If you’ve been following national news lately, you’ll have heard a familiar chorus from central government: councils haven’t invested properly in infrastructure.
A District Planning for Growth, Not Playing Catch-Up
Waimakariri has grown rapidly for the past 30 years – specifically following the Canterbury earthquakes. We’re on track toward a population of 100,000 by 2050.
Instead of waiting for growth to arrive and playing catch-up with community infrastructure, the Council has been planning for this growth strategically over many years.
In the past decade alone, Waimakariri District Council has invested an impressive $529 million into renewing, extending, and upgrading the district’s core infrastructure.
That’s everything from roads and footpaths to water treatment plants, community buildings, stormwater systems, waste facilities, libraries, and pools.
We’re also looking forward.
Over the next ten years, the current Long Term Plan forecasts $734 million of further investment into the essential infrastructure that keeps our district running smoothly. That includes:
- $234 million for replacing and renewing existing assets
- $218 million for new projects that lift levels of service
- $282 million to support growth as our communities expand.
You can see the distribution in this handy graph:
These aren’t just numbers. They are footpaths you walk on, pipes you rely on, and playgrounds your kids play on.
Long Term Thinking About Assets
Just like the roof on your house needs repainting every few decades, council assets need similar lifecycle care.
Waimakariri has this covered, with a fully budgeted 30 year infrastructure strategy ensuring that upgrades, replacements, and renewals are systematically planned decades in advance.
The Infrastructure Strategy is a risk-based renewals policy and operates in conjunction with a 150-year renewal programme which aims to replace highly critical infrastructure at 85% of its expected lifespan.
That means no sudden surprises, neglected assets, or big repair bills landing out of the blue.
Click on the image below for a higher resolution version.
Water Services: A Local Success Story
Perhaps the biggest public question is around water. Are we facing huge bills like other parts of the country? Are we prepared?
The answer is yes.
Waimakariri was one of the strongest voices against central government’s previous proposal to centralise water services into four large mega-entities.
Our Council argued that our ratepayers - who have already funded high-quality water services - would end up subsidising districts that hadn’t invested properly. Our ratepayers would end up losing their say, as well as footing the bill.
Waimakariri District Council led the formation of Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD), a coalition of around 30 councils advocating against the previous reform proposal which wanted to establish four entities and remove ownership and say from local communities.
C4LD put forward an alternative reform model that emphasised local say and ownership, while being agile enough to meet higher regulatory and financial sustainability standards. This policy formed the basis of Local Water Done Well — the reform proposal adopted by the new Government in early 2024.
Waimakariri District Council was one of the first in the country to establish its future structure for water services under Local Water Done Well, choosing an internal business unit to manage water.
We tested this with the community, and over 97% of submitters supported keeping water services locally managed through an internal unit.
Over the last 20 years, Council has invested more than $100 million into water infrastructure.
A further $139m is allocated for drinking water safety upgrades, improved wastewater treatment and to address flood risk over the next 10 years.
Today, Waimakariri’s water assets are worth $1.103 billion, with a further $112.7 million already budgeted to continue improving drinking water safety, wastewater treatment, and flood protection.
And while some parts of the country are now facing eye-watering water rate hikes, Waimakariri is again out in front.
By 2034, the district’s water costs are projected (within inflation included) to increase by 31% - the third-lowest increase across all new water entities nationwide.
Meanwhile, more than 30 councils are expected to see their water charges double, and one unlucky community is looking at a staggering 250% increase - more than $5,000 more a year.
Waimakariri has managed its assets responsibly, proactively, and with long-term thinking. And our ratepayers will be the ones who benefit today, and in the future.
You can find all the detail in our most recent Long Term Plan.