20:46:55 Wednesday 27 August 2025

Bureta Countdown gets go ahead

Work on the contentious $20million Countdown development in Bureta will begin early next year after the Environment Court granted resource consent this week.

This week's Environment Court decision gives Progressive Enterprises Limited the green light to build the 4620m2 supermarket retail shops, liquor store and associated on-site parking at the intersection of Vale Street and Bureta Road.

A designer's image for the planned Countdown supermarket in Bureta.

The decision ends months of mediation talks between Progressive, council and residents after council originally rejected the consent last November due to noncomplying land use activity, and traffic issues potentially created by the proposed supermarket.

'We are pleased to have received consent for our Bureta Park supermarket,” says a Progressive spokesperson.

'We've worked with the local community to achieve a high quality supermarket and retail shopping area that we truly believe will be of value to the area.”

'We're now working through some of the detail of the design and are hoping to be able to update people on the timeline once this detail has been finalised. At this stage we're expecting to start construction in January 2014."

The two on-site tenants, Bureta Trust Bar and Bureta Motor Inn, now have until November 27 to shut their doors. Both businesses received notice in May 27 this year. The Mill bottlestore will be a tenant in the shops on Bureta Rd.

Bureta Trust Bar owner Kevin Fraser is not pleased about the lease termination date even though he knew he would have to ring the bell for final drinks at some stage.

'From what I gather, Progressive doesn't like to have venues that have TAB's or gambling with them. It's one of their principles they have just explained to me,” says Kevin.

Kevin admits his interest has always been for a commercial environment on the site but it is disappointing to see the two businesses being evicted in what is an end of an era for the Bureta community.

As part of the agreement, an extensive traffic review must be undertaken and presented to council both a year and two years after the opening of the supermarket. This includes surveying traffic for at least two mornings and evening weekday peak periods, traffic counts in and out of the supermarket and peak period parking space occupancy.

Also if the supermarket experiences intersection delays exceeding 45 seconds during peak traffic periods the conditions of the consent can be reviewed by council. Council then has the ability to insert new conditions or modify existing conditions to implement appropriate remedies.

11 comments

Grrrrr

Posted on 20-09-2013 14:22 | By maggiebop

Oh well, another area devalued and more traffic hazards. Am sorry for those who live nearby and will NOT be a customer at this unwanted supermarket.


all good

Posted on 20-09-2013 14:38 | By rayzgirl

I will be shopping there, I think it will be easier to get in and out of than new world in brookfield which is a nightmare at times


Unhappy!!

Posted on 20-09-2013 14:39 | By Lois

I am another one who is not happy with the decision, as are most of the people I speak too, and I will NOT be going into this unwanted supermarket. They don't want a TAB but I bet you some of those beautiful trees and gardens go.


True local

Posted on 20-09-2013 15:07 | By marcus

Adds lots value to make our area a trendy new spot. Happy for the older folks too not having to move to be handy to the supermarket. A big win as people will see in time


best news for the area

Posted on 20-09-2013 15:17 | By G1st

Huge plus for the area,can only lift values more. Ha smiling more and more daily. Hopefully the shops on corner will get a much needed revamp to match the new complex. Dr D.


Why all the complaints!!!

Posted on 20-09-2013 15:19 | By Sambo Returns

Tauranga is a city, if you want to live in a sleepy seaside village, go live in one.


Overit

Posted on 20-09-2013 15:21 | By overit

Yuk another supermarket. Goodbye Trust bar, I have had many a lovely meal/drink there. Amnesty International Fundraisers, wine tasting, live music. A bloody shame I say.


Great there is an Environment Court

Posted on 20-09-2013 15:28 | By Phailed1

Specially when a council seems to split hairs over whether the existing commercial use (pub, liquor store etc) can be replaced with a commercial use selling groceries. Personally I'd go for the groceries rather than the booze. More family oriented and will be good for those in the area without cars. As for traffic if you've seen the size of the carpark already there you'd know that there used to be heaps of traffic at the pub etc.


Concerns misguided

Posted on 20-09-2013 16:57 | By freedomkiwis

Environment court would be better off working with council to improve the roads around the primary school in Bureta instead. A supermarket right here will only make things worse.


Lost opportunity

Posted on 21-09-2013 06:52 | By Johnney

A brilliant site for a residential development wasted. Instead another supermarket. We will end up with one on every corner. Corporate bullies getting their way with council. Just hope council make good money out of these foreign owned companies to reduce our debt.


Good news

Posted on 21-09-2013 09:47 | By Te Ponui

New World is okay but too bloody far. This is on the route home for many residents from Bureta right through to Matua and even Bellevue.


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