Waikato Business News March/April 2023

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18 VIBRANT CAMBRIDGE WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MARCH/APRIL 2023 Cambridge’s reputation ‘has never been better’ continued from page 17 Cambridge’s attractions are world-class and well-known. Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain is on its doorstep. There is the world class velodrome on the outskirts, Lake Karapiro draws rowers from around the world and the wider district is internationally recognised for producing world-class racing thoroughbreds. Fifty per cent of New Zealand’s carded athletes live in Cambridge with Olympians and world-class coaches often seen in one of the town’s many cafes or stylish restaurants. It is an ideal base for world-class athletes and coaches, close to Hamilton Airport and an easy drive to Auckland via the Waikato Expressway. As they walk through town, those athletes will draw inspiration from the ground up via the town’s Sports Walk of Fame which celebrates decades of excellence and success. At the same time, Cambridge is a family-friendly town that recognises and celebrates its heritage. Residents enjoy wonderful green space plus a network of parks and cycle trails. That includes the recently completed Te Awa Great New Zealand River Ride which offers continuous riverside riding from Cambridge though Hamilton to Ngaruawahia. Mayor O’Regan noted Waipā’s population overall grew by 1.2 percent last year, led primarily by inward migration. That compares with the average national growth of just .2 percent. “We’re seen as a desirable district for many reasons, including people wanting to send their kids to fantastic schools where they can still have an Ag-day. “They want to grow vegetables in their backyards and get back to actual living and not stewing in traffic jams. There are also lots of people returning here who have roots to the district.” Mayor O’Regan knows land and house affordability compared with the price-prohibitive levels in major cities is also a drawcard. Cambridge is not cheap, but it still more affordable than some big cities. “I think Covid made people reflect and some have decided they don’t want to live in big cities. “The standard of living in Cambridge is very good and there is all this wonderful outdoor activity. It’s a modern town, offering modern things but with a delightful olde world charm.” The Waikato Expressway coming through from Auckland has made a massive difference. Mayor O’Regan said successive Waipā leaders and councils have understood the need to grow the district population and there have been sound planning decisions made over several decades. “There are about 34 ‘live zoned’ growth cells in existence around Cambridge, Te Awamutu and some of the smaller villages, and a further 20 that are to be made available to go live after 2035. “There has been very sound thinking around how we want to grow and where we want to grow. We are pretty firm about those town or village boundary lines. There is no anticipation that we want to extend anything beyond those current boundaries, except in Ōhaupō, which may go a little further north given the significant development at the Hamilton airport precinct,” she said. “We’ve made provision for industrial and commercial activity as well. Of the 54 growth cells we have planned, four of them are for large industrial development areas. So it’s a busy story about We predict that diversification is likely to continue. Horse studs breeding world-class thoroughbreds also contribute to the region’s GDP and that is very strongly felt around Cambridge which celebrates its equine heritage. LEADING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TEAM Whether you are looking to acquire or sell commercial property or are a current landlord or tenant, our Commercial Property lawyers have the skills and expertise to assist in a variety of matters. We understand your obligations under lease or sale and purchase agreements and your ongoing compliance responsibilities. We can also assist in negotiating terms and conditions and managing conflict. Our team have extensive knowledge in the applicable legislation and experience in preparing, negotiating and reviewing documentation, including: • Sale and purchase of commercial and industrial property • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating leases and sub-leases • Rent reviews and disputes • Renewals • Motel/hotel acquisitions and leasehold agreements • Overseas Investment Office considerations LISA WARE PARTNER MONIQUE MEDLEY-RUSH PARTNER MAT MAKGILL PARTNER LUCY YOUNG PARTNER Experienced professionals. Local specialists. Quality advice. Cambridge | Phone 07 827 5147 Hamilton | Phone 07 848 1222 | www.lewislawyers.co.nz
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, MARCH/APRIL 2023 VIBRANT CAMBRIDGE 19 growth in Waipā, that’s for sure.” Agriculture and construction continue to be big contributors to the wider Waipā economy, with good growth in manufacturing and the logistics sector. “While still a strong dairy farming district, we have seen quite a bit of land use diversification into kiwifruit, berries and other horticultural pursuits including a few goat and sheep milking ventures. Mayor O’Regan says more work is being put into developing an economic development strategy for Cambridge and the wider district. “If you can provide an area where people want to live, work and play, that makes it attractive for businesses to be here. The proof is the district. The airport has shown there is an appetite for businesses to move out of some of the traditional areas for industrial activity. And the extension of the roading network from Held every three to four years, the festival is at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge on 10-16 April. An international non-competitive participatory event for breast cancer paddler teams who engage in Dragonboat activities as post breast cancer diagnosis rehabilitation. Dragon boat paddling has become a rehabilitation therapy for tens of thousands of women, and men worldwide, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The New Zealand 2023 Festival will involve a selection of teams from the current 240 IBCPC member teams, from 30 countries across all continents. Auckland and Hamilton means that there are viable options for freight-based businesses.” Her vision is for Cambridge and the wider district is to be a place where everybody can live fulfilling, productive and safe lives. “I want a place that is safe and healthy for our residents no matter their age or what area they live in... a district that values our aged residents but at the same time considers the needs of young families,” she said. “We will not lose sight of the things that make Cambridge and Waipā the wonderful place it is to live in now.” “We have a fabulously rich district in terms of resources, climate and innovation. We need to look to the future tracking a sustainable pathway that plays to our strengths as a district and continues to be productive for the betterment of our residents. “Council needs to have a strong supporting role.” The festival will be governed by the Aotearoa Wahine Toa Ora Trust and sitting under the trust will