Major Waipa subdivision gets Council’s tick of approval

Waipā District Council has approved an updated resource consent application for a major subdivision northwest of Cambridge.

The application, submitted by 3MS of Cambridge GP Limited, which encompasses approximately 30% (47.8 Ha of 160 Ha) of the C2 growth cell in Cambridge, was approved with conditions, after the new application was received and subsequently reviewed and assessed.

The application sought subdivision consent for the staged creation of 212 residential lots, one lot for a primary school, a superlot for a retirement village, one neighbourhood commercial lot and associated reserves, utility lots, access lots and roads to vest.

The C2 growth cell, located west of Kelly Road, has been earmarked for future urban development to accommodate a projected population boom in Cambridge, Waipā district’s largest town.

Waipā District Council’s District Growth and Regulatory Group Manager, Wayne Allan, said the Council had approved 3Ms to undertake earlier enabling earthworks to activate the growth cell and was pleased with the revised proposal and outcome.

“The C2 growth cell remains an important urban growth cell for Cambridge which will unlock the ability to deliver more housing and public and community facilities, which the town urgently needs,” Allan said.

“We’ve completed the structure planning, infrastructure design, obtained the discharge consent from the Regional Council, worked with the Ministry of Education who have now designated a primary school and secured land required to be in public ownership to enable the roading and stormwater infrastructure to be built and the neighbourhood reserve land to be developed as a playground. This subdivision approval now paves the way for construction to commence.”

“We are very pleased to have achieved a result that will work for our residents and our growing community that provides all of the necessary transport connections and mitigations to keep Cambridge moving safely.”

The decision in its entirety is available at https://www.waipadc.govt.nz/our-services/planning-and-resource-consents/consent-applications-of-interest.

With the approval now given for the new revised application, 3Ms of Cambridge GP Limited are expected to withdraw their earlier subdivision application and appeal lodged with the Environment Court, which independent commissioners rejected in July.