Plan to triple size of Queenstown Mitre 10 store

A proposed $20 million Mitre 10 Mega store in Queenstown will be a major expansion on an existing store, an application by Cross Roads Properties (CRP) says.

The company, a subsidiary of H & J Smith's Holdings Ltd, is seeking non-complying consent to construct a commercial building, associated car parking and landscaping for use by Mitre 10 Mega at a site in Shotover Park, near the existing Glenda Dr industrial zone.

The site was next to where Foodstuffs had applied for a $30 million Pak'nSave supermarket, for which consent was declined last month.

Foodstuffs and Porter Group Ltd are appealing the decision.

CRP's application said the existing Mitre 10 store in the Remarkables Park Town Centre had grown and now required a store of sufficient size to stock 30,000 stock-keeping units, up from 10,000-15,000 10 years ago.

The "business evolution" meant the Remarkables Park store "fails to comply with the Mitre 10 (NZ) Ltd brand standards" in terms of floor space and product availability and "offer into the market".

The business was "over trading" on a site too small for the business requirements, resulting in insufficient room at the site and it was "literally overflowing" with goods often extending outside of the store.

In 2000, Mitre 10 moved from a 500sq m site to a 2200sq m site.

"They now need to expand again, this time to approximately 6800sq m, a 300% expansion. Such expansion would be fulfilled by the introduction of a Mitre 10 Mega store to Queenstown. The introduction of this type of store type will bring even greater benefit as being part of the Mitre 10 Mega franchise means Central Otago customers will also enjoy the national pricing policy associated with Mitre 10 Mega, which provides for identical product pricing throughout New Zealand.

"This means Central Otago builders and home owners get to buy at Auckland prices."

If it gained consent, the Mitre 10 Mega would replace the Remarkables Park store, the application said, and would operate from 7am to 7pm every day, with a "requirement" to operate to 10pm every day between November and the end of January.

It was the third attempt for the store in Queenstown - the first in 2003 was proposed for a site very close to the existing proposal, but it was "shelved" due to zoning issues. In 2007 the land was unavailable due to Queenstown Airport Corporation requirements.

The application said the most recent attempt, a $20 million investment, "reinforces the belief the company has in the future growth of the Wakatipu/Central Otago region."

H & J Smith's had concluded a sale and purchase agreement with Shotover Park for two lots, totalling 18,677sq m, east of the proposed Pak'nSave.

The store, comprising a total floor area of 8006sq m, would be "centrally located" providing easy access for builders and tradesmen as required.

"The design of the building has taken into account the need to balance both function, as a large format hardware store, and it's visual aesthetic within the Frankton Flats."

The main part of the building would include schist as well as incorporating the company's signage made from orange Coloursteel with the "distinctive black/orange bands" around the building.

The signage reflected the national branding "albeit at a significantly reduced level given the proposed location of the site".

A total of 11,526cu m of earthworks were planned over a total area of 20,532sq m, with the site zoned either Rural General or Industrial.

Mitre 10 Mega
$20 million investment by Cross Roads Properties, a subsidiary of Invercargill-based H & J Smith's Holdings Ltd.
Gross floor area of 5937sq m, comprising:
• Central retail area
• Drive-through section
• Inwards goods
• Garden store
• Cafe
• Mezzanine floor, above the main entrance
• Yard area attached to the northeastern side of the building
• Delivery area, proposed at the rear southeastern side
• Total floor area: 8006sq m
• Maximum building height 9m from existing ground level
• Comprehensive landscaping