Waikato Expressway
Peter Carr
The current ridiculous promises being made – and posturing apparent – by all politicians tells me that the hustings have reach the looney stage. Many such promises are not achievable and with no intent of passing laws regarding them in the next three-year parliament.
So, I will turn to matters of a local nature (non-political) but nevertheless of wider population interest in our lovely town.
When we first made the sensible decision to leave Auckland and set up base here the population (2005) was around 12,500 souls. At that time Cambridge High School was in huge disarray due to strange management tactics about the appropriateness of NCEA and residents were already growling about poor traffic management planning, the stress on the high bridge and the overpowering need for a third river crossing. So, 18 years on what has changed? Well, the high school came right at least.
Clearly the extension of the Waikato Expressway during this period was a huge bonus although short-sighted planning failed to carry it on to the Piarere junction. A few speed humps have appeared, and, for a short period, the Waipā council played around with some colour coded lunacy at some street junctions before common sense prevailed. The scruffy area that once encompassed the passenger railway station (defunct passenger-wise since 1946) has been turned into a pleasing array and mix of retail, hotel accommodation, eating areas, a very welcome cinema and housing for those desiring to live right in the centre of all that is happening.
More recently expansion to the north, west and south has seen prime agricultural and horticultural land fall into the grip of developers who, rightly, are responding to the demands of those who see Cambridge as a choice place to reside. The lack of supermarkets space is very apparent and one day Foodstuffs will bite the bullet and either expand their current shop by about 40 per cent or move to another site. A new large medical centre is planned on the north side of the town which will then remove, hopefully, a dreary trip to Hamilton for after-hours treatments.
Meanwhile the emergence of three new large retirement villages will bring, when completed, the villages’ population in Cambridge to around 1600 elderly but mobile people whose needs may, in some cases, demand different infrastructure and public transport needs.
And I’m not forgetting a necessary growth and mix of retail offerings.
So, with the population kicking in at around 20,000 now, is the town in good heart and are the authorities keeping up with the respondent needs that accompany growth? Is the retail area sufficiently balanced and do the requisite car parking areas balance the needs? Should there be an intra-town circular bus to bring people into the centre to also interface with the current service to Hamilton?
With education needs to meet the upward expansion how well off are we for secondary education and, for that matter, primary? I understand the Bridleways development on Cambridge Rd may also boast an additional primary school at some stage.
Bring all that together and we will also need sufficient water services regardless of which body is going to ensure compliance.
Regardless of where you sit in the residential spectrum, young and old alike need to take an interest in the growth around us to ensure that it meets our needs and provides a balanced and secure society. Security and a policing environment of sufficient strength and area coverage – geographically and in timing – will be vital going forward.
