Government confirms $50m Hawke’s Bay water infrastructure investment
The Government has today confirmed Hawke’s Bay councils will receive $50 million as part of a $761 million nationwide water infrastructure stimulus and reform funding package.
The “three waters” package (covering drinking water, storm water and waste water projects) was first announced by Prime Minister Hon Jacinda Ardern during a visit to Hawke’s Bay last month.
"Investing in water infrastructure is about investing in the health of New Zealanders. Infrastructure investment is a key component in the Government’s five-point economic plan to recover from Covid,” Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said today.
“Four years ago more than 5000 people got sick and up to four died in the Havelock North campylobacter outbreak and we don’t want to see that happen again.”
She said councils were keen to get on with investing in critical water infrastructure and services, and stimulate the local economy. The Government had now finalised a funding formula to allocate the money.
“I'm pleased to reiterate that of the $761 million, an allocation of $51 million will go to support Taumata Arowai, the new water regulator and we acknowledged the leadership of the Hawkes Bay who have taken a regional approach to their waters challenge and have been allocated $50 million of stimulus funding,” Minister Mahuta said.
Since early last year, Hawke’s Bay’s five councils (Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Wairoa District Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council) have been working together to review the current and potential service delivery options for drinking, waste and stormwater for all of the region.
The five councils welcomed the funding announcement when it was initially made last month, along with an indication that Hawke’s Bay was in line for a $50 million allocation.
At the time, Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the Bay’s five councils were well advanced with a comprehensive evaluation of the potential options for achieving an affordable, sustainable regional solution and were grateful for the contribution Government had already provided toward this.
“Investment in three waters infrastructure across Hawke’s Bay is a significant challenge and we need to be able to meet the requirements of any future changes to regulation,” she said.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chair Rex Graham added that a regional service delivery approach was the best way to ensure all communities, regardless of their size, could meet the water standards they need to.
“Without a joint approach, smaller communities will always struggle to comply with the regulations,” Mr Graham said.
“I’m pleased to see Government looking to support regions like Hawke’s Bay to come up with solutions that work best for all our communities – rural and urban.”
