Infrastructure Growth Charges

All property owners or developers applying for new connections to Watercare’s network are liable for an infrastructure growth charge. This includes increasing the size of a water meter or service connection to cater for increased demand from a property. 

As Auckland grows, so does the demand on our water and wastewater services. A significant number of new dwellings and commercial buildings expected to be constructed in the coming years will put significant pressure on our infrastructure. Watercare’s infrastructure growth charge is applicable to all new connections to the network and to existing properties which are redeveloped, increasing demand on our infrastructure. 

The infrastructure growth charge means the necessary upgrades will be paid for by people who increase demand on the system, rather than placing the burden of costs on existing customers or leaving them to the next generation. 

For more information, please view Watercare’s Infrastructure Growth Charge brochure.

These charges will change from 1 July 2011. To find out about the changes see our public notice, and the 2011-2012 Water and Wastewater Charges booklet

Key facts about the infrastructure growth charge:

• The fee is applied to new developments connecting to Watercare’s networks or to existing properties that are being developed and increasing demand on the network.

• All infrastructure growth charges are assessed on the number of household equivalent units applicable to the site being developed. A household equivalent unit is a standard measure of the demand on the water and wastewater networks.

• A household unit is a building or part of a building intended to be used as an independent residence; or a self contained unit that includes kitchen or bathroom facilities of any nature.

• Watercare’s infrastructure growth charge is a contractual charge in accordance with our customer contract. The Crown is not exempt from Watercare’s infrastructure growth charge.

• Watercare must not charge an infrastructure growth charge in respect of development for the same purpose for which a development contribution for water supply or wastewater infrastructure has been paid, unless the scale or intensity has increased since the original contribution was required. (Refer Local Government [Auckland Transitional Provisions] Act 2010 clauses 53 to 56.)

For details regarding the differences in, and transition from water and wastewater development contributions to Watercare’s infrastructure growth charge for your area, please see the tables below.