a way. We're talking
about let's get Willington moving the ghosts of and that
was seven point two billion dollar fantasy and we're down
to one hundred and thirty million to get the two streets.
George up a bit. Look to me, I don't want
to sound cynical because I am. I'm thrilled they're going
to be doing it, but it has been a careening

(01:50):
mess over time, and I just hope that this can
be delivered on time and on budget, and that will
be a pledge that we should help hold all of
those counselors for it to account online.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
I wouldn't better lunch on it being on budget or
on time. Do you want to take that bet or not?

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Really, I think we're worth saving each other lunch that way, Mark,
because I think I'd be on the same side. So
I think, Look, I mean these projects are big, but
I really do think those businesses out there that will
suffer to just say there is no money available there
actually and often of course we say that these days,
but there is money. The council collects eighteen million dollars

(02:29):
extra not rates, an extra levy from the businesses of Wellington,
of central Wellington, and that money is there to be
used for business. Is the purpose of the taxation or
the levy, and the reality is they're not spending it
on that and they need to and that is what
we will have a particular issue with publicly.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Do you think outside your wheelhouse, do you think all
of this angst of Wellington in the last year or
so is going to generate some good turnout in the
local elections this year or not?

Speaker 2 (02:56):
I think that I think that we will see some
motivated voters are ratepayers, and that's probably the one plea
with commercial and residential ratepayers to get out there and
vote because we had such quatune out. I think, I
think we'll see some candidates who are really keen to
make a difference, and probably for me in this role,
the most motivated people about making the change are certainly

(03:21):
That's what I'm seeing much more of this year.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
So it's good, good, good, good, all right, Simon, good
to have you on the program. As always, sign an
Archist Business Central CEO.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
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