Building a new home in Pōkeno and Tuakau is set to become harder as wastewater infrastructure reaches capacity.
Waikato District Council says it’s reaching its contractually agreed capacity limit for wastewater services for Pōkeno and Tuakau communities, ahead of the timeframes anticipated in the bulk wastewater services agreement, with Watercare Services Limited.
The main pipe (trunk main) that transports wastewater from these areas is also nearing its capacity limits.
Council water manager Keith Martin says the issue will not affect those already living in homes in these areas as those homes are already connected to the council’s wastewater system, and that connection will remain in place.
Any new applications for resource or building consents submitted after February 1 this year, requiring a connection to the public wastewater system, are unlikely to be approved until additional capacity is secured.
Developments with consents granted before this date or those currently being processed have been accounted for in the current capacity calculations.
“Our wastewater infrastructure is under considerable strain, and we are actively working to manage the impacts this is having on current and future developments.”
Waikato District Council says it is exploring all available options to resolve these constraints, including potential infrastructure upgrades along with other solutions.
Pōkeno grew from around 600 residents in 2004 to an estimated 6800 in 2024, while Tuakau grew from 3500 to 6100 over the same period according to Stats NZ.
While these upgrades may take time to complete, Martin says the council is committed to securing long-term solutions for the growing communities of Tuakau and Pōkeno.
