Watercare has announced a significant investment of approximately $500 million to enhance wastewater infrastructure on the Hibiscus Coast over the next decade, aiming to support the area’s rapid growth.

A focal point of this project will be a major upgrade to the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, scheduled to be completed by 2031.

The region has experienced considerable development, with roughly 800 new homes connecting to Watercare’s wastewater network each year. Watercare’s Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Priyan Perera, noted that the treatment plant might reach capacity sooner than expected if growth continues at current rates.

To manage this, the company will actively monitor and limit new connections to the network until the upgrade is in place.

“We estimate we can connect up to 4,000 new homes before the treatment plant reaches capacity,” said Perera.

“This means that anyone currently building or holding a building consent granted before 15 November 2024 will be able to connect when ready.”

However, Perera urged developers with resource consents but without building consents to consult Watercare early to better understand the plant’s capacity, as connection requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Starting 15 November, any new resource consent applications for homes or businesses in the area will include a condition that prevents connection to the public wastewater network until the Army Bay upgrade is complete.

Watercare has listed this project in its Asset Management Plan with a completion target of 2031 but is exploring faster alternative upgrades.

Updates on capacity and new connections will be published on the company’s website every six months.