Countdown to store site decision

The site of the proposed Countdown supermarket on Peachgrove Rd.

The decision to grant consent for a Countdown supermarket on Peachgrove Rd is now down to independent commissioner Alan Withy who heard public hearing of submissions to the proposal this week.

Progressive Enterprises, who own the Countdown food chain, said at the hearing that the impact of the supermarket will be minor since the opening of Wairere Drive Ring Road to Ruakura Road.

Sean Ryan said in his submission at the hearing he was not opposed to the supermarket, but did not think enough consideration had been given to the residents.

"We feel strongly that under the current district plan this consent should not be approved in its current form. While not opposed to the building of the supermarket we feel that not enough consideration has been given by both Progressive and the Hamilton City Council as to how this will impact on local residents.

"We ask that greater scrutiny be given to potential traffic impacts and ask that a greater degree of traffic safety assessment and more detailed designs be undertaken prior to approving this application."

Senior associate transportation for Beca, on behalf of Progressive, Joseph Adam Phillips said "I recognise that there will be minor adverse effects for some residents, during the weekday PM and Saturday midday peak periods of the supermarket. This relates to the ability to turn right out of these properties and may only affect one or two movements per day per property. I consider this to be a minor adverse effect.

"Peachgrove Road is currently classified as a major arterial in the council's Operative District Plan (ODP), intended to carry large numbers of vehicles.

"Under the Proposed District Plan (PDP, soon to be adopted by council), the completion of the Wairere Drive Ring Road provides the opportunity of Peachgrove Road to be downgraded to a minor arterial."

He said while queues past the southern access are predicted during the weekday PM peak, this should not have any more than a minor effect on the operation of the site accesses. But he also said supermarket traffic is predicted to have adverse effects on the operational performance of some approaches to the Fifth Ave roundabout during peak periods, however these were predicted to be 5-6 per cent increases.

The supermarket will be at 160 Peachgrove road covering 4000 sqm of the 1.8 ha site, and plans have been adjusted to have 188 carparks rather than 192, to increase space between driveways into the carpark.

Property development manager for Progressive John Ellison said they believe having a presence in Hamilton East will create a more competitive grocery market in the city, leading to lower prices. He said an estimated 100 jobs will be created on an on-going basis.