Initiatives

OUR CENTRAL CITY

Central City Transformation Plan (CCTP)

In May 2021, the Council revised its Central City Transformation Plan (CCTP). The CCTP guides development and decision making and sets the future direction. The last CCTP (created in 2015) included key projects such as the inner-city park, Victoria on the River, and has helped transform the central city into the vibrant and prosperous hub it is today.

The revised CCTP includes proposals to add more ways to get around, more greenery, more celebrations and events, more job opportunities, more places for creativity and play and to celebrate the heritage and character of the central city.

Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF)

On 2 May 2022, Kāinga Ora advised Council that its $151 million central city IAF funding bid was successful, subject to funding and housing agreements to be negotiated, and the successful deployment of the ‘HIF to IFF’ in Peacocke. The total infrastructure package is $201 million with balance of $50 million to be generated using the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020 (IFF) in the Peacocke growth cell.

This IAF grant for infrastructure funding, if confirmed, would be the biggest in Hamilton’s history and includes funding for the walking and pedestrian bridge that will span the Waikato River near where the new Waikato Regional Theatre will be located.

The proposed infrastructure investment would help to unlock more than $2 billion of new residential and commercial development over the next 10 years, providing up to 4000 new homes and 305,000m2 of commercial floor area. The investment would future proof the central city and help to deliver a more sustainable, liveable city where walking, cycling and public transport are the primary ways to get around.

Council’s vision is for a connected, welcoming and diverse central city that Hamiltonians can be proud of, promotes creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship and connects to the mighty Waikato River.

Development Contributions

Since 2014 Council has incentivised development in the central city by offering developers a reduction of between 50% to 100% in their development contributions (DC). Currently the reduction in the DC charges is 100% for buildings six storeys and above, and 50% for all other developments that meet the criteria.

In June 2021, Council included criteria to help achieve better outcomes in the central city. In order to be eligible for a DC remission, residential developers must engage with the Urban Design Advisory Panel process and having Life Mark 4 certification.