Scenario Three

Concentrated Settlement

This scenario recognises the need for major shift in approach to ensure long term sustainability. This Scenario provides choice but achieves this through greater "contrast": between settlement areas. Urban is more urban, and rural is more rural.

In this scenario Hamilton CBD has developed into a truly diverse and vibrant metropolitan centre.

Good urban design has provided a good balance between intensification and the provision of lifestyle choice, with higher densities in designated locations across the city and lower densities at the edge of the town.

Hamilton is recognised as the heart of the Waikato region and its transition into a diverse and vibrant metropolitan centre has boosted the regional economy.

With significant intensification occurring within Hamilton City to accommodate the projected growth in population, there is reduced growth in smaller settlements. Rural towns grow with an emphasis on maintaining and developing their character and their rural and recreational/tourism economy.

With an average of 20 dwellings per hectare for greenfields development and up to 40 percent of all development occurring as residential intensification land needs reduce to 2,000 hectares to accommodate future growth. (That's 3 Cambridges).

Most residents have access to good public transport services. Walking and cycling has taken off due to the higher densities and the good urban design.

Its 2060....

The CBD of Hamilton is a thriving and strong metropolitan centre that contains a compact diverse mix of high rise office buildings and apartment buildings which extend along the banks of the Waikato River. The city is alive day and night with people working and enjoying the thriving café and restaurant lifestyle.

Intensified residential development has been encouraged around a number of high density nodes. The character of other existing suburban areas remains largely intact. There is limited nodal rural lifestyle development close to settlements and transport networks.

Hamilton City has promoted higher density development by leading the provision of significant urban village nodes within new greenfield suburban areas at Peacock, Ruakura, Rototuna and Rotokauri. These are all linked to the city centre by frequent bus services and high quality cycling routes that avoid the need for private vehicles for many people. Many of the streets in Hamilton CBD have been redesigned into pedestrian areas.

Ruakura is a thriving mixed use centre for Hamilton East which has taken advantage of a significant increase in the area set aside for bio-tech research and industry.

Shopping occurs within the CBD, and at expanded large scale suburban centres, but with local needs met within mixed use neighbourhood centres that also provide a good range of services and local employment. The CityHeart is without doubt the main shopping area, for all kinds of retail activities, including big box retail.

Cambridge and Te Awamutu have grown but have retained their small town character. There is a strong emphasis on a more compact form of development. While a range of living environments are provided the average has significantly increased (15-16 dwellings per ha) and complement those provided in Hamilton. Cambridge has consolidated its position as a significant upper North Island lifestyle community.

Hautapu is a major industrial node particularly for food manufacturing.

Ngaruawahia and Huntly are more self contained with residential and employment opportunities with improved passenger transport north and south. Ngaruawahia It is a younger community with a strong emphasis on education, family wellbeing and a community that celebrates and embraces it's cultural heritage focused on Turangawaewae, which is supported by a flourishing marae community.

Te Kauwhata has developed as a significant centre for the northern Waikato. Its economy is largely based around the major nearby employment zone of Hampton Downs. Long distance commuting from Te Kauwhata and Huntly to Auckland and Hamilton is discouraged, while there is more travel by rail to Auckland and Hamilton.

Less than 10% of the population is accommodated in rural areas. Rural residential subdivision patterns are now focused on rural village clusters within defined limits.

Extractive industries for energy and minerals are important industry sectors. The Waikato has emerged as a major sustainable energy provider through the development of major wind farm complexes, in addition to existing hydro electric power generation and other forms of generation. It also provides a range of significant energy transmission corridors to Auckland and other regions. To protect both generation and transmission corridors there are restrictions on development in proximity to such sites and corridors.

Papakainga development supports housing, employment and social needs in flourishing marae communities and makes a significant contribution toward growth accommodation.

How will we do this?

As with Scenario 2, growth is managed in an agreed manner across the sub-region with greater priority placed on approaches that best meet the long term needs of the wider subregion. There is a high level of commitment to the collaborative implementation of the agreed sub-regional growth management strategy. Urban growth limits and urban design frameworks will be used to encourage preferred forms of development. The agreed strategy has concentrated growth in Hamilton City through intensification.

High intensity residential development will be encouraged to accommodate changing housing needs based on smaller and older households. A clear plan will be put in place to promote growth in designated areas. Achieving high levels of intensification by redevelopment may require a dedicated redevelopment agency with independent funds that can aggregate existing sites and have them redeveloped at higher densities.

The growth management plan will make strong links between long term land use, infrastructure and funding. There will be a strong focus on longer term transport and financial planning. The impact of growth on infrastructure will be clearly identified.

All rural land between settlements is protected from intensive subdivision by much tighter subdivision controls than currently exist to ensure there are long term greenbelts in place to maintain the discrete and separate settlements.