Future Proof Draft Strategy 2009Consultation and Submission Document
Growth Strategy andImplementation PlanSummary 2009
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Future Proof
What is Future Proof?
How was Future Proof developed?
What is the vision?
How will the region look?
What are our focus areas?
Residential Development/Settlement PatternsRural Land
Business and Industrial LandRetail and Commercial Development
How will we make it happen?
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We estimate that there will be nearly
half a million people living in Hamilton
and the surrounding Waikato and
Waipa districts by 2061. That means
we will almost double our population
in the next fifty years. We want to
know our future by planning today.
It’s important we work together now
on the complex issues - future urban
and rural land use, transport, natural
and cultural resources, roads and
essential infrastructure - and come
up with a plan for our region to grow
well and make the most of sharing its
resources, so we have a quality of life
we can all enjoy.
Future Proof is that plan. It is a growthstrategy specific to the Hamilton, Waipa, andWaikato sub-region and has been developedjointly by Hamilton City Council, Environment Waikato, and Waipa and Waikato District Councils. Other keyorganisations and groups involved in the project include Tangata Whenua, New Zealand Transport Agency(NZTA) and Matamata-Piako District Council.
We all move between places in our region to live, work and play - so collective planning and action betweengovernment, residents and businesses is critical to the long-term success of our region.
The Future Proof growth strategy aims to manage growth in a collaborative way for the benefit of the FutureProof sub-region both from a community and a physical perspective. The growth strategy provides aframework for ongoing co-operation and implementation. This will ensure the costs and resources requiredto fund and manage infrastructure such as transport, wastewater, stormwater, recreation and culturalfacilities are provided for.
This document is a summary of the full Future Proof Growth Strategy. It paints the big picture for theHamilton, Waikato and Waipa region and discusses what that region might look like in 50 years time. Itoutlines the key influences and drivers and looks at the directions Hamilton City Council, Waipa DistrictCouncil and Waikato District Council wish to take to ensure the region’s long-term sustainability.
It covers the four key areas of development, what might happen in those areas and some of the timinginvolved:
• Residential Development/Settlement Patterns• Rural Land• Business and Industrial Land• Retail and Commercial Development
To get a copy of the full Future Proof Growth Strategy document, visit your local council offices or libraryor visit www.futureproof.org.nz
What is Future Proof?
Waikato District
Waipa District
Hamilton
Morrinsville
Ha
Waipa District
Waikato District
Hamilton
Morr
Ha
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Three general scenarios were created during the
development of Future Proof. They were Business
as Usual, Compact Settlement and Concentrated
Settlement. These three scenarios paint a range of
pictures of what our future might look like.
The scenarios were released for public comment and feedbackin October 2008. Feedback from consultation clearly told usthat proceeding with a Business as Usual approach is notsustainable. The majority of responses supported either theCompact Settlement or Concentrated Settlement scenario, ora combination of both.
All three scenarios were then evaluated against a set of criteriawhich revolve around the Future Proof vision. A draft Future Proof strategy was then prepared and moreconsultation was carried out from March to April 2009. Hearings were then held in May 2009. Followingthis community consultation, Hamilton City Council, Waipa District Council and Waikato District Councilfinalised the Future Proof strategy on the 30 June 2009.
How was Future Proof developed?
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Future Proof outlines how the
Hamilton, Waikato and Waipa
region will develop moving
forward.
As we put the strategy into practice, we will be guided by these focus areas:
Centres of Community
• Diverse and vibrant metropolitan centres linked to thriving towns and rural communities and place of choice - live, work, play, invest and visit
Resources and the Environment
• Protection of natural environments, landscapes and heritage and a healthy Waikato River as the heart of the region’s identity• Sustainable resource use
Services and Facilities
• Affordable and sustainable infrastructure
Governance
• Effective governance, leadership, integration, implementation and productive partnerships• Strong and collaborative partnerships with Tangata Whenua
What is the vision?
