FULFILLING HAMILTON’S POTENTIAL TOGETHER INTRODUCTION

Hamilton provides many opportunities: for residents, for visitors, and for New Zealand as a whole.

Creating an even more family friendly city is at the heart of our future.

We want to build on the great assets we have, place value on our urban garden and central city, encourage activity and celebrate our unique lifestyle and strengthen our connections to the river and the arts.

The six strategic plans that follow in this document will change Hamilton and our reputation nationally and globally.

We invite you to be a part of that.

Working together with organisations, companies and individuals, we believe we can fulfil Hamilton’s potential.

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Balloons over Waikato event - Lake Domain 2 The River Plan THE RIVER

Hamiltonians are passionate about WHY ARE THESE PROJECTS IMPORTANT? THE RIVER PLAN PROJECTS the . It has long been • For decades Hamiltonians have wanted to • Implementing the Ferrybank Development recognised as a remarkable natural see the river become the heart of our city Plan to create Hamilton’s premier river asset and a defining feature of and to have a plan to achieve this destination with hospitality, recreation, commercial activity and a pedestrian bridge our city. • The river is an integral part of Hamilton’s identity and history • Creating the city’s best beach through the installation of an accessible in-river swimming The River Plan is the first time Hamilton • To realise the river as an asset for everyone to use and enjoy, it needs to be made feature and other public amenity improvements has had a comprehensive strategy to available and accessible at Wellington Street Beach/Hayes Paddock transform the way we use and view • The river has huge untapped potential for • Transforming the pedestrian bridge the 16km of Waikato River running visitor and tourism opportunities into a flower garden bridge with connections to the north, along Te Awa River Ride through the city. • Embracing the river marks our coming of age as a city. The River Plan presents a • Completing the upper promenade Over the next 30 years the River rare opportunity to realise a vision that will walkway between Victoria Bridge and benefit Hamiltonians now, as well as the Bridge Plan projects will make the river a generations to come • A sculpture walkway beside the river in the real part of our everyday lives. central city

3 “Tooku awa koiora me oona pikonga he kura tangihia o te maataamuri. Waikato River Centre at Ferrybank - Artist’s impression The River of Life, each curve more beautiful than the last.”

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Ferrybank aerial - Artist’s impression Pedestrian and biking bridge - Artist’s impression Playgrounds PLAYGROUNDS OF THE FUTURE

Hamilton is a city for families and as WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT? PLAYGROUND PROJECTS Hamilton’s population grows, so will • Our communities have asked for • Dominion Park (due to open November 2016) our population of young people. It is playgrounds that are safe and attractive with • (due to open facilities that provide a day-out experience December 2016) important for our children to have a for the family • Te Huia Drive Reserve safe, green space to play - one that is • As a growth city, Hamilton’s higher density • Hillcrest Park fun and challenging. living is increasing and needs to be complemented by accessible family-friendly • Glenview Park The city currently has five destination playgrounds green spaces • Bremworth Park at Hamilton Lake Domain, Parana Park – Potters • Hamilton’s destination playgrounds will • Te Manatu Park Children’s Garden, Claudelands Park, Tauhara Park be unique in New Zealand and promote • Porritt Stadium and Minogue Park. We plan to have 15 destination Hamilton’s reputation as a family city playgrounds across Hamilton by 2030. No other • Ashurst Park • Destination playgrounds are community city in New Zealand will have this. • Moonlight Drive Reserve spaces that encourage more activity and Destination playgrounds are different to traditional neighbourhood engagement playgrounds. With creative and sustainable equipment, they are designed to be fun and challenging. We will provide toilets, shade, seating and water fountains so families can play all day.

5 The Playgrounds Plan has been developed to create better playgrounds around Hamilton providing quality Destination playground - Hamilton Lake Domain and unique experiences for families.

6 Destination playground - Parana Park, Destination playground - Hamilton Lake Domain Potters Children’s Garden The Gardens’ Plan THE GARDENS

Hamilton Gardens is one of our WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT? THE GARDENS’ PROJECTS city’s biggest success stories and • Hamilton Gardens is the most visited tourist • Tudor Garden (opened in January 2015) the awarding-winning International attraction in the Waikato with approximately • New destination playground (due to open a million visits each year Garden of the Year in 2014. in December 2016) • The Gardens will contribute to growing the • Concept Garden Waikato’s billion dollar tourism industry • Surrealist Garden Over the past 30 years the • It is estimated this project will pay for itself • Mansfield Garden community, local trusts and the in three years and it will generate $14.5 Council have worked to transform million per year • Picturesque Garden • The Gardens host hundreds of events every • A new river jetty below the Italian this former rubbish site into a year including the renowned Hamilton Renaissance Garden world-class garden. Gardens Arts Festival • Information Centre expansion • The Gardens has won increasing global • Carpark extension (completed) recognition and the International Garden of the Year in 2014 • The team at Hamilton Gardens are experts, and have consistently created outstanding gardens. We know they can deliver

