The timeline for Auckland's City Rail Link project is to be reassessed, as businesses trading alongside a giant trench on Albert St continue to struggle.
Some businesses told Checkpoint upcoming rent reviews could cause even more pain. Less than $2 million of the $12 million hardship fund has made its way into local owners' pockets.
Alex Law stands alone in his photo shop just off Albert St on a Thursday morning. The shop has been open for two hours and he has seen three customers.
"Some days I get no customers. Maybe one or two until 2pm.
"It's hard. I wish I could just lock the door and walk out," he told Checkpoint.
He said the relief payment he has received have only paid about half his rent, after deductions.
All the local shop owners are near retirement age, Law said. "So it's a lot to give up and change. To do something else."
Business owners beside the CRL works on Albert St say 10 neighbours have recently shut up shop for good.
There is now more uncertainty, as City Rail Link's chief executive Sean Sweeney told Checkpoint the late-2024 completion date will be reassessed.
The reassessment includes the project's timeline and costs of the Albert St works.
Dr Sweeney said the pandemic's impact has been substantial and is still affecting construction.
Businesses on Albert St remain frustrated, saying they do not feel listened, after fighting for relief funding, and continuing to fight for that relief to be back paid.
"Shouldn't this be covered? Shouldn't they have enough to say 'this is how long we're going to do it for, and this is the amount of money it's going tot take', Roma Blooms owner Shobhana Ranchhodji said.
She wants payments backdated to 2019, but CRL says it cannot budge from dates set out by the Targeted Hardship Funds sponsors - the government and Auckland Council.
"There is so much hardship. Nobody could imagine unless you've had a business around here. Council workers, Michael Wood, Chloe Swarbrick – nobody would have the understanding of what we have given up to be here," Ranchhodji said.
Dr Sweeney told Checkpoint staff administering the fund are working incredibly hard to apply the Crown and Council's criteria in a humane way.
He said they are committed to supporting affected companies, including helping them to provide information to support relief applications.
Of the $12 million relief fund, about $1.9m has been paid out, he said. Of 133 applications, 73 have been approved and 41 are pending.
For some that appears to be too late, as more empty shop windows appear on Albert St.
