Here are two key reasons why we need to a develop a transport plan that will serve our community now and into the future.

We need to plan for growth

As Cambridge residents, we already know this is a great place to live. Our town is full of character and green spaces, with thriving businesses and a vibrant town centre. It’s liveable and easy to get out and about.

Central Government has designated Waipā as a Tier One growth district – this means we’re required to plan for 30 years’ of housing and infrastructure. In other words, we need to grow! It’s important to plan carefully so Cambridge and Waipā continue to be a great place to live for future generations.

We need funding for transport infrastructure

We need to plan for effective transport into the future, but crucially, we also need to be able to fund it. That is why we need to make a business case to New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi).

In line with its 30-year plan, NZTA allocates funding on a three-year cycle:

• 0-3 years: short term priorities
• 3-10+ years: medium term priorities
• 10-30 years: long term priorities.

Cambridge Connections will enable us to seek funding from NZTA, based on the recommendations the Council develops over the next 16 months – including:

When we asked the community for feedback about the future of transport in Cambridge, 58 percent of respondents said they want a 'third bridge', the most common theme to emerge.

Investigating bridge options will be an important aspect in planning for transport infrastructure over the next 30 years.

Cambridge Connections: Identifying a bridge corridor

At the end of next year, Cambridge Connections will have identified a bridge corridor, the general area where a new bridge and connecting roads could be built in the future. It will still be another two to three years before the specific site can be confirmed, due to the large amount of technical work required to meet legislative requirements. The potential bridge is a long-term project that will span decades. The steps ahead include:

• From now to December 2026: building a business case to NZ Transport Agency, informed by community engagement, which includes bridge options.
• December 2026: transport plan identifies a general area for a bridge corridor.
• June 2027: funding for short and medium-term steps from the Cambridge Connections Transport Plan is considered in the Waipā District Council Long-Term Plan, allowing us to seek co-funding from NZTA and begin investigations to confirm a specific bridge location.

Beyond Cambridge Connections:

We need to know what the transport problems are, in order to create the best solutions.

Defining the core transport problems Cambridge is facing is the first step in building a business case for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Elected Members approved these problem statements on Wednesday, December 3, meaning that stage one of Cambridge Connections is now complete!

These are the problem statements approved by Elected Members:

1. High growth and impacts on transport network.

Rapid population and economic growth and development in and around Cambridge, coupled with high reliance on private vehicles and limited transport choices, is placing increasing pressure on the town’s transport network and wider network connections. This is increasing congestion, delays and safety risks, increasing emissions and negatively impacting on accessibility for the community.

2. Through and across town traffic and heavy vehicles accessing through residential areas and the town centre.

Reliance on a small number of key connections, including only one bridge able to carry heavy traffic over the Waikato River in Cambridge, means all heavy and through traffic travelling east–west or north–south must pass through residential areas and the town centre. This increases crash risk for road users, increasing congestion, and diminishing the town’s amenity and character.

3. Limitations and resilience of river crossings.

The ageing and limited capacity of bridge infrastructure, exacerbated by the lack of schools and essential services on the Leamington side of town is constraining reliable and resilient transport links between Cambridge and Leamington and the wider network. These limitations reduce network resilience, disrupt connectivity during emergencies and temporary closures, and compromise the safety and efficiency of the transport system.

Why does Cambridge Connections need to “designate land”?

By the end of 2026, Cambridge Connections will have been through the process of reviewing different potential locations for a bridge and will have identified a general area where a bridge could be constructed (known as a ‘bridge corridor’).

From 2027, there will be a large amount of technical studies needed to make sure we understand all the ecological, archaeological, and geotechnical elements, This could affect the reality of the impact of the bridge, how long the bridge will take to build and how much it will cost. These technical studies are also needed by law.

Once all of this work has been completed, there will be a “preferred location”, and it will then take another two or three years before land could be designated and protected - to make sure that we will be able to build the bridge in the preferred location. After land designation, there are still years of work to complete.

Protecting land for public use

Land designation is a process laid out in the Resource Management Act 1991. It allows "requiring authorities" (local government, central government, and utility operators), to set aside land for specific public works or projects, such as roads, schools and hospitals. Once land has been designated, it is protected and cannot be developed in a way that would prevent or hinder the proposed work. The designation process is unlikely to change significantly in the upcoming resource management reforms. Designations in our district are listed in the Waipā District Plan.

Once land has been designated for a project, the requiring authority can begin the process of purchasing the land. Home and land owners receive the value of their property at its market value as if the land had not been designated for public use. An independent valuer determines what the property would sell for in an open market between “a willing seller and willing buyer”.

• Learn more about designation
• Download resources on land designation

The full indicative timeframe is set out here: