'Nightmare' of construction chaos to hit central Auckland

Other big projects due to start soon include the 30-level office block and hotel scheme for 1 Mills Lane and Precinct's 36-level Downtown redevelopment. Photo / NZME.

Aucklanders are about to endure a "five-year nightmare", says Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett, as work starts on a raft of major jobs, including the New Zealand International Convention Centre.

Mr Barnett welcomed the centre's resource consent on Friday but expressed fears about the impact of so much demolition and construction on businesses, city residents, workers and visitors.

"It will be very disruptive. It's going to be a nightmare from a business perspective," Mr Barnett said.

"People have got to get to work and what's the plan? Bus routes will change, couriers getting into buildings, people getting to work?"

Projects include the convention centre across almost an entire city block, $2.4 billion City Rail Link stretching from Britomart to Mt Eden and the 52-level apartment/hotel NDG Tower, set to be Auckland's tallest skyscraper after the Sky Tower.

Other big projects due to start soon include the 30-level office block and hotel scheme for 1 Mills Lane and Precinct's 36-level Downtown redevelopment.

But Mr Barnett said he welcomed the outcome, due by around 2020. "The end result will be a boost in Auckland's business activity, including generation of around 10,000 more jobs in the central city and a lot of construction work over the next five or so years."

An Auckland Transport spokesman said much of Lower Queen St would be shut off next year when the City Rail Link started but plans were in place to minimise disruption.

"Conditions of the notices of requirement are that during construction, congestion doesn't get significantly worse."

Construction fever

• $2.4 billion City Rail Link from Britomart to Mt Eden
• New Zealand International Convention Centre
• Precinct's Downtown demolition and construction of a 36-level tower
• Furu Ding's 52-level NDG tower, Royal International site
• $65 million-$100-million Aotea Centre upgrade
• Manson TCLM's 30-level tower.