A new road has been completed in Hamilton, unlocking land for thousands of future homes and marking the completion of the Peacocke Housing Infrastructure Fund programme, delivered ahead of schedule.
Whatukooruru Drive is a new arterial road connecting Peacockes Road in the east with Ohaupo Road/State Highway 3 in the west, and improving access to Hamilton’s newest growth area – Peacocke.
Beneath the road, essential water and wastewater pipes, along with electricity and internet services, will support thousands of future homes and neighbourhoods in Peacocke. The road also features an off-road cycle path along its entire length.
The completion of Whatukooruru Drive brings the Peacocke strategic infrastructure programme to a close. The programme has delivered roads, bridges and essential services to support more than 7400 future homes.
Acting Mayor Geoff Taylor said the completion of Whatukooruru Drive is a significant milestone for both Peacocke and Hamilton.
"It's great to see this strategic piece of infrastructure finished that will support Hamilton and the wider region’s rapid growth. Whatukooruru Drive improves direct access to Peacocke, as Hamilton's newest suburb in the south, strengthening access to the Waikato Expressway and making it easier for city residents and businesses to move around the city from south to east.
“As well as supporting the growing Peacocke community, this connection will give surrounding Hamilton communities easier access to Peacocke's future 7-hectare town centre and community areas, including two new schools. This ensures our city is well-positioned to meet the needs of our growing population without putting pressure on existing city facilities.”
Council’s General Manager for Infrastructure and Assets, Kevin Strongman, is pleased that key infrastructure is now in place to support Peacocke's development and Hamilton's continued growth.
"The Peacocke Housing Infrastructure Fund programme unlocked 243 hectares of land, giving developers, landowners and future residents the confidence to invest in a new and growing community."
"With essential infrastructure now in place, Peacocke has the capacity to accommodate up to 7400 homes over the next 30 years,” Strongman said.
The road opening also recognised the area’s rich cultural and historical significance.
To mark the occasion, mana whenua, contractors, and Council staff gathered to unveil a pou and two waka maumahara this morning (28 July).
Two waka maumahara stand as sentinels to the Whatukooruru paa site, the home of Ruru. Their orientation reflects significant geographical landmarks across the wider Waikato and Waipaa valleys.
A pou depicting the rich heritage of the area stands near the paa, with Ruru represented as its head. The pou was carved and erected by Ngaa Ringa whao o Waikato Tainui on behalf of the people of Ngaati Koroki Kahukura.
Historically, Whatukooruru Paa was occupied by Ngaati Koura and Ngaati Ruru, sub-tribes of Ngaati Wairere. Today, its cultural significance is recognised, and the ownership to return the land to Waikato-Tainui has been approved by Hamilton City Council. The transfer acknowledges Waikato-Tainui's agreement to surrender its Right of First Refusal over Crown-held land required for the completion of the road connection and access to the Peacocke development area. The reserve will remain publicly accessible and continue to be managed in partnership with iwi.
Strongman said, “It’s important to acknowledge the cultural significance and historical depth of Peacocke. The Peacocke development has been underpinned by strong partnerships and close collaboration with the Southern Links Tangata Whenua Working Group, making this a fitting way to mark the completion of the programme.”
Formed in 2011, the Southern Links Tangata Whenua Working Group is made up of local hapuu who have ancestral connections to the Peacocke area. The group has been a significant partner in the delivery of the strategic infrastructure projects and the wider Peacocke programme.
Whatukooruru Drive will open to traffic this week. Some final sections of surfacing work will take place in a few months when the conditions are right. Council has future-proofed several intersections on Whatukooruru Drive to prepare for future development.
Peacocke details
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Peacocke is built with the support from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, made up of a $180.3 million 10-year interest-free loan and $110.1 million of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency subsidies.
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The approved Council budget for the Peacocke programme is $537.3 million. Forecast final costs are $503.1 million.
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In 2022, Council requested to defer the first four years of repayments on the interest-free loan, due to the impacts of Covid-19.
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The variation was approved by Council at a meeting in June 2022. The request did not increase the total loan amount, or accrue any additional interest – it was a variation of the timing of the loan only that provided a longer interest-free period.
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The deferral of repayments was estimated to save $3 million in interest over the life of the loan.
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The total cost of the Whatukooruru Drive project, including the previously completed Ohaupo Road roundabout, upgrades to Peacockes Road, developer-funded works, intersections and three-waters infrastructure, is forecast to be $144.4 million.
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The cultural symbolism elements associated with Whatukooruru paa were delivered following a Council resolution on 18 August 2022 to allocate up to $500,000 from existing budgets for their design and construction.