Countdown eyes new retail site
Countdown is in talks with the Auckland-based developer behind the retail centre proposed for Timaru’s former Showgrounds Hill site, but is yet to confirm whether it will be an anchor tenant.
Supermarket giant Progressive Enterprises already has two Countdown stores in the town.
‘‘We can confirm that we are working with the Redwood Group,’’ a Countdown spokeswoman said yesterday.
Resource consent documents for the development include an artist’s impression which clearly shows Countdown branding on the side of a building.
However, the spokeswoman said the chain was not ready to confirm a tenancy.
‘‘We’ll be in a position to provide you with further details next week,’’ she said.
However, she did say ‘‘we have no plans to close or relocate any of our Timaru stores’’.
None of the other buildings depicted in the consent had identifiable branding, although a picture of the Countdown site shows an adjacent building labelled ‘‘pharmacy’’.
Nationwide coffee chain Black & White Coffee Cartel is advertising a franchise opportunity in Timaru with the address listed as ‘‘Showground, Evans St’’.
An advertisement for the franchise says ‘‘We’re excited to announce that we have secured an outstanding location in Timaru and we are now looking for an enthusiastic owneroperator to join our team’’.
The Showgrounds development will be done in three stages, with the first stage set to be completed by July 2022, the second by July 2025 and the final by July 2027.
Redwood Group chairman Tony Gapes has said the project would pump about $100 million into the local economy.
Among changes to the original resource consent application, there is a reduction in the amount of personal service retail and food and beverage floor space; amendments to reflect identified maintenance access requirements along Taitarakihi Creek; the removal of a ‘‘slip road’’ at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s request and the reduction of car parks from 1241 spaces to 1228.
According to the consent documents, the development will feature a ‘‘major tenant’’, a ‘‘mini major tenant’’, as well as a site for multiple tenants.
The consent allows for service retail at the site, but this can only total 5 per cent of the total area of the development. The rest of the shops must be bigger than 600 square metres.
The Timaru Town Centre Ratepayers’ Action Group (TCRAG) has given council notice of its intent to lodge a Judicial Review over an independent commissioner granting the consents without public notification.
TCRAG has confirmed it is also considering other legal avenues.