Wharekaho Water & Wastewater Extensions

The water extension project would include the following:

1. A new water supply network with water mains that supply properties on Wharekaho Road, Leah Road, Joseph Road, Wharekaho Cresent, and Puketitiro Place.

   Wharekaho Road, Leah Road, Joseph Road, and Wharekaho Cresent would have a larger water main on one side of the road for the installation of fire hydrants and service connections, and a smaller water main on the opposite side of the road with service connections only.

   The water mains will be installed by trenchless techniques such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD). This would have less disturbance caused by trench excavations and less surface (road/grass/walkway/driveway) reinstatement. Where HDD is not practical conventional trench excavation would be done.

2. Each residential lot will have a service connection with a backflow prevention device and a water meter located at the lot boundary (within the road reserve).
3. The water network would be supplied from the existing network and current and future treated water storage reservoirs in the Whitianga water network. 

Council Supply

The Council will supply the following aspects of the system:

• Water reticulation mains, including isolation valves and fire hydrants.
• Service connection at the boundary for each property (*SUIP unit) consisting of a pipe manifold with backflow prevention device and a water meter. 

Property Owner Requirements

Each property owner, at their own cost, will need to:

• Install pipes to connect their existing onsite plumbing to the newly installed Council service connection at their boundary.

*SUIP means Separately Used or Inhabited Part (such as a separate dwelling, flat, or unit on a property that receives its own water/wastewater connection) and they will be charged individually.

The estimated total capital cost for the water scheme is $2,901,000+GST (inflation adjusted). 

This would equate to a cost per SUIP unit of $22,955.28+GST including the development contributions. The calculation is presented in the table below.

Note, the final cost per property (each SUIP unit) can only be determined after conclusion of detailed design, tendering and construction of these works and all project costs are confirmed.

The estimated capital cost of $18,245.28 for each property (each SUIP unit) can be paid after completion of the project as:

a) A one-off payment, or
b) A targeted rate over a maximum period of 10 years which will also include interest and administration charges.
c) Alternatively, payment could be made by a partial upfront payment and payment of the balance (including interest and administration charges) through targeted rates.

These amounts will be payable on a per SUIP basis, meaning each Separately Used or Inhabited Part of a rating unit includes any part inhabited or used by a person other than the owner, and who has the right to inhabit or use that part by virtue of a tenancy lease, license, or other agreement (such as a separate dwelling, flat, or unit on a property that receives its own water/wastewater connection) will be charged individually.

This means that if your property contains multiple SUIPs as described above, it will be charged based on the number of those units, as each receives its own water connection.

Payment of the estimated development contribution charges ($4,710) will only be required when the property (each SUIP unit) is connected to the water network, after the capital project is completed. If you do not connect when the new network is available, then the development contribution charge (as set at that date) would only be applicable if and when you connect in the future.

Development contribution charges are considered as a share of the cost of existing or planned network-wide infrastructure, like treatment plants, bulk mains, reservoirs, etc. in addition to the direct capital cost of the project. This ensures that growth-related costs are fairly distributed among those who create the demand, rather than by existing ratepayers for the water service.

a) If you connect to the network then from the time of connection, each property (each SUIP unit) will include the water serviced rates, with annual rates proposed at $577.73 per annum (fixed) + $1.71/m³ for water usage. This is the current applicable rates and subject to change as Council reassesses and sets it proposed rates each year.

b) If you decide not to connect then your property (SUIP unit) will be charged the water serviceable rates at $866.60 per annum once the project is completed.  This is the current applicable water serviceable rates but is subject to change as Council reassesses and sets it proposed rates each year.  Note that your property,

     i. Will still be liable for targeted rates covering the capital cost of the project
     ii. But will not be charged for the Development Contributions.  (Note if you decide to connect at a later date, you will be required       to pay the Development Contribution charges applicable at that time that you connect.)

Please refer to the FAQs link on this webpage (above right) for answers to other common questions you may have regarding this.

The wastewater extension project would include the following:

a) A low-pressure sewer network system with boundary kit connection from each lot.
b) The boundary kit connects to a pressure sewer main that ultimately discharges into the existing Powhiri Place wastewater pump station (WWPS).