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The aim of the strategy is to create more compact
urban areas based around a strong and vibrant heart
in Hamilton and around existing rural townships and
villages. This will mean increased densities in new
residential developments and more intensive
redevelopment of existing urban areas that will
reduce dependence on cars. Towns and villages will
keep their individual characters and have thriving
business centres that create local employment
opportunities.
The costs of infrastructure will be a factor in determining settlement patterns.
Future Proof recognises the unique relationship Tangata Whenua have with their whenua, awa, moana,maunga, taiao katoa and other people. This encompasses a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, andmetaphysical relationship that may be unique to the tikanga (practices) and kawa (guiding principles) ofeach marae, hapu or iwi.
In order to protect productive rural land, sensitive natural environments and mineral resources, dispersedad hoc development will be discouraged and tighter controls over rural residential development will be putin place. Definite boundaries between urban and rural environments will be created using green space.Strong links will be made between the provision of transport services and land use. There will be improvedpublic transport options and well planned management of transport corridors.
Large scale, dispersed retail areas will be discouraged where it undermines the city heart. Business andindustrial land will be set aside to meet the Hamilton, Waikato and Waipa region’s future needs. Ruakurawill specifically develop as a high tech innovation precinct and general employment area.
How will the region look?
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Residential Development
In general, residential development
will be focussed on areas where
residential sites already exist. It will
be more compact and new
development will be located in
defined and designated areas.
Future Proof aims to reduce the spread ofdevelopment by increasing residentialdensities.
Intensification will be focused aroundexisting towns and villages, the city heart,suburban centres, transport hubs and wellserviced areas which are great places tolive. The key areas and the timing for new(greenfield) and existing (brownfield)development will be identified.
Over time, places aim to reach the followingdensity targets:
• 50 households/ha Hamilton city heart
• 30 households/ha Other intensified areas in Hamilton
• 16 households/ha Greenfield in Hamilton
• 12-15 households/ha Greenfield in Waikato and Waipa, and the large townships of Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Raglan and Whaingaroa, Te Kauwhata
• 8-10 households/ha Greenfield in Waikato and Waipa serviced rural villages
What are our focus areas?
Examples of Density
Dw
ellin
gs p
er H
ecta
re (G
ross
)
URBAN(Medium -High Density)
SUBURBAN
RURAL
City Apartment
Terrace Houses
Town Houses
Small Lot Suburban
Medium Lot Suburban
Conventional Suburban
Rural Lifestyle
Farm House
1
8
10
15
20
30
50
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Allocation of Residential Land
The total population growth, set out in the table above, has been developed and based on the populationforecasts prepared by the University of Waikato for the Future Proof sub-region.
Most of the growth has been allocated to identified areas that focus on Hamilton city, and the towns andrural villages of Waipa and Waikato Districts.
The majority of growth is concentrated in Hamilton city (67 percent by 2061) with about 21 percent allocatedto larger rural townships.
