citynewsWIN TICKETS TO ARMAGEDDON Page 4 17 May 2013 Boom town Hamilton’s supply of industrial land and cheaper housing and office projects. is tipped to attract more businesses and people from Hamilton was becoming a very “liveable city’’, said Jason Auckland. Cargo, Major Development Case Leader at Hamilton A National Business Review analysis of the most recent City Council. building consent figures – residential and industrial – “We are a small city with ease of commuting and a range shows Waikato is building at a much faster rate than of facilities. We have plans and strategies in place to Auckland. continue to take us forward for the likes of a productive That’s backed up by a recent NAI Harcourts CBRE economy, quality of life and use of the river. industrial land stocktake which showed strong growth “People are coming here for lots of reasons – and we will in the city. continue to make our city an attractive destination and In the year to March, 4764 building consents were provide opportunities.” issued in Auckland, which has a population around 1.5 Mayor Julie Hardaker said the analysis provided proof million. That equals 3.16 consents per 1000 people, of what developers and city businesspeople had known nearly 50 per cent below Waikato’s rate of 4.49 per 1000 for some time – that Hamilton was providing the right with 1871 consents for a population of about 416,000. environment for economic growth which was now According to the latest Housing Affordability Survey attracting key players. Hamilton-Waikato house prices equal 4.7 times the “You only have to see the construction taking place in the average income here; Auckland’s is 6.7 and rising as central city at the moment to realise that Hamilton has www.hamilton.co.nz/our-city/city-strategies house prices soar higher. become the place of choice for many businesses. The was added to Hamilton’s industrial stock of 1.5 million new Citygate building, for instance, opens in July and is Meanwhile, dozens of commercial property sq m last year. At the same time overall vacancy levels almost fully tenanted.” developments are on the go in the CBD and Hamilton dropped from 5.7 per cent in 2011 to 3.6 per cent. City Council planning bosses say the city is reaping Ms Hardaker said a key focus of Hamilton City Council’s “The message from the Auckland market is that Hamilton benefits from having an Economic Development Proposed District Plan was on planning for future growth is fast becoming a viable alternative to any Auckland Agenda which makes doing business here easier and and ensuring the city was well positioned to capitalise sets the scene for economic growth. on its central location. options. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into NAI Harcourts director Theo de Leeuw said Hamilton’s “Hamilton is seen as having a strong workforce, it’s a the city and wider economy in the past few years, with growing industrial and commercial expansion was partly university town with a strong Wintec, being very central the Waikato Expressway, Ring Road, the Waikato driven by a shortage of such land in South Auckland. in terms of transport to either of the two major ports and Hospital redevelopment, education, conference, retail His company’s survey showed 37,000 square metres not being too far from Auckland International Airport.’’ Award for Ring Road communications The social media communications surrounding the “But it’s a total team effort from both the Council and the ongoing Hamilton Ring Road project have earned a Downer project team.’’ national award. She relies on the knowledge and support of both the One of the challenges for the major roading project – a Council’s engineers and the Downer team. “Otherwise joint effort with Hamilton City Council and Downer NZ the page just wouldn’t work. – has been communicating progress and updates to people affected by works, closures and delays. “These guys put up with all my phone calls, emails The Facebook page has done just that, growing to and questions that come from the page and have been nearly 2000 likes, supported by Twitter and wordpress absolutely amazing as this whole social media thing has channels. really put them in the spotlight. I really couldn’t ask for a The project won the Best Use of Social Media in better team.’’ Local Government award at the Association of While the recent four-laning of Wairere Drive and Pukete Local Government Information Management annual who made the project presentation to the award judges. Bridge has been a key part in the Ring Road project, conference in Wellington last week. Downer’s Brandy Smith runs the page but says work continues with the current big job the upgrade at “This is a fantastic outcome for the joint Downer/ its success is the result of teamwork with Council, Ruakura Rd-Peachgrove Rd-Te Aroha St. City Council project team who have worked hard on construction staff and the public. stakeholder engagement throughout the project to “It really does feel incredible when your hard work is • Keep up with the latest works at date,’’ said City Development Manager Andrew Parsons recognised,’’ Brandy said. www.facebook.com/HamiltonRingRoad www.hamilton.co.nz www.facebook.com/hamiltoncitycouncil www.twitter.com/CouncilHamilton citynews INTERSECTION WORK The Peachgrove Rd-Ruakura Gordon the guest Rd-Te Aroha St intersection should be open to all traffic by the end of the month. While work has been under way on green day this month detours have been in place restricting the flow of vehicles through the busy One of New Zealand’s tireless environmentalists Hamilton East intersection. The major work, part of Hamilton’s is the guest speaker at Waiwhakareke this year Ring Road project, is expected to open on Friday 31 May. On for Arbor Day. reopening the new signals will be operational although work After more than 50 years working in the New Zealand Landcare Trust. Waikato will continue until the expected environment, Gordon Stephenson still University recently granted Gordon an completion date in July has plenty of energy left to help. honorary doctorate in recognition of his “Theoretically I am retired ... but I still put work. RECLASSIFY PROCESS my energies into [ecological projects] He is in awe of what has been achieved A process to reclassify more Maungatautari and Barnett Reserve,” at Waiwhakareke. than 13,000sq m of Council- says Gordon, 88, who is the guest “At Waiwhakareke they have taken owned reserve land is expected speaker at this year’s Arbor Day planting almost a bare pond and turned it into to begin next month. The land, event at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage something that is extraordinarily valuable. between Waikato Racing Club Park at Rotokauri on 31 May. And it’s not just that – it’s a project that Man of nature: Gordon Stephenson has and Minogue Park, is currently “I’ve always had a fascination with the is developing bit by bit as people put spent 50 years in environmental work, and classified for recreational unique character of New Zealand’s flora their energies and skills into it. It’s been is guest speaker for this year’s Hamilton purposes, but Council has been and fauna.” built up from nothing to something very Arbor Day event. approached by a healthcare Gordon’s enthusiasm for conservation special – and that is very exciting.” business to get involved as well, as a day provider keen to develop a care work stretches back to 1960, when he Hamilton City Council’s Community in the sun planting trees and shrubs is a facility on a neighbouring site. bought his farm. Planting Co-ordinator Gerard Kelly says great team-building activity, and shows For the facility to be built, the “We had bush on it – which we fenced off Arbor Day at Waiwhakareke is becoming your company cares about Hamilton’s land needs to be reclassified increasingly popular, particularly as environment.” as local purpose (road reserve) – and I realised when we sold our farm, an educational experience for school To register for Arbor Day at Waiwhakareke, to provide access. The the next person might knock it all down ... and that was very concerning.” children who arrive by the class-load. contact Parks and Open Spaces on 838 reclassification, if completed, will “This year we have 25,000 eco-sourced 6622, or [email protected] improve access to Minogue Park His involvement in environmental work trees and shrubs to plant, and so we and other facilities in the area. “grew from there, from one project to Ecological restoration work at another”, including formation of the need lots of help to get the job done,” Mr Waiwhakareke reflects the Council’s PARK SLIDE MODIFIED QEII National Trust, and roles with the Kelly says. commitment to the Sustainable The slide at the Potters Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust and “We’re encouraging local and corporate Hamilton strategy. Children’s Garden in Parana Park has been taken away for repair, and is expected to be back in place by the end of the month. The slide is being modified to make it more user- City’s water assets available online friendly for small children. T-SHIRT COMPETITION Don’t know where the water toby is on your www.hamilton.co.nz and clicking “Find great time-saver. Four Hamilton children will have property? As of next week you can find this It >City Waters Viewer’’ “People will now have easy and instant and a whole lot of other service information the chance to wear T-shirts In City Waters Viewer you can search access to water asset information instead online when Hamilton City Council they’ve designed themselves, for properties, zoom in to street level of having to request it from council staff” launches the new City Waters Viewer.