In January this year, the group of residents representing about 30 properties near the proposed store - earmarked for the vacant St Mary's School site - banded together and employed the services of Sweep Consultancy director Emma Peters.
Ms Peters told the Taieri Times those residents had made a long list of concerns at the start of the process.
They included:
• The massive size and potentially ugly appearance of the supermarket building itself.
• Increased traffic, in particular truck movements.
• Noise.
• Shading.
• Surrounding streets being used for supermarket parking.
• Waste management, including smell and pests.
But as soon as they sat down with Progressive Enterprises and began talking through their concerns, progress began to be made, Ms Peters said.
''We had a very collaborative approach with Progressive. Most of those issues had been largely dealt with before the [June] hearing.''
That meant the vast majority of the residents were ''really happy'' with the decision.
Though Progressive Enterprises had yet to indicate whether it would accept or challenge the conditions attached to the consent, she saw only two areas where the company might fight.
They were the stipulation that seven nearby properties receive free double glazing, and the requirement that a car park walkway be covered.
While some of the residents she represented stood to receive free double glazing, it was unlikely those residents would consider that condition a necessity, she said.
''It's a nice-to-have, but they're probably not particularly worried if it doesn't go through for most of them.''
The covering of the car park walkway was also not a big issue for the residents, she said.
While issues around traffic, parking and noise had all largely been ''sorted out'', shading would affect some group members.
''There's no doubt one or two of the properties are affected by the shading, but as much as can be done has been done.''
While little could be done to soften the visual impact of a giant supermarket, the amount of landscaping and planting included in the project would help, she said.
''Probably the great majority of the group are happy about it and see it as an improvement to the neighbourhood.
''But at the other end of the spectrum there are probably one or two who aren't so happy about it. But they probably accept they've got as much as they can out of the process.''
The effect the development would have on the value of surrounding properties had also been discussed, but there was a positive feeling about that too, Ms Peters said.
''There's no real feeling from anyone that it's going to devalue their property. Most people now see it as an asset.''
Many of the surrounding residents were elderly, and having a supermarket so close ''is actually a bonus'', she said.
While the resource consent process had been a novel experience for the bulk of the residents she represented, it had ended up being a positive one, she said.
''All of them have been pleasantly surprised by the way in which Progressive has worked with them and the way in which the council has listened, too.
''I think most people in Dunedin want to see all sorts of developments progress, as long as there is a bit of good faith and the right boxes are ticked.''
Progressive Enterprises general manager of property Adrian Walker said the company was ''really pleased to have been issued resource consent''.
''We are currently progressing our review of the consent conditions. The resource consent is a significant milestone for this project, which will create up to 50 new jobs in Dunedin.''
