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Future expansion of Hamilton requires significant planning and coordination to ensure that the necessary land and infrastructure is available to cater for the city's increasing and diverse population needs.
The local government reorganisation undertaken in 1989 resulted in approximately 2500 hectares of rural land being brought into Hamilton City from the former Waikato and Waipa Counties. This land, consisting of Rototuna in the north-east, Rotokauri in the north-west and Peacocke in the south, was intended to serve as a land bank to accommodate future urban growth within the city.
Council has prepared an Urban Growth Strategy to guide the future development of the city and assist the coordination of infrastructure and services. This will contribute to achieving a sustainable pattern of development that meets the changing demographic and economic needs of the city over the next 50 years. Council is also involved in the preparation of a subregional growth strategy: Futureproof. |
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Rototuna
The initial stages of the Rototuna growth cell have been rezoned, and high rates of residential development have been experienced. In response to this Council has decided to unlock the development potential of land in the Rototuna Growth Cells 3 and 4. These are the final stages to be rezoned and have long been identified by Council to enable the completion of the Rototuna growth area. Prior to rezoning the final stages, the Rototuna Structure Plan is being reviewed to ensure that it is up to date and reflects current best practice. The rezoning of Stages 3 and 4 will be notified in the latter part of 2009.
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Rotokauri
The Rotokauri growth cell is an area of approximately 1000 Ha on the north west fringe of Hamilton. In order to ensure a continuous supply of land is available for future growth of the city, Council has prepared a structure plan for the Rotokauri area. The vision for this growth cell is a people-focused mixed use development based on best practice urban design principles. The structure plan proposes the area will provide for both residential and industrial use, including a suburban centre and network of reserves. It includes the Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (Horseshoe Lake), a significant new reserve of citywide significance. This will help achieve a sustainable pattern of development and integration with existing activities. Submissions to the structure plan, and the rezoning of Stage 1, were heard by Council in November 2008 and Council's decisions on these were issued in December 2008. The period during which submitters were able to lodge appeals against the decisions closed in February 2009. Three appeals have been received.
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Peacocke
The Peacocke growth cell, located to the south of Hamilton City, was brought into the city in 1989 for long-term urban development and city growth. There are approximately 620 hectares of land suitable for residential development with potential for around 7,500 sections and a population of around 20,000 people within the Peacocke area. Council has prepared a new structure plan to guide the development of the Peacocke growth cell, which will occur in a staged process. The structure plan is expected to go to hearing in July 2009.
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Strategic Agreement
The longer-term growth potential for the city has been secured through the signing of a Strategic Agreement with Waikato District Council in March 2005 (following a formal public consultation process) regarding the future urban boundaries of Hamilton city. This provides for the incorporation of land between the present city boundary and the proposed Waikato Expressway and Te Rapa Bypass. More recently the two Council's expressed their intent to bring forward some of the timeframes contained in the Strategic Agreement. Further information on this is provided in the Media Release of 29 January 2009 (see link below).
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Future Proof
We’d also like to take this opportunity to highlight our thinking on growth beyond the city.
Future Proof is a project that considers the growth challenges for our wider area and their cross boundary implications. It is different from the City Growth Strategy which looks at the approach to growth at a local level. Future Proof also takes a longer term view, looking out to 50 years from now. It is a combined project between a number of local authorities.
Three general directions or scenarios were released for public comment and feedback in October 2008. The Future Prof Joint Committee considered all the responses, which informed the preparation of the draft strategy. The draft strategy outlines in detail a number of areas of development, what might happen in those areas and some of the timing involved. These include:
- Residential Development/Settlement Patterns
- Rural Land
- Business and Industrial Land
- Retail and Commercial Development
Submissions were sought on the draft strategy from 19 March to 20 April 2009. The submission period is now closed. Hearings and deliberations will be held in May 2009. It is anticipated that a final strategy will be recommended to the partner Councils for adoption by 30 June 2009.
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Contact
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City Planning Unit
Level 2, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6810
Fax: 838 6464
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