Council supply

The Council will supply the following aspects of the system:

• Boundary kit to each property (*each SUIP unit).
• A boundary kit in the wastewater connection refers to a pre-assembled set of components installed at the property boundary to facilitate the connection of a private wastewater system to the public sewer network.
• Pressure sewer main, including valves and flushing points.
• New pumps and increased emergency storage at the existing Powhiri Place WWPS.
• New wastewater rising main from the existing Powhiri Place WWPS to an existing manhole in Harbour Lights Terrace.

The pressure sewer mains will be installed by trenchless techniques such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD). This would have less disturbance caused by trench excavations and less surface (road/ grass/ walkway/ driveway) reinstatement. Where HDD is not practical conventional trench excavation would be done.

Please refer to the typical drawings for wastewater connection arrangement with boundary kit and details of grinder pumps under the Wharekaho wastewater extension on this webpage (above right).

Property owner requirements

Each property owner, at their own cost, will need to:

• Install a grinder pump with storage at a suitable low point within the lot.
• The newly installed grinder pump with storage will be privately owned and maintained by the property owner.
• The residential grinder pump will pump the wastewater through a pipeline to a boundary kit located at the lot boundary (within the road reserve).
• Decommission their existing on-site system.

*SUIP means Separately Used or Inhabited Part (such as a separate dwelling, flat, or unit on a property that receives its own water/wastewater connection) and they will be charged individually.

The estimated total capital cost for the wastewater scheme is $2,775,000+GST (inflation adjusted).

This would equate to a cost per SUIP unit of $21,078.83+GST including the development contributions. The calculation is presented in the table below.

In addition to this, each property (each SUIP unit) owner would need to pay for the installation of the grinder pump and pipeline connection to the boundary kit. This estimation is dependent on the location of grinder pump but is estimated to cost between $14,000 and $17,500+GST.

The final cost per property (per SUIP) can only be determined after conclusion of detailed design, tendering and construction of these works and all project costs are confirmed.

Capital Cost

The estimated capital cost of $17,452.83 for each property (each SUIP unit) can be paid after completion of the project as:

1. A one-off payment due in late 2026 or,
2. A targeted rate over a maximum period of 10 years, which will also include interest and administration charges.
3. Alternatively, payment could be made by a partial upfront payment and payment of the balance (including interest and administration charges) through targeted rates.

These amounts will be payable on a per SUIP basis, meaning each Separately Used or Inhabited Part of a rating unit includes any part inhabited or used by a person other than the owner, and who has the right to inhabit or use that part by virtue of a tenancy lease, license, or other agreement (such as a separate dwelling, flat, or unit on a property that receives its own water/wastewater connection) will be charged individually.

This means that if your property contains multiple SUIPs as described above, it will be charged based on the number of those units, as each receives its own water connection.

Payment of the estimated development contribution charges ($3,626) will only be required when the property (each SUIP unit) is connected to the wastewater network, after the capital projects are completed. If you do not connect when the new network is available, then the development contribution charge (as at the date) would only be applicable if and when you connect in the future.

Development contribution charges are considered as a share of the cost of existing or planned network-wide infrastructure, like treatment plants, bulk mains etc. in addition to the direct capital cost of the project. This ensures that growth-related costs are fairly distributed among those who create the demand, rather than by existing ratepayers for the wastewater service.

a) If you connect to the network then from the time of connection, each property (each SUIP unit) will include the wastewater serviced rates, with annual rates proposed at $1,252.58 per annum. This is the current applicable rates and subject to change as Council reassesses and sets it proposed rates each year.
b) If you decide not to connect then your property (SUIP unit) will be charged the wastewater serviceable rate at $939.43 per annum once the project is completed. This is the current applicable wastewater serviceable rates but is subject to change as Council reassesses and sets it proposed rates each year.
Note that your property:

     i. Will still be liable for targeted rates covering the capital cost of the project
     ii. But will not be charged for the development contributions. Note if you decide to connect at a later date, you will be required         to pay the development contribution charges applicable at that time that you connect.

Please refer to the FAQs link on this webpage (above right) for answers to other common questions you may have regarding this.