Te Awa Lakes hits snag

A massive development in the north of the city has hit a snag with the regional council refusing to give it support.

Perry Group is seeking to rezone 62 hectares near Horotiu from Hamilton City Council for the Te Awa Lakes development which would include tourism, recreational areas, residential zones and business districts.

Yesterday the Waikato Regional Council’s strategy and policy committee voted to oppose the private plan change on the grounds the Perry’s report was not robust enough to warrant support.

The public were notified on November 1 and submissions to Hamilton City Council close on November 29.

Perry’s proposed adventure park and residential development will be built on an old sand quarry between the Waikato River and the Waikato Expressway.

Policy implementation acting team leader Leslie Vyfhuis said the land use application is precedent setting.

The area is one of the region’s strategic industrial nodes, earmarked industrial and unintended for mixed-use residential.

There are two industrial areas adjacent the Perry’s land at Northgate and the Fonterra Te Rapa factory. There would be ramifications for the region.

‘‘Those two industrial nodes have driven the infrastructure spend in the Waikato Expressway,’’ Vyfhuis said

‘‘We’ve got to be sure if we want to change this land from industrial to a mixed-use residential then what are the knock-on effects of doing this.’’

Perry’s adventure park would feature activities such as cable tow wakeboarding and an inflatable obstacle course and up to 2000 houses.

Development director Lale Ieremia told the committee Te Awa Lakes would be a northern gateway into Hamilton.

‘‘It’s a catalyst for more growth,’’ Ieremia said.

Perry’s chief executive officer Richard Coventry said a buffer zone could be put between Te Awa Lakes and Fonterra Te Rapa.

Committee chairwoman Tipa Mahuta said a tourism gateway into the city was an exciting move.