Bureta supermarket hearing begins

A resource consent hearing into a Progressive Enterprises application to build a $20 million supermarket on land currently occupied by the Bureta Park Motor Inn is underway.

The hearing kicked off at 9am this morning.

Progressive Enterprises is proposing a 4620sq m Countdown supermarket, including a 200sq m mezzanine for offices and amenity facilities, a 100sq m plant room and a 420sq m unloading enclosure, together with a 1100sq m block of up to six specialty retail shops and a 250sq m standalone liquor store, which would be occupied by the existing, The Mill Liquorsave.

The supermarket is proposed to be open between 7am and 10pm, seven days a week.

The development, including 256 carparks, would take up around half of the site.

A report prepared for Progressive Enterprises, by Zomac Planning Solutions, said the site was planned to be subdivided into two lots, the other lot being for future residential development.

No further details were provided on what form the residential development would take.

All existing buildings the motor inn, restaurant and accommodation complex and existing liquor store would be removed.

However all protected trees on the site would remain.

A 3m high acoustic wall would front Ngatai Rd and along part of the boundary of the proposed residential lots.

Along the Bureta Rd and Vale St frontage the "landscape concept" was to create an avenue of magnolia trees.

The "contemporary and elegant" building breaks the mould of the traditional supermarket design, with light and delicate architectural components, careful use of landscaping street furniture and careful manipulation of building surfaces, the report said.