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.

Decisions about these draft problem statements will be made by Elected Members on Wednesday, December 3.

Below are the draft problem statements, showing how each has been informed by community feedback:

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 and delays, posing safety risks, increasing emissions and negatively impacting on accessibility for the community. 

Public engagement key themes

2. Through and across town traffic and freight vehicles accessing through residential areas and the town centre: Through and across town traffic and freight vehicles are accessing residential streets and Cambridge’s town centre, increasing the crash risk for road users, increasing congestion and diminishing the town’s amenity and character.

Public engagement themes:

3. Limitations and resilience of river crossings: The aging 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.

Public engagement themes:

Throughout this project, we will engage at different levels depending on the stage and topic. Here's how the IAP2 spectrum will guide our approach:

The engagement level ‘empower’ and will not be part of this project as Council is the statutory decision maker. We are committed to transparency and genuine community influence throughout.

The framework is recognised globally as the gold standard for public participation. It ensures people are involved in decisions that affect them and helps build trust and transparency through:

• Clear engagement goals
• Shared understanding of influence
• Inclusive and accessible participation
• Honest communication about how feedback is used

We follow the IAP2 Core Values because they help ensure good decisions that reflect the community’s diverse perspectives. These values include:

1. People affected by a decision have the right to be involved.
2. The public’s contribution will influence the decision.
3. All voices are considered, including decision-makers.
4. Engagement should include those most affected or interested.
5. People help shape how they participate.
6. People get the information they need to participate meaningfully.
7. We will always explain how your input affected the outcome.

A bridge corridor is the general area where a new bridge and connecting roads could be built in the future.  It’s not a final design or exact location. It’s a broad zone that helps planners focus their investigations and community conversations.

The bridge corridor helps identify where a crossing could work best, while balancing transport needs, growth, environmental effects, and what’s important to the community. 

The corridor would be refined through further technical work, engagement, and feedback through future stages

The transport system is everything that helps people and goods move around Cambridge and beyond.

It includes roads, footpaths, cycleways, public transport, parking, and the connections between them

Creating 'problem statements' is the first stage in building a business case to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. This means defining the core transport problems Cambridge is facing.

NZTA says that “strategic cases need to include a clear and concise description of the problems that the investment will address, and the benefits that can be expected ... It is essential to understand the underlying, or root, causes and consequences of problems, and describe them clearly and concisely using plain language."

These are normally high-level problem statements. The goal is to have a clear understanding of the core issues.

Please note that the ‘solutions’ come after this first stage. We need to define the problems, so we can identify the best solutions.