The population of the Waikato District is expected to double in the next 50 years to 88,000 people in 36,500 homes. As this growth will impact on a range of factors, including the environment, the infrastructure and the patterns of settlement across the district, it needs to be well managed and sustainable for both current and future generations.
The Waikato District Growth Strategy outlines how the district will manage growth in the future and the growth strategy to be implemented over time through the District Plan. Much of the Waikato district is productive farmland, complemented by outstanding landscapes and coastlines. The Growth Strategy signals that the productive potential of rural land, and the district’s unique landscapes, coastline and cultural assets, should be preserved and promoted.
It is important we revitalise and plan for the growth of our towns and villages to encourage population growth in these areas.
Using infrastructure efficiently and safeguarding the productive potential of rural land means some tightening of the District Plan rules for subdivision and development in rural areas needs to be considered.
Council is currently reviewing the subdivision and residential development provisions in the Proposed Waikato District Plan for rural and coastal areas. Some changes are proposed to the existing rules for the Rural and Coastal zones, and to the policy framework.
Key Documents
Send your feedback to the Council by Friday 18 June 2010.