Bats and houses can co-exist
Hamilton is growing fast and to accommodate that population growth, greenfield development is destined to be a part of the city’s future. The question posed by a local environmental group in a column on
is, can we meet that growth whilst enhancing habitat?
As the developer of Amberfield, a new proposed subdivision in Peacocke, we are firmly of the view that, yes, there is ample opportunity for both urban growth and ecologically preserved habitat to co-exist.
The local farm owners of Amberfield recognised this challenge early on and engaged a highly experienced internationally recognised team of ecologists, landscape specialists and urban designers to provide a world class vision for the land.
This led Amberfield to propose a new form of urban development in Hamilton.
One that protects and fosters ecology, including species such as the long-tailed bat, and enhances the cultural and landscape values of the Waikato River.
Rather than turning its back on the river, Amberfield has been designed to revegetate large areas of land and facilitate public amenity for all to access and enjoy.
Our ecologists and bat specialists have engaged with Hamilton City Council, Department of Conservation and other stakeholders, to fully understand habitat characteristics and values and how best to avoid effects on Hammond Park across the river as well as protect the use of the river corridor by bats.
Through this preliminary work, we are confident that adverse effects on the Hammond Park bat colony and habitat will be avoided or mitigated and that Amberfield will enhance the river corridor and long-term habitat for bats.
To ensure this is achieved, a significant buffer has been planned between the river and roading/houses within the development.
This includes substantial planting of native vegetation along the length of the river as well as retaining the vegetation already present.
In addition, Amberfield will also be first development in Hamilton to adopt new LED lighting technologies and specific luminaire design in all public street lighting with the purpose of avoiding light spill to the river corridor as is common elsewhere in the city where urban development adjoins the river.
There will be a very real opportunity for future residents of Amberfield to understand and appreciate the special ecological context of their new home and to become actively involved in volunteer activities to manage the habitat, just as has occurred across the river in the Riverlea community.
In fact, the Riverlea Environment Society provides a great model for organising the Amberfield community to be just as aware and actively involved in environmental protection and enhancement as is the community living adjacent to Hammond Park.
People are increasingly interested in nature and the environment and the special ecological values of the bat habitat along the river will form an important part of the Amberfield story.
The issue goes beyond just one subdivision, however, and requires an integrated, broad landscape approach for the full Peacocke Structure Plan Area if we’re to seriously tackle the impact of urban development on longtailed bats.
Work is underway with Hamilton City Council, Waikato Regional Council, Department of Conservation, and the Southern Links project team on this front.
Amberfield, as the first component of the wider Peacocke growth area to be urbanised, intends to set the model for a new form of environmentally responsive and responsible development that can be replicated across the wider area.
The aim being to avoid effects on key habitat, such as the river corridor, Hammond Bush, and Mangakotukutuku Gully and to mitigate other adverse effects that cannot be avoided. These approaches are not just needed to address urban growth within the Peacocke area, they will also be required to address the adverse effects of key infrastructure projects such as Southern Links.
Working together, we strongly believe that the protection of natural habitats – like those of the long-tailed bat – can co-exist with much-needed and previously identified urban development within Hamilton south.