The Selwyn District Council has decided to publicly notify the resource consent application for the planned supermarket in Flemington, Lincoln, meaning people can make submissions for or against the development.
Robyn Twemlow represents a group of Flemington residents against the location of the supermarket.
“I am going to assume we did have influence over that decision as the developer did not ask for public notification," she said.
"I think the council would not have made the decision if we hadn’t spoken up,” she said.
A district council spokesman said the decision was made based on the legal requirement to assess if any adverse effects on the environment will be less than minor.
“The applicant indicated that they did not think the application needed to be notified and it was the council’s assessment based on the legal requirements in the Resource Management Act that there was a need to notify the application,” he said.
Last week the applicant, Lincoln Developments Ltd, asked for the application to be briefly put on hold.
Said district council planning manager Jesse Burgess: “The applicant asked to place the application on hold while it considered the decision to publicly notify the proposal.
“They have requested to proceed with public notification of the application, which will . . . go for 20 days,” he said.
Ms Twemlow said: "It’s great it has been publicly notified because it is in the public’s best interest to be able to have their say.
"Yes, it has an immediate effect on Flemington residents but even more the township as a whole."
A Countdown spokeswoman said they would not comment on the situation as the consent is currently under consideration.
A public meeting has been planned at the Lincoln Baptist Church on March 24 at 7.30pm with district council town planners, councillors and residents.
Ms Twemlow said the planners will explain the proposal itself and the Resource Management Act.
Springs Ward councillor Grant Miller understands the residents’ concerns but also understands why the proposed site was chosen.
"Some of the residents have brought houses thinking they would only have residential neighbours, so that’s quite a change for them particularly around traffic and parking,” he said.
"I can also see why that site has been chosen.
"It’s a main arterial site and there is a large portion of housing that will support their business being there.”
Cr Miller said he is confident Countdown will work on mitigating residents’ concerns.
Deputy Mayor Malcolm Lyall said he does not agree with the supermarket going in at the proposed location.
