Fast Forward to a Thriving 21st Century Hamilton
20 APRIL 2012

For Immediate Release

A smart and thriving city for the 21st century is driving Hamilton City Council’s review of its District Plan, with community and stakeholder feedback invited at a series of open days and online in the coming month.

The current District Plan, written in the late 1990s, is being reviewed to ensure it meets the future urban design, growth and development needs of Hamilton.

The new Draft District Plan is outcome focused, with an emphasis on quality urban design, and clearly defined areas for business, shops and offices, housing, industry and green spaces.

Eleven public open days, starting on 26 April, will be held across the city, to share information and seek feedback about five key areas:
Business and Central City
Natural Hazards – floods and erosion
High Voltage Electricity Lines
Ruakura Structure Plan
Significant Trees, Natural Areas, Cultural Sites and Heritage Buildings.

Letters are being sent to a range of city property owners, stakeholders and interested parties to ensure they are aware of particular issues which may impact on them, invite them to open days, and seek their views.

All feedback given up to the closing date of 1 June will be used to help make final decisions on the city’s draft of the District Plan, which will open for formal public submissions in late October.

Commenting Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker says: “The city’s development blueprint, our District Plan, is one of the most important documents we have. It is the document that determines how our city looks and feels, and what the future of Hamilton will look like. It sets the guidelines and rules for what can be done and where it can be done.

“The purpose of these feedback meetings is to check we are on the right track with our thinking. The Draft so far is very different to what we have now and the focus is on making sure we have a plan that takes Hamilton into the future."

District Plan Review Steering Group Chair Cr Pippa Mahood says: “We’ve been working alongside stakeholders, the public and interested parties over the past two years to develop this new Draft District Plan for the city.

“High quality urban design, and management of growth, sustainability and our natural resources are critical issues and we want people to understand our thinking around these issues.

“We’re keen to hear people’s views of what’s in the Draft, and invite those with an interest in the future of their city to attend the open days, connect online and give us feedback on what’s proposed."

For further information including dates for open days, to give feedback in an online forum, or to view and comment directly on the 726 page Draft District Plan visit www.hamilton.co.nz

ENDS

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