Hardware giant plans $20m development for Queenstown

September 29 2011

Hardware giant plans $20m development for Queenstown

Successful hardware and homewares store Mitre 10 is planning to more than triple the size of its Remarkables Park operation by making the move to a proposed dedicated DIY precinct including a discount supermarket.

Invercargill-based businessman Acton Smith, owner of H&J’s Mitre 10 Remarkables Park, said today (Thursday September 29) that the company planned to move to a new shopping precinct at Shotover Park alongside a proposed PAK’n SAVE supermarket.

Mr Smith told a hearing into the PAK’n SAVE application that the existing Mitre 10 business had been so successful it was now over-trading on a site that had become too small for its current level of business and was literally overflowing with stock.

“We’re planning to increase from the current store size of 2200m2 to a store and yard of approximately 6800m2, a 300% expansion,” he said.
“Not only will Queenstown builders and homeowners enjoy the national pricing policy associated with Mega and its identical product pricing throughout New Zealand, but there will be greater benefits overall and double the choice,” he said.

Mr Smith said the evolution of the Remarkables Park Town Centre into a more sophisticated pedestrian orientated shopping centre for convenience goods with high pedestrian foot traffic, combined with overall growth in the Mitre 10 business, had prompted the move.

He said it would be better if the existing Mitre 10 in Remarkables Park was converted to more convenience stores providing more shopping variety there, and for the much larger new Mitre 10 Mega to operate in a specialised trade precinct.

“We will need easy access for large goods delivery truck access and easy, close access for on-loading of frequently heavy or bulky goods to customer trucks, utilities and cars.”

He said he had looked at other site options around the Frankton Flats, but believed the Porter Group-designed Shotover Park development, co-locating PAK’n SAVE and other DIY retailers, was the best solution for Queenstown and would work “extremely well” for Mitre 10 Mega customers.

Mr Smith said it was important that the Shotover Park location would be easily accessed from State Highway 6, both from the existing Glenda Drive where many trade customers were based and the proposed SH6 Eastern Access Road.

He said it made sense to support the PAK’n SAVE application as a complementary use because they were also a large destination store.

ENDS

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