One of the Bay of Plenty's largest cinema complexes, an alfresco dining area and a new Countdown supermarket will be among 50 new retail stores on the way for Tauranga in a $115 million development.
The expansion of Bayfair Shopping Centre was given the green light with the official launch ceremony taking place yesterday.
Representatives from retailers, local Iwi and the wider Tauranga community gathered at the construction site on Harris St in Mount Maunganui to mark the start of construction.
Waka Taite, a kaumatua of Ngāi Te Rangi, blessed the site and waiata from students of Te Kura o Matapihi signalled the start of construction for the development.
Bayfair Centre Manager Steve Ellingford said the investment in the development at Bayfair showed the measure of confidence in the centre and the Bay of Plenty region.
"Bayfair serves an important role in the wider community as a major shopping destination in the region, which is experiencing significant economic and population growth and huge seasonal surges in tourism.
"As the region grows, we want to grow with it, and the development is part of future-proofing for that growth," Ellingford said.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless congratulated owners of Bayfair Shopping Centre and AMP Capital and thanked them for having "faith in the future of Tauranga".
"It really marks a major milestone for Tauranga as this project reflects the growth and changing needs and demographics of our city," he said.
Priority One projects manager Annie Hill said the strong growth of retail developments in the area was a good indicator of economic growth as well as investor confidence.
"It shows the popularity of Tauranga as a place in which to live and work, and also the unparalleled growth in jobs that we have experienced over the last year or so – topping the country in this area.
"In turn, the job growth reflects the new businesses that have moved or established here, as well as the growth of existing businesses," Hill said.
Bayfair's new cinema complex, United Cinema, would have seven screens and more than 1300 seats.
The cinema complex chain was Australian-owned and would be the first of its kind in New Zealand and one of the largest in the Bay of Plenty.
United Cinemas Australia chairman Roy Mustaca said Bayfair was an appealing choice because the centre offered one of the most compelling fashion, lifestyle and entertainment experiences in the country.
"Each cinema will feature plush stadium seating, 300 electric grand recliners and our a la carte in theatre dining menu delivering quality food and beverage to patrons' seats."
He said the company wanted to be a part of the development to offer people in the Bay of Plenty region an "exceptional cinema experience."
"With the latest projection and 360-degree Dolby Atmos sound, the cinema will deliver a world-class movie experience," Mustaca said.
Australian craft beer brewer Little Creatures would be another first for the Bay of Plenty, scheduled to open in December, 2018, in the centre's new alfresco dining precinct.
Countdown would be relocating from its existing location to a newly built supermarket at the Harris and Carter Sts end of the centre.
Countdown's general manager for property, Adrian Walker, said Countdown was excited to be bringing a modern new look to Bayfair Shopping Centre.
"The new Countdown will have some fantastic new features for the community including fresh, new look produce, deli and seafood departments.
"We have a strategy across all our stores to reduce our environmental footprint, and the new Bayfair store will have a focus on next-generation energy and reducing carbon emissions, to support our target to reduce our carbon emissions to 10 per cent below our 2015 levels by 2020," Walker said.
He said the new Countdown Bayfair will open being single-use plastic carrier bag free.
Development Details:
- A development programme which includes stages opening pre-Christmas 2018 and completing Q3 2019.
- The centre's overall footprint is expected to expand by 9,000 square metres (sqm) to a total of 42,000 sqm.
- 1820 car spaces, (an additional 200 spaces).
- Cycle parking.
- Modern family facilities, including a quiet room for children with sensory processing disorders such as autism.
What shops are coming?
- About 50 specialty stores, including a strong fashion mix new to the centre and the region.
- Integrated alfresco dining precinct to complement the nearby cinema complex, with up to seven restaurants and casual food eateries including licensed operators.
- United Cinema, one of the largest complexes for the Bay of Plenty.
- Little Creatures, an Australian craft beer brewer.
- A new-look Countdown supermarket.