Full steam ahead for new complexes

Site of new Te Ngae Road development. Photo / Ben Fraser

Three new commercial developments will bring increased employment opportunities to Rotorua if completed on schedule this year.

Planned retail complexes at Old Quarry Rd and Te Ngae Rd, and an inner city family restaurant could create more than 300 jobs in convenience, hospitality, trade or health services.

A large 3ha site on Te Ngae Rd, owned by the Holmes Group, could be used for a variety of outlets under its resource consent.

Holmes Group spokesman Ryan Holmes said it was too early to know who would be accommodated on the site, formerly used by Sealed Air Rotorua which intends to relocate to Hamilton.

Mr Holmes said he had been in discussion with a number of potential occupiers and would not be able to make any comment at this stage.

Last year Holmes Group was reported to be planning a $10 million convenience retail complex, Lynmore Junction, to be built on Te Ngae Rd, opposite the entrance to Iles Rd.

The development would include a supermarket and was expected to create almost 300 jobs.

Resource consent granted by Rotorua District Council in 2013 allowed for a range of outlets on the site including supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, fast-food outlets, service stations, trade retailers, or medical and health services.

Meanwhile, TPB Properties has leased nine shops, with one tenancy still to be let, at the new Old Quarry Rd retail centre off Fairy Springs Rd. The complex is due to open officially in early April, said owner Tony Bradley.

He said the tenants were both national and local retailers, but would not go into more details.

The complex would be similar in type to the TPB Properties-owned Redwoods Centre on Te Ngae Rd which was almost fully tenanted with RaboBank due to move into its building once the fit-out was completed, he said.

Meanwhile, an announcement is due on whether Australasian retailer KMart will open in Rotorua Central.

Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust client manager Peter Faulkner, of Deloitte, had previously confirmed the store giant had met with the trust.

Mr Faulkner said discussions between the two groups could be finalised within weeks.

A KMart representative confirmed the chain store had been seeking a Rotorua outlet, but no definite plans had been developed.

Meanwhile, family restaurant chain Cobb and Co, which took over the lease of the building formerly occupied by Kurious Kiwi, will be ready to open its new Fenton St site in early March.

Owner Ben Gower said the Cobb and Co brand had been popular with many families for a number of years.

The Rotorua site will include a restaurant with seating for 200, plus a stand-alone bar. About 25 staff could be employed.

"We have reverted to the traditional Cobb and Co model which many people will be familiar with," Mr Gower said. "It's challenging, but we have high hopes for Rotorua."

Mr Gower's company owned the Tauranga Cobb and Co outlet and would be opening a Taupo site soon.