Rail link work claims new victim
Atearful Antony Ariano closed his Da Vinci’s Italian Restaurant in central Auckland last night for the final time — the latest victim of construction works on the $4.4 billion City Rail Link.
“Small businesses have done nothing to be treated like this,” said Ariano, shortly before taking the last orders at the Albert St restaurant he opened 10 years ago.
The mental and financial stress for business owners in the path of the CRL has forced the closure of many businesses — including the wellknown Mai Thai restaurant not far from Da Vinci — and left others on the brink.
Ariano said the final nail for him was the two-year closure of the Victoria and Albert St intersection, boxing in his business by metal fences, hoardings and the daily noise, dust and smells from the construction work.
“When that happened I realised, ‘that’s it, I’m finished’,” he said.
It has left Ariano a broken man. His doctor has prescribed him sleeping tablets and medication for depression, and he has been diagnosed with diabetes.
“It’s a bad dream. I feel like crying,” said Ariano, who woke up at 3am yesterday doing just that. He did not want to come to work for his final night, but mustered up the energy to oversee the last “few bookings”.
Ariano said small businesses are the victims of politicians passing the buck and turning a blind eye over compensation for disruption.
Chloe Swarbrick, the MP for Auckland Central, says the Government is playing a game of pass the parcel with struggling business owners.
The issue has not reached the Cabinet.