The council said its appeal was aimed at preserving "the integrity of Frankton planning".
It discussed the matter with the public excluded yesterday. In a statement Mayor Vanessa van Uden said neither she nor her fellow councillors "have any stomach to enter the fray of appeals around Frankton-based proposals", but the recent Environment Court decision "presents us with a problem".
Unlike Pak'n Save, also recently granted consent, the Mitre 10 Mega store was planned for land set aside under Plan Change 19, Frankton Flats, proposed for industrial activity.
"We all welcome the concept of a Mega store - brilliant, but it's not about that.
"Right now, today, that store could be built at Frankton with a non-notified consent on land identified for just that purpose within Remarkables Park land. Instead, as it stands, it will eat into land set aside to meet the future business needs of our community," Ms van Uden said.
Council planning and policy general manager Philip Pannet said the council had been attempting to zone land for industrial activities for "some time" and keep the activities within the zone restricted to industrial uses.
"There is a clear need for industrial land in the Wakatipu and we have seen many business have to relocate to or establish in other areas such as Cromwell over the last 10 years because there isn't the land available locally.
"This decision puts even more pressure on that problem," Mr Pannet said.
Ms van Uden said the "last thing" the council wanted was to "further frustrate the community through more litigation at Frankton".
However, she believed it was "essential" in this case.
"I want a solution for Frankton Flats, period.
"It's unfortunate, but I am now convinced it is essential to that solution that we maintain the integrity of the industrial zone." Should the Plan Change 19 decision, due out in the coming weeks, change the allocation of industrial-zoned land, the council would review its position on the appeal, Ms van Uden said.
