Work to begin on Southern Links stage
The latest stage of Hamilton’s Southern Links transport network in the new suburb of Peacocke is about to get under way.
It will provide a key connection from Peacockes Rd in the east to Ohaupo Rd in the west.
On Tuesday, the city council said Downer NZ had been awarded the contract for this stage, including the next section of Whatukooruru Dr to Hall Rd and upgrading a section of Peacockes Rd.
‘‘This is the fourth major contract we’ve awarded in partnership with central government to deliver on our housing outcomes in Peacocke,’’ Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said.
‘‘Our partnerships with central government, tangata whenua and developers in the area have been critical to the success of the programme.’’
The council said Whatukooruru was the name of a significant pā site within the Peacocke area that bordered the new road. The historic reserve land was being transferred to Waikato-Tainui.
Naming the road after the pā site was identified early by an iwi-council partnership as an opportunity to revive original place names that have a close relationship to the whenua and reflect the area’s history.
The council said Peacocke was Hamilton’s biggest investment in growth and the environment. Wetlands, habitat restoration and native plantings will provide recreation areas and green space along the new transport corridor as part of a wider Peacocke environmental programme that will see 15 hectares of gully restoration, around 30 wetland areas and more than 100,000 new native plants.
The project will deliver around 1.3km of new transport corridor, pipes for water services, and essential services to enable new suburbs and homes.
The first stage of Whatukooruru Dr was built in 2021 as part of the new roundabout on Ohaupo Rd (State Highway 3) to provide access to a housing development.
The remaining stage, from Hall Rd to Ohaupo Rd, is in the final stages of design and planning. Work on this stage will begin in December this year and is due for completion by early 2025.
Peacocke is being built with support from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. When completed, Peacocke will be home for up to 20,000 Hamiltonians.