‘For Sale' signs near the front entrance, and ongoing publicity about the proposed Countdown supermarket development at Bureta is giving people the wrong idea about the Bureta Park Motor Inn.

Bureta Park manager Jill Priest says a large sign erected at the front entrance at the intersection of Vale Street and Bureta Road stating the December 7 closing date for expressions of interest in the park land is causing people to think the motor inn is closing down.

Bureta Park Motor Inn managers Jill Priest, left Kim Lambert and Nicole Langton.

She says it is not closing down.

'But the general public is reading that (the sign) as Bureta Park Motor Inn is closing December 7,” says Jill.

'It's just daily and it's just wearing.”

'Between the media coverage and the rumour mill our business is suffering and we now are battling two large real estate signs that have been posted on the property without our knowledge advertising part of the property for sale.

'We have been battling rumours of closure for the entire three years since we took over the business.”

The boundary between the countdown site and the 1.42ha goes right through the hotel.

If Countdown succeeds in obtaining resource consent to build the supermarket, the Bureta Park Motor Inn will receive at least six months' notice, says Jill.

'We haven't received that notice and don't expect to until full consent, if they manage to obtain it, is granted to Progressive Enterprises,” says Jill.

Jill says speculation about the Bureta Park Motor Inn relocating is just that.

The remaining tree planted Bureta Park land is still zoned residential and any new owner will have to also go through the resource consent application process to change its use.

'At no stage has any follow up been done with myself or my fellow directors to verify our interest in the property,” says Jill.

'A lot of the neighbours don't realise, they think the whole reserve out there belongs to the council.

'I don't think the neighbourhood quite gets it. The neighbours think the trees are fine because the council owns the land.”

Countdown owners Progressive Enterprises is seeking land use consent to establish a supermarket, retail shops and liquor store on the site.

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