No quick fix: Waipā DC rules out immediate closure of ‘disruptive’ Cambridge depot

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Nearby residents are frustrated with heavy trucks accessing the Arnold St depot in Cambridge, claiming its disruptive and dangerous (file photo).

Waipā District councillors agree that trucks accessing a council depot is a headache for nearby Cambridge residents, but say there’s no immediate fix.

In April, the council accepted a petition with 50 signatures from nearby home owners calling for the Arnold St depot to be shut down.

The petition alleged that heavy trucks accessing the site were “dangerous, disruptive, and [devaluing] our properties”.

Councillor Shane Walsh wants the council to ask affected residents for their ideas on how to minimise disruption caused by the Arnold St depot (file photo).

“Waipa Council must find a new location for its road works depot; it is a hazard and an accident waiting to happen.”

It’s not the first time Cambridge residents have taken issue with heavy trucks through the town - in March, a petition with 111 signatures called on the council to crack down on trucks allegedly speeding and creating excessive noise down residential streets.

The Arnold St depot, which is located near a residential area, is used to stockpile roading materials through summer months. A report to councillors said there were typically 200 truck trips to the site each year, with most happening across a two-month period.

Transportation manager Bryn Hudson said contractors were concious they were subject to public scrutiny (file photo).

While elected members agreed trucks accessing the depot could be disruptive to residents, some worried moving the site immediately would simply shift the problem elsewhere.

Te Awamutu and Kihikihi ward councillor Dean Taylor said it seemed relocating the depot would push the problem from one part of Cambridge to another.

“Is there an alternative that’s going to actually solve this problem, or are we just chasing it to make some people happy and then someone else is going to be unhappy?”

Councillor Dean Taylor said moving the depot now would move the issue to another part of Cambridge (file photo).

Transportation manager Bryan Hudson said other stockpile sites around the town were closed after residential buildings had sprung up around them.

“We are steadily being chased out of every good spot in and around Cambridge - nobody wants us active.”

Shutting the depot meant the council would be reliant on contractors to provide storage for roading materials, putting costs up significantly.

Councillor Shane Walsh asked if it was possible for council staff to ask trucking companies using the depot to change their behaviour to be considerate of nearby residents.

“It’s not so much the fact that there’s a depot here, it’s the truck movements…what can they do voluntarily to help the situation with the neighbours?”

Hudson said contractors were motivated to behave well so the council renewed their contracts, adding companies were also “very conscious” that they were subject to public scrutiny.

“I would say, for the vast majority…they would be professional drivers and taking care and not exceeding the speed limit.”

“Even if they are actually travelling at lower than the speed limit, they'll still be very noticeable to the neighbours.”

Service delivery group manager Eeva-Liisa Wright added if elected members wished, council staff could also contact truck drivers and notify them if concerns had been raised.

Councillors voted unanimously to continue using the current depot until another suitable location was found, with any associated costs to be considered through the 2027–2037 Long Term Plan.

However, Walsh said as the depot could not be closed immediately, he wanted the council to ask residents who signed the petition for their ideas on how to minimise disruption in the short term.