Scale of investment revealed for city’s Three Waters infrastructure over the next decade

At its Long Term Plan subcommittee meeting on Thursday, Council will review the latest advice and investment options from Wellington Water. That advice identifies that over the next thirty years 60 per cent of Lower Hutt’s water network will need to be replaced, at a cost of $1.3 billion.

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry says the latest information confirms initial information Wellington Water presented to Council earlier this year, and highlights the scale of the challenge facing the city.

"We know that in Lower Hutt we are facing a trifecta of issues related to our water infrastructure: ageing infrastructure, significant urban growth, and historic underinvestment. The advice we are now receiving from our water experts shows the financial costs of fronting up to these challenges," Campbell Barry says.

"Wellington Water has told us that the amount we currently invest to maintain and develop Three Waters infrastructure is not sustainable. As Mayor, I’m not prepared to ignore the advice of experts - it’s clear we must act to address this serious issue as part of our Long Term Plan."

The report this week sets out possible investment options for the Long Term Plan, including a low investment option and a mid-investment option. Both options would result in a significant increase in capital and operational expenditure, and an increase in borrowings. At this stage, modelling suggests an indicative rates rise of between 4 per cent and 6 per cent for water infrastructure investment alone.

Mayor Barry says that affordability for residents is front of mind for Council, and the need to balance the investment required with the impact of the current economic climate.

"I am conscious that we are making these decisions at a time which is both tough and uncertain for people right across our city. It is with this in mind that I will be asking staff to consider affordability, and how we can soften the impact of the investment needed."

"Ultimately though, this is not about investing in nice-to-haves. The reality is we need to spend more on our water pipes and associated water infrastructure to avoid large scale network failure. If we avoid fronting up to this issue now, we put at risk the services people expect and rely on every day," Campbell Barry says.

Council’s Chief Executive Jo Miller says maintaining the water network is essential to a thriving and resilient city.

"Our city and residents’ wellbeing is at the heart of a functioning water network. We must have safe drinking water and effective stormwater and wastewater systems. At the same time we need to be looking at our relatively high water consumption regionally and take a close look at the options to bring this more into line with others. It’s important that whatever approach is taken, consideration is given to reducing our impact on the environment and progressing towards zero carbon."

Hutt City Council is considering investment options against the backdrop of current Government reforms concerning the management of Three Waters infrastructure. Local councils have been granted some short term funding to offset some immediate costs of needed investment.