Who needs this?

Back to the city this afternoon. Lots of appointments for S and a couple for me tomorrow. Then, Wednesday I am working again, while S has other things to do. At 1730, Tsuken and his family arrive from Sydney. We'll all stay in the apartment on Wednesday night, before heading up to the beachhouse for the duration of their two week stay with us.

I decided to take a photograph of the ground works for a huge building which is being built here. It is huge only in terms of the amount of ground it covers. Situated on Great North Road in Grey Lynn, this building will be little more than a single storey barn, with car parking at a lower level. This is a central city fringe area, with apartments being built on the other side of the road to a maximum of four levels above street level. 

The use that this building will be put to? It is to house a Bunnings Hardware Warehouse store. Bunnings is an Australian based firm which has stated its intention to put the New Zealand equivalent (Mitre 10) out of business. Therefore they guarantee lowest prices (small print: excluding special deals). Little more than a kilometre away is a medium sized Mitre 10 store, while perhaps a little further away is a Placemaker's store. Both of these cater for the home handyman, while Placemakers supplies builders as well. 

Local residents argued with Council (who granted consent to an application for building outside the Council's planned development without seeking consultation), saying that the noise and the traffic in a quiet residential area was unacceptable. They lost. One friend says that he would buy from Bunnings as it will be the closest for him. Most locals have indicated a that they will continue to go to Mitre 10.

Council could not have been persuaded by rates as an apartment building occupying the same footprint and going up 4 or 5 levels (I think 5 are permitted on that side of the street) would produce many time the rates of a single business. 

Answering my own question, the only people who need this  building are Bunnings to progress their domination of the NZ hardware/home handyman market. Money always talks louder than te needs of ordinary citizens.