Start–finish: 2016–2029
Location: Woodlands Park Road, Waima (Titirangi)
Status: Planning
Planning is underway to build a replacement water treatment plant and two storage reservoirs in Waima, west Auckland. The treatment plant will replace the existing plant that was built in 1928 and is reaching the end of its operational life. The reservoirs will increase the volume of water stored locally, improving the resilience of the wider water network and accommodating daily demand fluctuations.
As with the existing plant, the new plant will treat water from four dams in the Waitakere Ranges. The water produced by the plant will feed into Auckland’s metropolitan water supply network, meeting the needs of 300,000 Aucklanders (around 20 per cent of the city's water needs).
The primary objective of the project is to replace the ageing plant. In doing so, we will ensure the continued resilience of Auckland’s metropolitan water supply network. This network is served by five treatment plants, numerous reservoirs and pump stations, and a highly-connected network of pipes. It means that if one treatment plant has an operational issue, the other treatment plants can meet the city’s water needs. Huia Water Treatment Plant is a vital part of this network.
The new plant will offer more advanced treatment processes and will be easier to maintain than the current plant. It will be carefully laid out to ensure staff can access each treatment process safely and easily.
What’s happening now?
The land on which we plan to build is owned by us (Watercare) and has been designated for water supply purposes since 1972. This means that subject to Auckland Council reviewing and commenting on our plan of works outline, we can build a water treatment plant and reservoirs at any time. This plan of works outline will show the proposed buildings and layout of the plant. Resource consents were to carry out site works eg: earthworks, stream works and vegetation removal.
In August 2019, we submitted our resource consent application to Auckland Council. Council received 497 submissions - eight were neutral, 20 were in support of the project and 469 opposed the application. Click here for information on the hearing and resource consent documents. The hearing of the application (by independent commissioners) commenced in February 2020 and was adjourned to May 2021 to allow us to carry out sampling of the sites for kauri dieback. On the 30 June 2021, resource consents were granted with conditions. Click here for more information.
As part of the resource consent process, Watercare commissioned the most comprehensive sampling for Kauri Dieback that has been undertaken in Aotearoa. The sampling consisted of over 995 samples and Kauri Dieback was found on the site. The report on the sampling results is available here. As a result of the survey, we (Watercare) have refined the methodology to carry out the site works to minimise any risk of movement of Kauri Dieback from the site. For more information refer to our media release.
