New strategy will help drive growth

A newly signed off Regional Land Transport Strategy for 2011-2041 will help lay the foundations for good economic growth in the Waikato region, says the chair of the multi-agency Regional Transport Committee.

Cr Norm Barker of Waikato Regional Council was commenting after the strategy, a blueprint for future transport in the region developed by the committee, was formally signed off by the council.

“The strategy will set the foundation for transport development in the region and will guide the development of the Regional Land Transport Programme this year to secure funding for transport in our region,” said Cr Barker.

He said it was significant that the Government had recently indicated that two more Waikato roading networks, on top of the Waikato Expressway, could become designated roads of national significance, which are targeted for priority Government funding.

These are the road network between Hamilton and Tauranga, and state highway one between Cambridge and Taupo.

“The new strategy we’ve developed, plus the new Future Proof strategy for planning developments in Hamilton city and Waikato and Waipa districts, will help give the Government confidence to invest more in regional roading through the Waikato Expressway and the new potential roads of national significance,” said Cr Barker.

“It is therefore setting the foundations for the region’s economy to grow even more strongly over the next 30 years.

“In particular, improved roading between Hamilton and Tauranga will help strengthen transport flows in the economic Golden Triangle of Auckland-Hamilton-Tauranga.”