Aldi looks to buy land, set up in Gisborne’s Aitken St

GISBORNE looks set to get an Aldi store after the supermarket giant approached the council to buy the land in Aitken St.

GISBORNE looks set to get an Aldi store after it was revealed the supermarket giant had approached the council offering to buy the land at 51 Aitken St.

At last night’s council meeting, it was revealed the growing German retailer would pay $600,000, the market value of the site.

It was also revealed Aldi intended to buy 47-49 Aitken St to build a supermarket.

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The two-stage process to clear the way for the sale appeared to be headed for approval at the council meeting, but the officer recommendation — a sale by private treaty — was scuttled in a casting vote of the mayor Graham Hackett.

An alternative motion involving the council seeking other expressions of interest before entering any arrangements with Aldi, had been proposed by South Ward councillor Russell Mowatt.

Cr Mowatt said the council risked “a perception in the community you are dealing exclusively with Aldi”.

Since last night’s decision, a rescission motion has been lodged by West Ward councillor Roger Jukes.

The move ensures the council would re-examine the proposal at a special council meeting expected to be held in April.

One of the advantages of Aldi’s advances to council, put by several councillors, was its preparedness to pay the market rate for land and to build car parking. It was explained by council’s corporate service’s director Glenn Owens that the Aitken St site had been intended for car parking.

“It’s been council’s long-term intention to build extra car parking in Gisborne, but there has been no financial commitment allocated to it,” he said.

Cr Jukes had declared the Aldi deal as “a win for the community of Gisborne” as he explained how the proposed process satisfied due diligence.

East Ward councillor Henry McLaughlin was absent at last night’s meeting ensuring an eight person board and the need for a casting vote by Cr Hackett.

If an Aldi supermarket was built in Gisborne it would be the town’s fourth supermarket, along with Williamson’s FoodWorks, IGA and Coles.