The IAWAI Board is scheduled to make significant decisions this Thursday that will determine the direction of water and wastewater services for Hamilton City and Waikato District. IAWAI, a council-owned company established last year to jointly deliver water services for both council areas, will consider several major infrastructure projects through its independent governing board. These decisions align with government policy under the Local Water Done Well legislation.
Three key projects are on the agenda, representing approximately $640 million of a planned $3 billion capital investment over the next decade. The board will review the preferred site for a new wastewater treatment plant at Raynes Road south of Hamilton, which was reconfirmed as the recommended option after a like-for-like assessment of an alternative site requested by community members. The agenda also includes a multi-year upgrade to the existing Pukete Wastewater Treatment Plant and a recommendation to proceed with residential water metering in Hamilton following a successful trial. A trial of 200 properties in Hamilton East identified leaks in 19 per cent of participating homes, preventing the loss of an estimated 5.1 million litres of treated drinking water annually.
The board will also formally adopt the Water Services Strategy, which received public feedback earlier in 2026 and now shows reduced water charge increases for this year. Hamilton households will see increases reduced by $91, while Waikato District households will see reductions of $247 compared to previous forecasts. The strategy introduces a new annual growth charge for dwellings consented after 1 July 2026 to help cover growth-related costs.
Under the Local Water Done Well legislation, IAWAI must transition away from capital value charging for water within five years. The new growth charge of $500 for a new dwelling and $250 for a secondary minor dwelling will be applied as an ongoing annual charge for 25 years, projected to generate $40 million over 10 years. The board will also adopt policies and the Schedule of Fees and Charges ahead of the operational start date of 1 July 2026.
Read the full article at Hamilton City Council – News →
Source: Hamilton City Council – News. This summary was published by Input Ltd via amalgamation.nz, New Zealand’s central resource for local government amalgamation news and council merger updates.
