Support for proposed supermarket development

The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce has voiced its support for the proposed development of the Holmes Group site on Te Ngae Road.

Rotorua District Council will formally advise public notification of the resource consent application for the proposal on Tuesday, December 18.

Chamber chief executive Roger Gordon said the directors of Holmes Group were to be congratulated for their foresight.

"This is an excellent example of a well researched and planned application to enable a planned change of use of

an industrial property influenced by the dynamics of the economic environment.''

The Daily Post reported on Saturday the Holmes Group had identified a risk that the site's current tenants Sealed Air (New Zealand) may not renew their lease past September 2014, so were looking at developing a $10 million

"supermarket-based neighbourhood centre''.

"Although it is disappointing to see the possible demise of a long-time established manufacturing business employing 125 staff, the proposal for a more modern, aesthetically appealing commercial development employing

over 200 staff is a positive compensation.

"Other examples of investments by this group in Rotorua and throughout New Zealand show a commitment to quality developments and an understanding of local cultural and environmental factors.

"The proposed core tenant is a chain supermarket reflecting today's trend of seeing these operations sited close to the residential community they service. The West End supermarket on the other side of town is a prime

example of this. Rotorua District Council's growth strategies forecast that the eastern corridor will see a large percentage of Rotorua's future residential growth occurring in these suburbs.

"There will be apprehension that another satellite retail development will see further migration of retailers from the CBD. However, the application identifies the proposed additional tenants to be a service station, medical centre and fast food outlets with a small number of convenience retail stores. We support the intent of the developers to attract new complementary retailers to the site rather than target existing CBD retailers,'' said Mr Gordon.