Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Sod turning marks historic moment for Hamilton

A sod-turning ceremony officially launched the start of construction for the Rotokauri Transport Hub – a key connection for the Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail service, a pivotal link in the city’s bus network, and a major milestone in the next chapter of the Hamilton story.

Labour MP Jamie Strange, Paula Southgate, Mayor of Hamilton, and local Iwi turned the official sod and were joined by Hamilton City Council staff, stakeholders and other key members of the community.

Mayor Southgate hailed the project as a prime example of what can be achieved through collaboration across council boundaries and through partnerships with Government and its agencies. The Transport Hub initiative was a key plank of the wider Hamilton to Auckland Corridor project involving local and central government and iwi to progress the government’s urban growth agenda, she said.

“If we are to unlock the potential of this region, we must – all of us – put aside our boundaries and work with others to achieve the very best outcomes for the people we represent,” Mayor Southgate said.

“As a high-growth city, surrounded by high-growth, high-potential districts like Waikato and Waipa, what happens in our region and in Hamilton matters. The government has clearly recognised that, and this project illustrates the wider partnership Hamilton has tenaciously and successfully pursued with central government.

“I look forward to continuing discussions with government Ministers on a range of other issues relating to Hamilton and the wider metro area,” Mayor Southgate said.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Mayor Southgate acknowledged project partners as well as former Hamilton Mayor Andrew King. She thanked Councillor Dave Macpherson who had played a key role and had been a “staunch advocate” of public transport for many years.

In June 2018 the former Council adopted its 2018 10-Year Plan, a plan which embraces the opportunities growth presents as well as making the most of the city’s existing assets.

The Rotokauri Transport Hub is part of a $2B investment in the city’s biggest-ever 10-Year capital programme to set the platform for planned, sustainable growth and to look after Hamilton’s future transport, infrastructure and community facilities.

Hamilton City Council General Manager Development Chris Allen says there are significant social benefits in providing the city’s residents a choice in how they get around the city, adding this is an exciting step forward for Hamilton.

The rail service, and links to the communities in between the two major metropolitan centres, is one of the primary considerations in the Hamilton to Auckland Corridor Plan. That Plan, a combination of councils, iwi and Government, is developing a strategic approach to growth, linking waters management and transportation, as well as environmental and cultural considerations in how communities are developed in New Zealand’s most important strategic corridor.

Once completed the Hub will include a park and ride facility for rail and bus passengers, including mobility spaces, electric vehicle charging spaces, drop off and pick up zones and taxi stands.

The total project cost to develop the Hub, including land costs, design work and additional roading, is $29M, of which $18.5M is contributed by government through Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidies.

The new passenger rail service is scheduled to start in mid-2020, with Waikato Regional Council contracting KiwiRail to provide it. The service will offer two week-day return services and one Saturday service. The trip from Rotokauri to Papakura is expected to take 80 minutes. In the next few months the train carriages will be refurbished, stations built and upgraded, and timetables, ticketing and on-board amenities finalised.

Click here for more infomation.


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On National’s Fantasy Trip To La La Landlord Land


How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is:
(A) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was touting to voters last year has now blown out to $2.9 billion. (That’s a 38% size error in the calculations.)
(B) unable to provide assurance that this handout won’t simply be pocketed by landlords
(C) unable to explain why Treasury (in research as recent as August 2023) wasn’t citing the loss of interest deductibility as a prime factor driving up rents.
More than anything, the Great Landlords Handout undermines the government’s alarmist talk about the state of the country’s books...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.