Future Proof Sub-Region: Allocation and Staging of Residential Growth 2006 - 2061
Growth AreasResidential Population
2006 2021 2041 2061
Hamilton Existing UrbanHamilton GreenfieldFuture Hamilton GreenfieldHamilton Total
CambridgeTe Awamutu / KihikihiHuntlyNgaruawahiaRaglan and WhaingaroaTe KauwhataWaipa Rural VillagesWaikato Rural VillagesWaipa RuralWaikato RuralFuture Proof Sub-regional Total
MorrinsvilleSub-regional Split by Settlement Type (excluding Morrinsville)CityTownsRural VillagesRuralSub-regional Split - Proportion of Total Population (excluding Morrinsville)CityTownsRural VillagesRural
11940015000
134400
1322512625
691551203220102023506725
1550022400
223500
6800
13440042125
907537900
60%19%
4%17%
13640037000
173400
1750015900
894083404340343033009050
1880024800
287800
7700
173400584501235043600
61%20%
4%15%
16110060000
3000224100
23200201001092512375
502558254290
124001941027350
365000
8400
224100774501669046760
61%21%
5%13%
1879006000029700
277600
25145215651227515875
520076755330
157752146029800
437700
8600
277600877352110551260
63%20%
5%12%
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Detailed Allocation and Staging of Residential Growth 2006 - 2061
Allocation of Residential Land
1Subject to Section 8.15.4 - Action 8 in the full strategy document*Rural villages without reticulated wastewater
Hamilton
Waipa
Waikato
Population
2006 2021 2041 2061 2006 - 2061Authority Settlement Type Location
Change
CambridgeTe Awamutu / KihikihiWaipa Towns Total
Pirongia*Ohaupo*Ngahinapouri*Te Pahu*Rukuhia*Karapiro*Te Miro*Pukeatua*Waipa Rural
Villages Total
HuntlyNgaruawahiaRaglan / WhaingaroaTe KauwhataWaikato Towns Total
Glen Massey*Glen Afton*Pukemiro*Waikokowai / Renown*Matangi1
TaupiriEureka*Gordonton*Tamahere*Tauwhare*Tauwhare Pa*RangiririMaramaruaMeremereHorotiuTe KowhaiWhatawhata*Lake Rotokauri*
Morrinsville
Hamilton Existing UrbanHamilton GreenfieldFuture Hamilton GreenfieldHamilton Total
Towns
Rural Villages
Waipa RuralWaipa Total
Towns
Rural Villages
Waikato RuralVillages TotalWaikato RuralWaikato Total
Future Proof
Sub-regional Total
Matamata - Piako
11940015000
134400
132251262525850
1200400200100100200100
50
2350
15500
43700
6915512032201020
16275
225150250150350500150300
1150200150100150500700500850350
6725
22400
45400
223500
6800
13640037000
173400
175001590033400
1500500350150150400150100
3300
18800
55500
8940834043403430
25050
250150250150650600600400
1250250150200350550
1000850
1000400
9050
24800
58900
287800
7700
16110060000
3000224100
232002010043300
1800650500220220600200100
4290
19410
67000
1092512375
50255825
34150
250175300175
1050750
1200600
1400250200300600600
125013001500
500
12400
27350
73900
365000
8400
1879006000029700
277600
251452156546710
2130830620270270820220170
5330
21460
73500
1227515875
52007675
41025
275175300175
1400900
180010001500
300200400900700
160017501850
550
15775
29800
86600
437700
8600
685004500029700
143200
119208940
20860
930430420170170620120120
2980
5960
29800
536010755
19806655
24750
50255025
1050400
1650700350100
50300750200900
12501000
200
9050
7400
41200
214200
1800
57%300%
N/A107%
90%71%81%
78%108%210%170%170%310%120%240%
127%
38%
68%
78%210%
61%652%152%
22%17%20%17%
300%80%
1100%233%
30%50%33%
300%500%
40%129%250%118%
57%
133%
33%
91%
96%
26%
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Settlement Patterns
The settlement pattern out to 2061 will involve a significant increase in the number of households within asmaller land area. The following is a brief overview of what the key areas might look like.
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Hamilton City
For Hamilton city, 50 percent of growth will be through regeneration of existing parts of the city.
• Hamilton’s City Heart is the main commercial, arts and social heart for the sub-region• Increased residential population in the city with a broad range of services and facilities• Strong neighbourhood centres in new suburban areas• Well connected public transport routes• Higher density housing close to neighbourhood centres with larger lots on the edges• Well planned open spaces with good walking and cycling links• Intensified residential development focussing around key nodes including the city heart, transport hubs, town/suburban centres and areas of high public amenity including parks and the river• Ruakura is a high tech, innovation precinct that also provides more general employment area
Waipa District
For the Waipa District, 80 percent of growth will be within urban areas (40 percent in Cambridge, 30 percentin Te Awamutu/Kihikihi, and 10 percent to other existing villages). The remaining 20 percent is rural living.
