Open days for Ruakura landowners
Ruakura residents and landowners have been invited to learn about and comment on what is being planned for the Ruakura area at two open days next week.
Hamilton City Council’s Fast Forward team is holding the Draft Ruakura Structure Plan open days on the 5th and 6th of December. The open days are the start of a consultation process for the long term blueprint for land use in Ruakura going forward into the city’s Future District Plan.
The area of land which runs from Greenhill Road in the north down to SH26 Morrinsville Road in the south, was transferred from Waikato District to Hamilton City in July 2011. It currently has a mix of rural, residential and farming uses, as well as the Agricultural Research Centre and Innovation Park. Large areas of land are owned by Tainui Group Holdings and Chedworth Properties.
The area is significant having been identified for future growth for the city, has close proximity to the CBD, and is well placed to take advantage of Hamilton’s Golden Triangle links to Auckland and Tauranga.
A range of landuses are proposed for the area including:
- Logistics and freight handling next to an inland port
- A new innovation and research precinct
- New housing and residential neighbourhoods
- New commercial and retail areas
- Open spaces, parks and cycleways
District Plan review project manager Paula Rolfe says, “Ruakura is a key development area for both our city and the region, so it’s important we work in closely with all those who have an interest in this area.”
“We’ve done a lot of work researching, investigating and planning to get to the ideas we’ll be sharing at these open days, and look forward to hearing from people what they think about this draft proposal for this key strategic area.”
Following the open days and feedback received further consultation will be invited early to mid next year. Late in 2012 formal submissions will be invited on the Future District Plan, which will incorporate the Ruakura Structure Plan.