Jamie Strange, Labour List MP. Photo / File
Growth continues to take place in the Waikato region.
In this month's column I will focus on three key areas: education, transport and the Provincial Growth Fund.
Rototuna Junior and Senior High Schools will receive a combined $16 million expansion for 500 extra students across the two schools, while 30 other Waikato schools will receive 79 classrooms. This Government investment totals $42 million, and includes three kura, who will receive 12 new classrooms.
The Waikato regional growth plan is part of the wider National Education Growth Plan which forecasts that an additional 100,000 new student places are needed across the country by 2030.
This plan was supported by $1.2 billion in the recent Wellbeing Budget.
Minister of Education Chris Hipkins recently approved Hamilton Christian School's application to enter into negotiations with the Ministry of Education, as they look to become state integrated.
Hamilton Christian School is a well-respected school with strong leadership and a supportive community, and this is another step in increasing access to this learning institution. As an integrated school, they would be able to significantly reduce the school fees, making the school accessible to more families.
Futureproof have combined with the Hamilton to Auckland Corridor team, in order to collaboratively plan the future growth in the Waikato region.
The Hamilton to Auckland Corridor Plan maps development between Cambridge/Te Awamutu in the south and Pukekohe in the north. This corridor is the busiest in New Zealand and will be a key economic growth area over the coming years.
A passenger rail service between Hamilton and Auckland is due to begin in July next year. I recently visited the Hutt Rail Workshops to view progress on the carriages, which will have WiFi, work stations on tables, a café, accessible toilets and bike racks.
Two key components of the passenger rail service will be the ability to be productive while travelling, and having certainty of arrival time.
Alongside this, the Ministry of Transport is undertaking a business case to explore rapid rail between Hamilton and Auckland (around a one-hour journey). This business case will be completed in April 2020.
Work is being undertaken by Hamilton City Council to explore the potential of a Hamilton metro rail network linking Hamilton with Ngaruawahia/Huntly, Morrinsville, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Hamilton Airport.
Tracks are already in place for the majority of this area, and a feasibility study will explore what it would take to have passenger rail service this area.
Thousands of cars enter Hamilton every day from outlying regions, and providing a range of transport options is vital for a growing region.
Good progress continues on the completion of the Waikato Expressway. It's important we have a balanced transport network, combining road and rail in the most efficient and accessible manner.
Work has begun on the completion of the Hamilton Ring Road and a bridge across the Waikato River near Hamilton Gardens. This will unlock the 8500-house Peacocke development through $180 million from the Government's 10-year interest-free loan and $110 million of NZTA subsidies.
Three successful Waikato-based Provincial Growth Fund applications were recently announced by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones.
Smart Waikato's Secondary School Employer Partnership has received $449,000. This programme connects students with local businesses, providing a real-world context to their education.
Te Waka, Waikato's economic development agency, has received $400,000 to ensure it has sufficient capacity and access to resources and systems, for promoting economic growth in our region.
Paeroa has been granted $700,000 for its Historical Maritime Park Marine development project, including the construction of pontoons and a wharf.
The Waikato region continues to play a key role in New Zealand's economy. I'm proud of who we are as a region.