Waikato water services and infrastructure developments

The establishment of Waikato Waters, a council-controlled water services company jointly owned by six district councils, has incurred costs of $16.85 million. This total is approximately 40 per cent higher than the initial $12.1 million budget. Major expenditures include $10.36 million for contractors, $2.64 million for information technology, and $1.82 million for consultants. The company currently employs 131 staff.

In a related development regarding regional water infrastructure, Watercare has launched a Registration of Interest process for the $1.7 billion Waikato Water Supply Programme. This project is intended to bolster Auckland’s long-term water security and support regional growth through the use of Waikato River allocations. The programme involves constructing a new raw water intake, increasing treatment capacity, laying roughly 50 kilometres of pipeline, and building a 50-megalitre reservoir at Pukekohe West, with a target completion date by the end of 2033.