Council asks for university impact report

A report detailing the impact of 5000 foreign students studying at a proposed university in Ruakaka has been ordered as part of the resource consent application to Whangarei District Council.
Ruakaka-based TR Developments has announced plans for a $100million educational academy that will consist of primary and secondary schools as well as a university over the next two years.
The company is negotiating funding with four companies - two in Asia, one in the United States and one in Germany - for the project, spread over 42 hectares at the corner of McEwan and One Tree Point Rds.
But the Whangarei District Council wants TR Developments to carry out proper assessments and to prepare a social impact report.
Council group manager, environment, Paul Dell said several reports would be required as part of the resource consent process.
"There's always been discussion about an educational facility but it's only recently we became aware of this proposal," he said.
"We've had preliminary discussions with them [developers] and indicated clearly about the need for a proper assessment and a social impact report which we see as an important element.
"We're saying there could well be social impacts in bringing that many people and throwing them in a community of different cultures."
Mr Dell said a timeline of between 12 and 18 months to finalise planning and resource consent approval was realistic but he couldn't comment on how long the various buildings would take to finish.
TR Developments managing director Tony Jelas said his company was spending $30,000 on joint cultural, social and environment reports. However, assessments had been put on hold pending a decision by the Immigration Department on eligibility rules for guardians of foreign students.
Immigration rules permit only parents of overseas students to stay in the country for the duration of their studies but TR Developments wants grandparents to also have that freedom.
"Normally it takes two months for the reports to be finalised but we cannot do that until Government okays our request," Mr Jelas said.
The new academy, expected to become fully operational by 2013, is expected to create 2000 jobs in the construction and roading fronts. The boarding schools will cater for 6 to 26-year-olds, with 5000 students expected within the first five years.
They will initially cater for children between the ages of 6 and 15 and there are plans to teach Te Reo Maori and Asian languages.
Fisheries Minister and Whangarei MP Phil Heatley welcomed the initiative but remained cautious on the number of students, especially since a long string of investorshad already raised expectations in the area.