Woolworths’ largest supermarket development in the South Island has finally opened its doors, with customers now walking the aisles of Woolworths Halswell.
The new store and retail spaces are the first stage of a 22-hectare commercial and residential development. It took more than four years and NZD three million to get resource consent for the project.
Matthew Grainger, Woolworths’ Director of Property, said the development has been unusually complicated, and not simply because of the protracted planning process.
"We’ve had to partner with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to build a new major intersection on SH75 (Halswell Road), and we had to undertake extensive ground improvement works," said Grainger.
"Despite all that, we’ve opened ahead of the original schedule and under budget, so massive thanks are due to the entire project team. We’re just thrilled to finally have customers into this beautiful new store."
Formally opening the store, Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink said that for local families, this opening means more choice and greater convenience, more options closer to home for that weekly shop, dinner options, or the ingredients remembered halfway through cooking.
And when households are watching every dollar, choice really matters.
The development includes a 3,800 m² supermarket and retail space with 233 car parking spaces, including four electric vehicle charging stations, plus “direct to boot” facilities for online customers to pick up their groceries. Ten speciality retail tenancies will also open soon.
The store opening featured a blessing from mana whenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri, cultural performances from nearby Oaklands School and a ‘trolley dash’ for Kairos Food Rescue, just before the store opened to customers.
Halswell is the first of three South Island Woolworths stores to open this financial year. After Halswell, it will be Faringdon, the second store in Rolleston, followed by the Wānaka Three Parks store.
"We’ve also got West Melton coming, and all this is on top of the recent huge expansion of our Christchurch Regional Distribution Centre," added Grainger.
"We think this is a real vote of confidence in the South Island and we’re looking forward to bringing more grocery competition to these communities."
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