More tourist beds needed
A major tourist accommodation development is preparing to open its doors relieving some of the pressure on Waipa to provide more beds for tourists.
The estimated $3.6m Kelley Road Cambridge Lodge will open in April. It will provide 22 tourist beds and will be a welcomed addition to Cambridge’s struggling accommodation sector.
Cambridge Community Board Chairman Mike Pettit said visitor accommodation was paramount.
‘‘Cambridge, based on events and natural attractions, is increasingly becoming a destination town, so more accommodation of varying types is welcome,’’ he said.
Timing of the lodge’s opening coincides with the cycling and rowing events for the World Masters Games in Waipa between April 21-30.
Kelly Road Cambridge Lodge is ideally placed near the Avantidrome, Te Awa Cycleway, St Peter’s School Cambridge and the Te Awa Retirement Village which is also currently under construction.
The lodge provides a mix of one and two bedroom suites and studio apartments.
Plans for three other accommodation complexes have been slow to get under way.
The completion date for the $6.2m, 20-unit motel and retail/ office complex on Alpha St was set for April, but delays to the final plans has meant construction has been delayed.
Because of the high demand for commercial space in Cambridge, Omega Construction had to rethink initial plans for the Alpha St project.
Spokesperson Olivia Fraser said the company was close to finalising plans with a construction date planned for later in the year.
Work on the new Podium Athletes Lodge, Peake Rd, is expected to start in April with completion due at the end of 2017.
The lodge will provide 30 accommodation units housing up to 86 guests.
And although resource consent was granted in October, there is no sign of work commencing on the 20-room bed and breakfaststyle facility at 17 Hamilton Rd.
The new two-storey facility in its place will have guest rooms capable of accommodating 42 guests with 25 car-parking spaces.
In December, Waipa District Council granted resource consent for Cambridge Riverside, a development of 47 townhouses on the 12,881 square metres site previously occupied by Cambridge Riverside Motel, overlooking the Waikato River.