Last-ditch move to save art deco houses

The Environment Court has been asked to order a hearing. Photo / Natalie Slade

A heritage group has applied for an eleventh-hour court order in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the demolition of 1930s art deco buildings.

Save Our St Heliers Society sought a stay of execution from the Environment Court yesterday afternoon for the three houses on Turua St, which are to be torn down and replaced by offices, shops and apartments.

The group extended its vigil outside the buildings overnight, and expected to learn this morning whether the court would order an urgent hearing.

Spokeswoman Dorothy McHattie said that until the court reported back on the application for an enforcement order, the group would stand guard.

"We have a roster going all night, just in case they think 'well they've all gone to bed - we'll do the deed'."

The intervention was sought on the grounds that a proper heritage assessment had not been done.

Ms McHattie said it was the last option available to the group after the Auckland Council refused to intervene. In December councillors voted 14-7 to not support a heritage order.

The developer, Mike Markham, stopped work late last year to give the council time to consider options for the site. That postponement ended on Monday.

This week Mayor Len Brown and interim council chief executive Doug McKay said there was no basis to impose or seek heritage orders, and that the council would face a $10 million bill if it were to buy the seven-site holding.

Mr Markham has said it was impossible to separate the cottages from the rest of the development.

Ms McHattie felt Mr Brown and Mr McKay had been misled by the developers and council officers.

"The council has a responsibility to protect heritage, and it has they have failed to protect this piece.

"We haven't been treated seriously, and it's a crying shame we should have to go to the lengths to protect buildings for the enjoyment of the public."