Supermarket plans remain on the shelf
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Plans for another supermarket in Ashburton remain shelved after more than 10 years.
Foodstuffs purchased the property at 407 West St/State Highway 1 in October 2012 and planned to develop the site into a Pak’nSave.
When the Ashburton District Council consulted on plan change 4 in 2020, which aimed to strengthen the role of the CBD as the primary commercial, retail, recreation, cultural and entertainment centre for the district, Foodstuffs submitted, citing it would impact its plans to establish the supermarket outside the CBD boundary.
Plan change 4 became operative in July 2021, with the West St site zoned business C which ‘provides for limited commercial activities, service and community activities, as well as a range of light industrial activities’.
A provision was included to allow for the supermarket on the specific site.
Three years later there is still no indication when the plans will progress.
A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company “don’t have any updates to share about the site at this stage”.
The closest alternative Pak’nSave stores are Hornby (Christchurch), and Timaru, with a new store under construction in Rolleston.
The West St site was the former historic Canterbury Flour Mill that was the scene of a major fire in February 2011.
The building, built in 1872, was gutted by the fire.
As well as the two Woolworths and a New World the town has some smaller grocery stores such as SuperValue in Tinwald, and Four Square Netherby, while The Warehouse has recently added produce to its supermarket offerings.
While Foodstuff’s plans for Pak’nSave in Ashburton remain shelved, Savemore has announced it is set to open a new grocery clearance store in the town in May.
The store will be in the Ashburton Central retail centre off Tancred St.
Savemore is New Zealand-owned and operated and offers ‘clearance groceries at bargain prices’.
It opened two stores in Christchurch in the last six months, with Ashburton being its third location.
Poll: What could the Christchurch City Council fund if it didn't have to pay GST on rates?
Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger says GST on rates, currently taken by central government, would be better spent locally.
The comments follow an Infometrics analysis that found over $1.1 billion of rates revenue nationwide was collected by the Government in 2022 as GST.
According to Infometrics, $88.5m of that came from Christchurch city ratepayers. It would be enough to save the Christ Church Cathedral from ruin; restore the Dux de Lux seven times over; cover both the Art Centre and Orana Wildlife Park’s request for regular public funding for over 26 years; contribute to light rail in Greater Christchurch; or get the South Library rebuild completed.
Read the full story by reporter Sinead Gill here and share your thoughts in the comments below. (Note: Subscription required. You can still read two free stories a month if you're not a ThePress.co.nz subscriber).
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22.2% Light rail
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2.8% South Library
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40.3% Orana Wildlife Park
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13.9% The Arts Centre
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4.2% Dux de Lux
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12.5% Christ Church Cathedral
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4.2% Something else (share your thoughts in the comments)
Poll: Would you want an unconventional funeral?
Funerals can cost as much as $22,000 and the planning can be stressful especially at a time when loved ones are grieving. Some New Zealanders are re-imagining funerals by making their own coffin or having a relaxed ceremony at home. Would you want a less traditional funeral? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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84% Yes
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14% No
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2% Other - I'll share below!
Halswell Community May Newsletter
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