The old Narrows Golf Club entrance.
The long-term Southern Links roading plan will unlock fertile Waikato land and open up commercial opportunities for the Waikato and Waipā districts.
The project will link State Highway 1C from Kahikatea Drive in Hamilton to Tamahere and the Waikato Expressway in the south, and State Highway 3 from Hamilton Airport to central and east Hamilton.
It will be a 32 km transport network, including 21km of state highways and 11km of arterial roads.
Though it is not forecast for construction funding in the next 10 years, Waka Kotahi has purchased swathes of land for the network including 36.6ha at The Narrows.
It only needs a portion of that golf course land – now used for grazing – for Southern Links.
The News has been asking what the future holds for the old golf course land not needed for Southern Links and bordering the Waikato River. It is zoned rural under the Waikato District Plan and the council has confirmed to The News there are no plans to change that.
Aerial shot Google Earth
Waka Kotahi purchased the site from Riverside Golf Club for $20 million five years ago and the golfers moved across the river last year to the newly-developed Tīeke course on the old Lochiel Golf Club site.
Hamilton’s advance to Waipā has already started with the Peacocke development and that relationship will develop further when the Waikato River bridge on Wairere Drive opens next year.
Waka Kotahi’s Jessica Andrew, regional manager systems design, Waikato-Bay of Plenty, said part of the former golf course is being held for the Southern Links and the remainder is being disposed of under the Public Works Act.
Looking into what was once the Narrows golf course.
Waka Kotahi has approached council it to see if it needs any of the land not needed for Southern Links. The News also understands the agency has also contacted neighbouring landowners.
A Waikato district spokesperson told The News the council’s Community Connections team which looks after parks and reserves is determining whether or not there is a need to buy some of the land for public reserve purposes.
“As things stand now, the site is unlikely to be subdivided further under its current rural zoning, which would mean fewer than two lots – four homes.”
National MP for Taupō Louise Upston said the Southern Links road would open opportunities for districts to connect.
Hamilton City Council’s Detailed Business Case shows planning for 8400 new homes in the Peacocke area over 30 years which will house around 20,000 people.
Aerial view of the old Narrows Golf Course.
