A new Countdown proposed for the entrance to Richmond could deliver up to 120 jobs, says supermarket giant Progressive Enterprises.
Solicitor Amanda Dewar, for Progressive Enterprises, told the first day of a hearing for a private plan change request by the supermarket company that its proposed Countdown would also deliver additional employment opportunities and economic benefits during the construction phase. Other positive effects would be a more convenient supermarket for nearby residents and the creation of ‘‘an attractive gateway’’ to Richmond, Dewar said.
The plan change request seeks the rezoning of about 1.32 hectares of residential land on the corner of Champion and Salisbury Rds to enable a consent application for the proposed 3200 square metre supermarket along with a small retail/commercial development, a community facility, associated car parking, access and landscaping.
(The Nelson Mail, Tuesday, October 11th, 2016)
Some Richmond residents who live near the site of a proposed Countdown say they fear for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists if the supermarket gets the nod.
Six residents of Holdaway and Marchwood groves yesterday urged independent commissioner David McMahon to recommend a private plan change request by Countdown parent company Progressive Enterprises Ltd be declined.
The plan change request seeks the rezoning of about 1.32 hectares of residential land on the corner of Champion and Salisbury roads to enable a consent application for the proposed 3200 square metre supermarket. A small retail/commercial development, a community facility, associated car parking, access and landscaping would also be at the site.
McMahon is this week hearing submissions on the proposal under delegation from Tasman District Council.
Marchwood Grove resident Steve Gray said a transportation assessment for Progressive showed it was anticipated that during peak hour, 64 vehicles would turn left from Salisbury Rd into the site and 77 would turn left from the site onto Salisbury Rd.
That would mean more than 140 vehicle movements an hour across a shared pedestrian and cycleway that ran along Salisbury Rd, Gray said.
There was also concern there could be an increase in the number of pedestrians crossing Salisbury Rd between Countdown and other businesses in the area including a consented service station now being built directly across ‘‘this busy arterial road’’ from the subject site.
Submissions earlier in the day on behalf of Nelson City Council and rival supermarket giant Foodstuffs also raised concerns about traffic and the roundabout at the intersection of Salisbury and Champion roads, known as the TDC roundabout.
(The Nelson Mail, Wednesday, October 12th, 2016)
The owners of Richmond Mall are investigating the possibility of adding a cinema complex to the retail centre – and it may involve building a second storey.
Jamie Gaskell, chief executive of Tinline Property Group, which owns and manages Richmond Mall, said a cinema complex was part of the company’s 10-year master planning for the mall but ‘‘no commitments’’ had been made.
‘‘It’s just an early consideration,’’ Gaskell said. ‘‘Our community has been asking for it. In response to that, we are considering how it could be achieved.’’
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, October 13th, 2016)
Work has started on Port Nelson’s multi-million redevelopment, but a neighbour literally has mixed views.
The Fountain Place resident, who did not want to be named, said a 17.7 metre high new wine storage warehouse now taking shape in the middle of her seaward view was a ‘monstrosity’.
Steel framing for the 13,000 square metre building in the former log storage yard was erected last week.
One of several key projects in a $32 million upgrade at the port, the warehouse will be used to store bottles for glass manufacturer Owen-Illinois as well as wine for export from Nelson and Marlborough region.
The woman acknowledged her view had included industrial buildings at the port, but it had also taken in aspects of the working port that would be blocked by the new warehouse.
The warehouse is on industrial-zoned port land and permitted to be up to 12 metres in height. Because of operational requirements, the height of the warehouse ceiling needed to be a maximum of 17.71m.
Resource consent was sought and granted as a discretionary activity and consent for the warehouse went through a non-notified process.
An application can be considered on a non-notified basis if the proposal is unlikely to have more than minor adverse effects on the environment; and written approval of all adversely affected parties is obtained; or no party is adversely affected by the activity.
The Nelson Resource Management Plan is prepared under the Resource Management Act 1991 to promote “sustainable management of natural physical resources”.
Port Nelson chief executive Martin Byrne maintained that the additional height was necessary to ensure the warehouse could operate.
Byrne added that the feedback on the port developments had been overwhelmingly positive with most people commenting “that it is a further sign that the region is doing well economically and that developments at the port currently are a good indication of that”.
(The Nelson Mail, Thursday, October 13th, 2016)
The housing market in the top of the South Island is booming harder and faster than Auckland, according to the latest figures from the Real Estate Institute.
The median house price in Nelson/Marlborough hit a record high of $450,000 in September – up 22 per cent on the same time last year.
The annual price increase is second only to the Central Otago Lakes region where prices have rocketed by 41 per cent.
The Auckland region has only increased by seven per cent since September last year to a median price of $825,000.
The top of the south record high was made up of median sale prices of $450,000 in Nelson, $495,000 in Richmond, $480,000 in Motueka and $370,000 in Marlborough/ Kaikoura. The national median house price has also hit a record high of $515,000.
The traditional spring rush of houses to the market hasn’t eventuated in Nelson with listings for September dropping to 81 from 87 in August. ‘‘To be fair, there was more or less an early spring rush during the winter months,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘We perhaps had more stock than normal.’’
(The Nelson Mail, Friday, October 14th, 2016)
Golden Bear Brewing has plans to expand its bar and restaurant at Mapua Wharf.
The company, which operates from the Tasman District Councilowned Shed 5 building, has signed lease agreements with its council landlord to extend into the space formerly occupied by Hamish’s icecream parlour and the Cool Change gallery.
TDC commercial manager Gene Cooper said the council was awaiting fit-out plans from Golden Bear for the redevelopment of the site.
Golden Bear director Jim Matranga could not be reached for comment but a reserved decision by the Tasman District Licensing Committee, confirming the renewal of the company’s on and off-licences, contains some information about the proposal.
Matranga’s include extending the internal bar area and installing large bifold doors and windows along the eastern and southern walls of the building, providing full views of the estuary.
‘‘His long-term intention ... is to reconfigure the bar to this side of the building and to use the new entrance/exit as the only way in which patrons can arrive at and leave the bar,’’ licensing committee chairman Bill Unwin says in the decision.
Unwin says the ’’grand designs’’ for redevelopment will change the way the bar is utilised.
‘‘In our view, the new proposal is a potential game changer in terms of how the patrons behave but, of course, this has yet to be tested,’’ he says.
(The Nelson Mail, Saturday, October 15th, 2016)
“Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does.”
William James