UPDATED: The Environment Court has ordered a halt to the demolition of a group of historic homes in Auckland's St Heliers 20 minutes after a wrecking crew began to bulldoze the first one.
UPDATED 4PM: The Environment Court has ordered a halt to the demolition of a group of historic homes in Auckland’s St Heliers 20 minutes after a wrecking crew began to bulldoze the first one.
The court’s order will provide a brief ceasefire in the escalating battle by the Save Our St Heliers Inc group, which is determined to save the six iconic buildings. The court’s action will prevent demolition until 4pm on Monday.Ward Demolition, under orders from developers Mike and Sandra Markham, began demolishing the historic art deco building 10 Turua Street at 2.10pm.
A crowd of protestors cried and screamed when the digger began chewing into the brick rear of the building.
Many screamed “Down with Brown” to express their anger at mayor Len Brown, who had turned down earlier appeals.
Others hugged to console each other, tears streaming.
When news of the injunction broke via a phone call to protestor Shelley Kostanic, the crowd began shouting at the demolition workers to stop.
In spite of the injunction news, Mr Markham urged his representative and Ward Demolition site manager Randal Owles to continue the demolition.
Work was finally halted after police discussions with Mr Owles. Number 10 was badly damaged but the facade still stands.
Ward Demolition workers left the site around 3.30pm.
“We’re elated but sad about the back of number 10 being destroyed,” Ms Kostanic said.
UPDATED 2.50pm: The lawyer for developers wanting to demolish historic art deco houses in St Heliers has been told of the interim injunction preventing any further demolition. The interim injunction will run until Monday.
UPDATED 2.25pm: Information coming in from those gathered at Turua St in Auckland's St Heliers is that the Environment Court has granted an interim injunction to stop the demolition of historic art deco houses.
NBR reporters on site say half of one house has already been destroyed - the middle house in a group of three art deco residences, number 10 Turua St. The demolition began from the rear of the house but the facade is still intact.
The number of police onsite has been increased and there is some confusion among those gathered as to whether work will resume ahead of the injunction papers being served to the demolition team.
The bulldozers have started and demolition is underway in St Heliers where protestors have been trying to save historic homes.
Randal Owles, from Ward Demolition (who call themselves demolition artists), told NBR they would not wait for the outcome of a attempt to get the Environment Court to grant an injunction.
Protestors, who maintained an overnight vigil at the Auckland beachside site, were crying, screaming and chanting "Down with Brown", a reference to Auckland Mayor Len Brown.
