Resource consent granted for Hampton Downs - 30 Nov 06

At 11.00am today, the Waikato District Council announced the granting of Resource Consent for the building of the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, situated two kilometres south of Meremere in the North Waikato. It has taken two and a half years to get resource consent since the Hampton Downs concept was introduced to the public in mid 2004.

"We never doubted for a moment that we would succeed, but the RMA costs have been 'horrendous'", says Tony Roberts, managing director of the Hampton Downs project.

"Years of extensive consultation with neighbours and affected parties have enabled people to understand the proposal and most have been very supportive of the economic and social benefits that the Motorsport Park will bring to the region," says Roberts.

This new $120 million Motorsport Park has been eagerly awaited by the New Zealand motorsport fraternity and features many advanced features such as sealed run-off areas that are usually found at Formula One circuits.

The placement of the Motorsport Park next to a prison and a landfill was carefully chosen so as to give as wide a "buffer" area as possible to residential areas.

Roberts and fellow Hampton Downs director, Chris Watson, believe that the Park will serve as a catalyst for development in the North Waikato.

"The Motorsport Park will bring an estimated $35 million into the North Waikato region each year and when completed the Park will employ between 300 - 400 people," says Roberts.

The 150 hectare site will feature two motorsport circuits, a skid pan for driver training, trackside apartments, restaurant, convention centre, showrooms, swimming pool and tennis court. Situated down the back straight of the circuit is a 170,000 square metre industrial park, with an area for motorised recreation alongside. There are 15 lifestyle blocks looking eastwards towards the circuit and the whole 150 hectares then becomes a 'petrol head paradise'!

The completion of Hampton Downs will further add to the Waikato region's claim that it is the motorsport centre of New Zealand as it will also host the International Rally of New Zealand at Mystery Creek and the Hamilton V8 street race.

"I would like to express my thanks to the Waikato District Council for the professional manner in which they have assisted us to smooth the passage and granting of this resource consent.

"It is remarkable that in the euphoria of stadium proposals, no government assistance or funding to build this proposed Motorsport Park has been forthcoming," comments Roberts.

For further information, please contact :
Tony Roberts, managing director, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park Ltd,
PO Box 28 140
Remuera,
Auckland.
Tel: (09) 520 7841;  Mobile: 021 1332 895
tony@hamptondowns.com    www.hamptondowns.com