Waipā District Council principal engineer – growth Tony Coutts, left, and Mayor Mike Pettit are confident they’ll get a return on investment. Photo / Mark Taylor
“I mean, from an industrial point of view having access to an expressway just literally minutes from your business… look at Mainfreight you know, those guys didn’t come by accident, they came here directly because of the link.”
“If we don’t lead it, someone will come and cut your lunch. If you don’t provide it they’ll go somewhere else and we’re quite happy for them to come.”
The upgrade programme rests under the council’s long-term plan. It includes a new roundabout on the State Highway 1B/Hautapu Rd intersection, a stormwater basin at the end of Alwill Dr, a reticulated wastewater network and traffic lights on Hautapu Rd and Allwill Dr.
Pettit said he expected Hautapu to be a “key industrial node moving forward”, adding the growth in the area is what was expected in 2035.
The site for Hautapu’s new roundabout, at the State Highway 1B/Hautapu Rd intersection. Photo / Mark Taylor
State highway links are key when it comes to attracting investment, the council’s principal engineer – growth Tony Coutts said.
“I think any connection that gets you connected to the state highway… everyone is wanting that distribution and logistics hub,” Coutts said.
“It’s a huge GDP makeup just within this golden triangle itself so we are more than happy to be part of that and get our fair share.”
“It’s a really important part of our growth strategy. We need growth to keep Waipā moving forward.”
The investment is set to bring hundreds of new employment opportunities, Pettit said, not only creating a bigger rate take but increasing expenditure.
Ongoing construction in Hautapu is a constant. Photo / Mark Taylor
The driving factor behind the upgrades is getting them up to an “urban standard”, Coutts said, referring to the planned greenfield growth as well as existing brownfield infrastructure.
He added major projects recently developed, such as an APL aluminium joinery factory, helped create the demand and push forward for further investment.
Unifying the projects was a strong emphasis for council, Pettit said, as it provides the industrial precinct certainty of what will be delivered.
The first construction to break ground will be for the stormwater basin, beginning in July.
The roundabout’s construction will begin in August next year.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.