be an organising committee chaired by Meri Gibson. Working with her will be many experienced members of the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association on the technical management of the festival, members of Abreast of Life Dragon Boat team and members of other breast cancer teams in New Zealand to help with other aspects of the festival. The New Zealand Festival will be a sporting event but above all a social occasion in which New Zealand will welcome 4000 to 5000 people I want a district that has a thriving economy. A place that provides a variety of well-planned housing but at the same time protects our soils as well as enhancing our unique and precious environment, celebrating cultural diversity. Dragon Boat festival hits Karapiro For the first time since the establishment of IBCPC in 2010, the IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival will take place in the southern hemisphere in New Zealand. from all over the world. The participants are mainly women between the ages of 20 and 80 who will meet to take part in the exciting Dragon boat races, paddling together on the beautiful world-class facility at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge. They will also be accompanied by their friends and families, and their faithful and enthusiastic supporters. The week-long celebrations will culminate in three-days of intense activity, demonstrations, workshops and social events aimed at awareness and dialogue within the large international community of breast-cancer paddlers. Eight things that make Cambridge a great place to live. Given this edition’s focus on Cambridge, where I happen to live, I decided to briefly discuss some things about the built environment (mostly), that make Cambridge a great place to live and work. In no particular order: Geography constrains the town centre. Te Awa o Waikato (the Waikato river) curves to the south of the original town centre, its steep banks providing a natural limit to expansion. To the east an escarpment drops away first to ‘Carter’s Flat’ and beyond this the Karapiro stream. To the north-east is Lake Te Ko Utu. And at the north-west ‘Victoria Square’ provides an anchor for the CBD and a buffer for the residential area to the west and north. These natural limits to the commercial centre of town have kept it quite compact and created a more vibrant atmosphere than might be the case otherwise. As single storey buildings are redeveloped to create more office and living space, the town centre will only get better. Great civic space in the centre of town The historic town hall and piazza, war memorial cenotaph, clock tower, and treelined Victoria Square combine to make an attractive open space right in the centre of town. Serving as the hosting space for many events, including the weekly farmer’s market, and cricket matches still played in the village square, these spaces are well used and contribute much to the ‘village’ feel that locals value. It is worth remembering the value of quality civic space as we consider the location of future facilities such as a potential new Cambridge library. The grid street layout Within the green belt, streets are laid out in a grid pattern; while grids have pros and cons, here are some of the things I like about it in Cambridge. Long straight streets provide excellent vistas; just the other morning I was enjoying the view of the sunrise over the hills along the east-west streets as I walked to the bus. The same views make it easy to identify landmarks to assist with wayfinding, and the grid pattern itself means it’s hard to get ‘lost in suburbia’. Most of the area inside the green belt is within a 15 minute walk from town. The grid pattern is inherently pedestrian friendly with multiple route options and regular intersections, which go some way to slowing traffic. The green belt The green belt parks and walking tracks provide easy access to recreation opportunities for anyone living within or near the green belt. If the current green belt is connected to walking tracks and green spaces in new growth areas, the amenity will be even further improved. Some have even recently suggested the creation of a new green belt along the edge of the new residential growth areas. Green infrastructure Building on the value of the green belt, Cambridge is also fortunate to have parks and walking paths around Lake Te Ko Utu and along both sides of the river. Along with Victoria Square, Leamington Domain and several smaller parks we’re spoilt for green space. Not to mention the many trees that Cambridge is well known for. In addition to the recreational benefits, this ‘green infrastructure’ helps to cool the town environment, soak up and filter stormwater, and has been linked to improved mental health. Social infrastructure While straying somewhat from the built environment remit, the strong social infrastructure in Cambridge is critical to the town’s success. Groups like the Lions and Rotary clubs contribute more than many grasp. The Cambridge Tree Trust has been responsible for the creation of many of the walking tracks and planting many of the trees that now are a key part of Cambridge. Organisations like the Cambridge Business Chamber help to nurture the vibrant business and retail environment, while Waipā council and councillors have generally done a good job of responding to the needs and expectations of the community. There are too many more to name, but it is these social institutions that build a great town. Retention and restoration of character buildings Mostly I am referencing LANDMARKS BY PHIL MACKAY Phil MacKay is Business Development Manager at Hamilton-based PAUA, Procuta Associates Urban + Architecture the town centre, though some good examples of character exist in residential areas too. For a relatively small town centre, Cambridge has a good base of quality buildings from the earlier years of the town. These have in many cases been well looked after or more recently restored, with the likes of the Masonic Hotel soon due for a refresh. They also generally have a good scale, with second storeys now repurposed for office space above ground floor retail. The scale helps to frame the main retail streets, along with street trees and landscaping, providing attractive spaces and atmosphere. Set backs in residential areas While there are some nicely restored villas and bungalows, one of the things I enjoy about the residential areas of Cambridge is that houses are mostly set back somewhat from the street with space for gardens and trees at the front. This might seem an odd thing to get excited about, but, along with lower fences, it means the houses address the street in a more open and inviting fashion. Houses are close enough to be present and imply a level of passive surveillance, yet residents retain a degree of privacy by virtue of being set back. There are many more things to love about Cambridge, but these are just a few things about the built environment, that are worth thinking about as we collectively come to grips with the growth of not just Cambridge, but all of the Waikato.
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Waikato Business News March/April 2023

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