The purpose of the Waharoa Business Hub (“WBH”) Project is to lift over the long term and in a sustainable way, the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of Waharoa, a small community six kilometres north of Matamata in the Waikato.  To achieve a step-change, aggregate investments of between $60-80m are planned in infrastructure, industry and employment connection. 

The WBH Project has identified and progressed a set of interlocking masterplan projects that together, are necessary and therefore essential to lift economic, social and cultural wellbeing.  This Business Case directly seeks funding for:

• A Crown/MPDC/Firstgas owned public private partnership (“PPP”) that will fund a gas pipeline extension to Waharoa.  Gas availability is needed to provide for the Agri-Food Hub anchor project (outlined below).  Annex 1 provides a detailed analysis of gas situational considerations.
• An Employment and Training Hub, to be situated in Waharoa.  The Employment and Training Hub will address the poor connection of locals to access local employment opportunities, particularly for those young people who are not in education, employment or training (“NEET”).

In addition to these projects, the other linked critical projects are set out and comprise:

• Agri-Food Hub post-harvest facility that will create ~50 roles.  This is the subject of its own PGF application.
• A Rail Siding, adjacent to Factory Road, that if proven, will provide direct rail connectivity from Waharoa to Port of Tauranga enabling significant Heavy Vehicle movement reductions off the State highway and local road network.  This project will be developed and self-funded by the land owner.
• Matamata-Piako District Council (“MPDC”) investment in potable water and wastewater capacity.
• A separate Public Private Partnership funded residential housing initiative to lift the quality and availability of housing stock in Waharoa.

Since preparing the Business Case it is considered the Public Private Partnership proposal is not viable at this stage, as the Agri Food Hub project is not proceeding on the timeline initially envisaged which means there is insufficient demand for natural gas forecast.

An application for central government funding of the natural gas pipeline has been submitted. This request has unfortunately been declined. Council is now working with its stakeholders to look at re-setting the Waharoa Business Hub project to take into account the impact of Covid-19 and the available infrastructure.

Read the full business case here