A key site in Kingston remains undeveloped long after the ACT government pledged to vary planning laws and introduce a supermarket policy to break Woolworths' and Cole's market domination in Canberra.
In 2008 the government was considering a planning variation for the car park site opposite Kingston's Green Square to be redeveloped.
Coles, Supabarn and Woolworths were keen to open on the site, but the new supermarket competition policy issued a year later sidelined Coles and Woolworths.
In early 2010 the government said the site could be released as early as April that year.
Supabarn was allocated the site to help build enough critical mass to open a warehouse and compete with its bigger rivals.
In April Woolworths is due to open Canberra's biggest supermarket at the airport's Majura Park, while the government does not expect to release the Kingston site until 2013-14.
Minister for economic development Andrew Barr did not comment yesterday on the impact of the time lag on the competition policy. He said it had always been anticipated Kingston would require a Territory Plan variation.
Master planning began in August 2009, with the final master plan released last July.
Supabarn began developing a wholesale operation at Majura Park until last year, when it left and relocated to Queanbeyan.
It has also used distribution company Metcash while developing its wholesale business, but that arrangement ended last month.
Supabarn is now going it alone on wholesale.
Spokesman James Koundouris said they had moved to Queanbeyan because they needed a site quickly, but now were looking for bigger premises.
Kingston's time lag was not a concern. ''Obviously we would like to get it open and running, we are not overly anxious.''
The future of a three-storey building previously occupied by Cusack's furniture, which closed late last year, won't be determined until the supermarket site's plans are known.
A 2010 consultants' report to the government said an anchor store, generating large volumes of pedestrian traffic would reverse the long-term decline of retailing.
Retailers in Green Square say a big shopping centre would complement restaurants and cafes.
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