800 home development opposite remnant bush not wanted

Tuesday, 9 October 2018

An environmental protection group is opposing a new development planning to bring more than 800 homes to the Hamilton.

In a submission to Hamilton City Council, the Riverlea Environmental Society say the proposed 105-hectare Amberfield Development is poorly designed and will have a significant adverse effects on the long-tailed bat population.

The group of 118 signatories said Amberfield's lighting and habitat loss can not be significantly mitigated and bats will suffer.

Chairman Allan Pearson said the group is also concerned about the effects on Hammond Bush, on the opposite side of the Waikato River, and the lack of a green corridor between Mangakotukutuku Gully and the river.

'The proposal does not avoid, remedy or sufficiently mitigate the harm that Amberfield's lighting and habitat loss will do to the North Island long-tailed bat, now ranked as threatened – nationally critical,' Pearson said.

'Notably, the current design does not take account of two points that make the Amberfield location ecologically precious. It is opposite Hamilton's most biodiverse forest remnant, Hammond bush, and the adjacent Mangaonua gully, and its northern riverbank is a missing link in an ecological corridor of Significant Natural Areas.'

Amberfield will be built near the Waikato River's edge, on farmland at the southwest corner of Hamilton.

Homes proposed in the project range from terraced, double-storey dwellings to standalone houses on 700 square metre sections.

The development is the first major subdivision in the Peacockes growth area. Council will use a $290.4m interest-free Government loan and subsidy package to prepare Peacocke for more than 8400 houses.