Cambridge
• Intensification of the central business district area supported by a mix of residential and business uses• Consolidation of the equine industry to become a centre of excellence• Better public transport and improved opportunities for walking and cycling• Development within existing town boundaries to encourage infill• Provision of a range of housing choices including increased densities• Regeneration of existing areas without compromising the character• New commercial areas support local demand
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi
• Towns continue to grow while retaining their own character• The Equine Events Centre comes a high performance centre• Better public transport and improved opportunities for walking and cycling• Increased densities within existing town boundaries including a range of housing choices and densities• Residential infill development in Kihikihi• Provision of industrial land at Bond and Paterangi Roads
Airport/Mystery Creek
• Mystery Creek is retained as a premier event centre• Airport/Titanium Park capitalise on business opportunities provided by air passenger and freight services• Additional provision for airport related accommodation in defined areas• The airport/Mystery Creek area will serve as a key industrial and business area within the Waipa District.• The airport will continue to be protected from reverse sensitivity effects
Rural Areas and Villages
• Residential development directed to/around existing villages• Development in commercial areas to service growing local populations• Village centre upgrades focussed on community living and well-being
Settlement Patterns
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Settlement Patterns
Matamata-Piako District
Morrinsville
• Retains the town character• Provides better public transport• Focuses on community well being
Waikato District
For the Waikato District, 82 percent of growth will be in the identified areas of Te Kauwhata, Huntly,Ngaruawahia, Raglan and Whaingaroa, and various rural villages.
Te Kauwhata
• Increases local business and tourist facilities based around events• An expanded rail service provides passenger services from Te Kauwhata, and freight and special events patrons to Hampton Downs• Provides a workforce and services for Hampton Downs• Retains and enhances the country village atmosphere
Huntly
• A range of employment options available in heavy industry, including energy, mining and the rural sector• Retains character while providing affordable housing• Provides passenger (both road and rail) connections to Hamilton and Auckland• Focuses on community and family well-being
Ngaruawahia
• New residential growth occurs in response to the development of an employment hub at Horotiu• Strengthens and expands town centre to provide wider range of goods, services and activities• Work with Tangata Whenua to seek opportunities to promote Ngaruawahia as the “cultural capital” of the Waikato• Serves as potential key passenger road and rail hub between Hamilton and Auckland• Has a marae community centred at Turangawaewae• Focuses on education and family well-being
Rural Areas and Villages
• Limited rural lifestyle development occurs close to towns and transport networks• Development in rural areas is clustered around towns and villages in a concerted effort to protect versatile soils for the production of primary goods and associated businesses and services
Raglan and the Whaingaroa Coast
• Focuses support and development on growing employment opportunities and self sufficiency• Maori guardianship, history, values and entrepreneurship further expands local opportunities• Retains the strong environmental focus on the sensitive coastline and harbour for Raglan
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Settlement Patterns
Rural Land
Farming in the Future Proof region directly contributes 13.7 percent of the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Italso contributes significantly to employment, both directly and indirectly.
From 1991-2001 nearly 3200 ha of farmland was subdivided by urban and rural residential development. If this trendcontinues it will have a significant long-term impact on the economic base of the region.
In general, urban and rural residential development should be directed away from high quality, unfragmented farmlandand existing factory farms.
Business and Industrial Land
The provision of adequate business and industrial land is a key aspect of managing growth and growing the economyof the Future Proof sub-region.
Large-scale retail that undermines the city heart will be discouraged. Business land will be provided on an uptakebasis only in the areas identified in the wider strategy document.
Industrial activities are generally made up of manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics, wholesale trade andutilities. These activities will be focussed in suitable areas to avoid sensitivity issues and to maximise the use of existingand planned infrastructure.
