Fast Track Approvals Bill: 19 big Waikato projects to boost economy and speed up builds

Of the 149 projects released in the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, 19 major projects are in Waikato.

The projects include the construction of the Rotokawa Solar Farm just east of Taupō, to connect and supply electricity to the national grid, the Waikato Expressway’s long-awaited southern extension from SH1 Cambridge to SH29 Piarere, and the controversial underground mining operation in Waihī.

Housing developments are on the fast-track too; at least five are planned around Hamilton.

Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop said the bill would help “rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit”.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the 149 projects selected had significant regional or national benefits.

“They will make a big difference in the regions by delivering jobs and growth and develop a pipeline of major projects to help boost the economy.”

He said the selected projects underwent a “robust” open application process run by the Ministry for the Environment, officials’ analysis, an independent assessment and recommendations process by an independent Advisory Group, and final decisions by Cabinet.

“The 149 projects chosen by Cabinet to be listed in the bill will be listed in Schedule 2 of the bill once the bill is reported back from the Environment Committee in mid-October.

“Once the bill is passed, they will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess the project and apply relevant conditions.”

The bill is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy, and to cut through the “red and green tape” that’s made it “difficult to build the projects New Zealand needs”.

Altogether, there are 28 projects in the Auckland region, 22 in Canterbury, 19 in Waikato, 15 in Otago, 12 in the Bay of Plenty, 11 in Wellington, 11 in Northland, six in Manawatū-Whanganui, six in Hawke’s Bay, four in the West Coast, four in Taranaki, four in Southland, three in Tasman/Nelson, one in Gisborne, one in Marlborough, and two multi-region projects.

Waikato projects on the Fast-Track Approvals Bill

Housing and land development

Infrastructure

Mining and quarrying

Renewable energy

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.