7 “The concept is, by far, the most exciting I have seen in my twenty year career as a researcher in the field Huddleston - Artist’s impression of garden tourism. The vision is indeed unique in the world and visually spectacular.” Professor Richard Benfield / Central State University / World authority on garden tourism

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Renaissance jetty - Artist’s impression Mansfield Garden - Artist’s impression The Biking Plan CREATING A BIKE FRIENDLY CITY

The most modern and motor WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT? THE BIKING PLAN PROJECTS vehicle-dependent cities around • A strong bike culture makes for a healthier, • Western Rail Trail (due to be completed in the world are experiencing a biking more active population December 2016) revolution. Bikes are a cheap, • A connected off road bike network is safe • Te Awa River Ride South and makes biking accessible for everyone healthy and environmentally friendly • Hukanui/Peachgrove Road School link • Hamilton’s flat environment gives us a • Minogue Park Bridge option for transport and recreation. natural advantage in becoming a bike- • University route friendly city • Wairere Drive between The Base and Wintec Hamilton’s Biking Plan will contribute • Connecting to the Te Awa River Ride • Te Awa River Ride - widen Hamilton river path to a more attractive and liveable city provides a great opportunity to grow Hamilton’s visitor reputation • Resolution Drive link to Waikato Expressway for families. • State Highway 3 cycleway • A network of biking facilities on bike routes Our 30 year Biking Plan will make including drinking fountains, seats and biking safe, convenient and visible; bike parking encouraging more people to bike more often in Hamilton.

9 Western Rail Trail - Artist’s impression

10 Proposed redeveloped golf clubhouse near the river - Artist’s impression Lake Rd East - Artist’s impression Central City CENTRAL CITY TRANSFORMATION PLAN

An action focussed practical WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT? CCTP PROJECTS approach to transform Hamilton’s • It will attract more people to work and live in • Embassy Park Redevelopment (completed) central city into a more vibrant the central city • Establish the Business Hub prosperous centre for the Waikato. • An economically prosperous commercial • Victoria on the River (due to be completed in core is essential for any city May 2017) It is a long term plan to guide and • The central city is an attractive destination • Upgrade Garden Place including feature change the central city. There are for everyone to use and enjoy gardens, shared zone and continuous • An activated riverfront promotes enjoyment news screen some short term projects, but of the river and benefits the community • Extend the shared zone down Alexandra fundamental change will take some Street years to achieve. • Complete Collingwood Lane redevelopment Stage 2 of the Victoria on the River project is underway. This project will give access to the river and is right in the heart of the city.

11 Vision: A prosperous commercial centre Alexandra Street shared zone - Artist’s impression with a vibrant metropolitan lifestyle

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Green space development - Victoria on the River - Artist’s impression Proposed Waikato Regional Theatre project PROPOSED NEW PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE

Hamilton has a strong arts and culture WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT? THE PROJECT PLAN scene with multiple organisations • Hamilton needs an iconic, premier, performing • It is a partnership project between Momentum having a long history of contribution. arts theatre that services the Waikato Waikato Community Foundation and Hamilton • There is overwhelming community support City Council The city is committed to the proposed new building for a new theatre that contributes to activity • Momentum Waikato Community Foundation to replace the much loved Founders Theatre which in the central city will convene generous donors and provide occupied a unique position in the performing arts • It will give a strong identity to arts and project management to deliver the project ecosystem in the Waikato. The new theatre will culture by 2020 accommodate the full range of music, theatrical, • Hamilton City Council’s commitment is operatic, cultural and town hall-style events that • It will enable the city to deliver the outcomes capped at $30mil and the balance of $25mil are expected in a major New Zealand city. of the City Arts Agenda ‘Hamilton offers premier art venues and creative spaces’ will be convened by Momentum Waikato Community Foundation • Hamilton City Council will be seeking funding contribution from local and central government

Council has approved this in principle only pending the work being overseen by Momentum Waikato Community Foundation. 13 The $30 million would still need to be raised by council from varying sources including its own budgeted contribution. The proposed Waikato Regional Theatre project will be designed on the basis of – no user left behind – it will accommodate all users, past and present.

The building will enable Hamilton and Waikato residents to experience local, national and international entertainment in comfort, now and for the next 50 years

14 PARTNERING TOGETHER

With your help, we can make Hamilton truly extraordinary.

Our visionary projects have lots of potential. All we need are people who can share that vision. We look forward to talking to you soon about how you can be involved in these exciting projects and help shape the future of Hamilton.

15 16 17 The future of Hamilton, the Waikato, and its people, is in our hands. For more information please contact: Email: [email protected] Telephone: 07 838 6976

Find out more at: hamilton.govt.nz