Chance to speak out on Tamahere village hub

The proposed hub will have both retail space and sports fields. Photo / Thinkstock

People living in one of Hamilton's most desirable suburbs will have the chance to voice any concerns about proposals for a small retail hub and recreational facilities at an information day next week.

Tamahere residents, on the southern outskirts of the city, have the choice between two options for a village hub, both featuring retail space and sports fields.

The concepts are to be presented at a public open day in the village on October 27, where Waikato District Council and the Transport Agency will also outline the effects of the Waikato expressway's southern interchange on the area.

Waikato District Council has already sought public feedback twice on how the Tamahere Country Living Zone should be developed, including the possibility of traffic-calming measures in Newell Rd and maintaining safe access from east to west of the village, particularly for children at Tamahere Model Country School.

The council's Tamahere Structure Plan Review states that with the school roll expected to grow to 600, demand will increase for supporting community services, including "country stores, recreational facilities and localised professional services".

In 2007 a proposal by developers Newell Holdings to build a supermarket, department store and about 50 shops near the village met a huge backlash from residents.

Tamahere was also the scene of a devastating explosion at the Icepak Coolstore in 2008 in which one firefighter was killed and others were seriously injured. The now-vacant site is not part of the proposed development.

Waikato District's strategy and support general manager, Tony Whitaker, said the council was working with residents "on our shared vision for the future", which included developing a concept of how the village hub might look.

Mr Whitaker said the council had also been working closely with the Transport Agency on the design and thinking behind the southern interchange, which formed part of the Hamilton section of the Waikato expressway, and its implications for the Tamahere area. The Hamilton section was due for completion in 2019.

The information day will be at the Tamahere Community Hall between 3pm and 7pm.