Retail Land
Up to 2026 there is expected to be enough capacity within existing commercial centres and zones to accommodatemuch of the future retail floorspace demand. In the longer term it is more difficult to reliably estimate future demanddue to the uncertainty in the nature of spending and growth.
Hamilton’s city heart will remain the primary commercial centre for the Hamilton, Waikato and Waipa region.
New local retail will be provided for in neighbourhood suburban centres like Rototuna, Rotokauri, Peacocke, Ruakura.
Rural residential growth will focus on villages to help create nucleus community centres for local retail and convenienceshopping.
The two main townships of Te Awamutu and Cambridge house much of the Waipa district’s population. The two towncentres will remain the first preference shopping destinations for 85 percent of the district’s population.
The exception to this is the rural sector between Te Awamutu and Hamilton that relies strongly on the city for most ofits retail needs. The addition of new local shopping is part of a plan for around the airport to provide for local, everydayretail needs.
Local Morrinsville businesses service the northern half of the Matamata-Piako District and little change is expectedin terms of demand for new retail growth.
Industrial LandAn industrial land shortage has in the past been a major issue for the sub-region. Adequate allocation of industrial landis an important component of this strategy to ensure development occurs in appropriate places, and is signalled wellahead of development actually occurring.
Areas within the Hamilton, Waikato and Waipa regions where industrial business land will be set aside include:• Rotokauri - warehousing, logistics, storage, construction, manufacturing, general employment• Ruakura - high technology and innovation and a more general employment area• Te Rapa North - warehousing, logistics, storage, construction, manufacturing, general employment activities displaced from Auckland• Horotiu North - dairy industry, logistics, warehousing, meat processing• Hamilton International Airport - warehousing, logistics, related activities• Hautapu - dairy related industry, local servicing• Huntly - aggregate, coal• Te Kowhai - logistics, freight, airport related activities• Taupiri - logistics• Hampton Downs - power station, timber, transport, aggregate assembly, landfill, recycling/processing.
It is not sustainable from either a development or an efficient resource use perspective to provide for more land thanis likely to be consumed. The challenge for this strategy will be of timing and the ability to economically service landdevelopment in a range of locations.
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How will we make it happen?
The success of any strategy is
reliant on an efficient and
integrated planning process.
Future Proof’s success will be
determined by the long-term,
formal commitment to
collaboration between the key
agencies and authorities.
Implementation will be carried out with
communities over a period of time.A range of initiatives will be required inorder to implement the settlementpattern.
Future Proof is not a strategy that stands alone. Future Proof will be implemented through a range of otherdocuments and processes including the:
• Regional Policy Statement• Regional Land Transport Programme and Strategy• City and District Growth Strategies• Long-term Council Community Plans• Tangata Whenua plans and strategies• District Plans• Other plans and strategies
There is an extensive implementation plan which is part of the strategy that outlines a range of actions tobe undertaken and some of the key actions that will be undertaken initially include:
• Proposed amendments to the Waikato Regional Policy Statement and District Plans to give statutory effect to the settlement pattern and urban limits• Each authority to allocate the appropriate funding in their Long-term Council Community Plans to implement Future Proof• Ensure the project continues to have a sound governance structure• Apply the integrated planning model by co-ordinating land use with infrastructure and funding• Implement the strategic transport network and transport services that support the settlement pattern, in particular the progressive implementation of the Waikato Expressway.
For a complete list of actions to be implemented in the first stage to 2010 please see the full Future ProofStrategy document. To get a copy, visit your local council offices or library or visit www.futureproof.org.nz
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Contact Us
For more detailed information and background papers see the website:www.futureproof.org.nz
For information on specific growth strategies and related matters please see the following websites:
Hamilton City Council
www.hamilton.co.nz
Waipa District Council
www.waipadc.govt.nz
Waikato District Council
www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz
Environment Waikato
www.ew.govt.nz
Matamata Piako District Council
www.mpdc.govt.nz
Other Partners
Your Future