The three day resource consent hearing to knock down the Bureta Park Motor Inn and replace it with a Countdown supermarket started at 9am today.

Countdown owners Progressive Enterprises is seeking land use consent to establish a supermarket, retail shops, liquor store and associated on-site parking on the former Otumoetai Licencing Trust site.

A three day hearing is underway at Tauranga City Council to consider the proposed $20million Countdown supermarket at Bureta.

The planned $20million supermarket and parking will occupy about 1.76ha of the 3.194ha site at the intersection of Vale Street and Bureta Road.

The proposal includes the removal of existing buildings Bureta Park Motor Inn complex, The Mill wholesale liquor, two smaller outbuildings and car parking areas.

Two houses and a detached garage used as a manager's residence for the Motor Inn, located on the northern part of the site, are to remain.

The site also includes a number of mature trees that were previously protected under the District Plan. The protection no longer exists under the Notable Tree provisions of the proposed Tauranga City Plan.

Progressive lodged the application on a limited notification basis meaning that 104 owners and occupiers of properties surrounding the proposed site, and considered directly affected were given the opportunity to submit on the plan.

The city council received 36 submissions - 13 opposed, 21 in support and two neutral.

Because of the public interest 13 other submissions were received from people outside the immediate area - Nine in support of the application and four in opposition.

Three days have been set aside for the hearing.