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Update on growth constraints in Warkworth

Work is underway to enable further growth in Warkworth.

Warkworth’s population is expected to grow significantly over the next few decades, with more than 20,000 people anticipated to move to the area.

We have a $300m+ infrastructure programme underway that will replace the current Warkworth Wastewater Treatment Plant with a new state-of-the-art facility at Snells Beach.

We expect to have the new treatment plant and its connecting transfer pipeline and pump station operational in mid to late 2025. In the meantime, however, the Warkworth Wastewater Treatment Plant is approaching its full capacity.

To ensure it can continue to meet its resource consent conditions, which are designed to protect the environment, new resource consents will include conditions that stipulate no connections can be made until the relevant infrastructure is operational.


What does this mean for property developers and potential developers?

  • We will be honouring our commitments made through existing consents. This means anyone who has an existing resource consent or building consent – with a current commitment of a public wastewater connection – will still be able to connect when they’re ready, provided all relevant consent conditions have been met.
  • We urge anyone seeking to build in Warkworth to come and talk to us before you invest significant time and money in the resource consent process.
  • Auckland Council may still grant resource consents, but with the condition that no connection can be made until the new Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant is operational.

Timings for available wastewater connections are largely dependent on the location of your proposed development.

Map showing Watercare's wastewater projects for Warkworth and the surrounding area

Additional growth constraints in north Warkworth

  • The area north of the river is subject to an additional constraint as there is limited capacity in the existing wastewater network to service growth. This is separate to the capacity issue at the wastewater treatment plant, and therefore it won’t be alleviated as soon as the Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant is operational. A new north-west growth servicing pipeline is in the planning phase. This pipeline will alleviate growth restrictions in north Warkworth. Unfortunately, at this stage we do not have a firm construction completion date for this project.
  • Auckland Council may still grant resource consents, but with conditions that mean development cannot connect to the wastewater network until our new treatment plant in Snells Beach is operational and the north-west growth servicing pipeline is completed.

Any questions?

Please email [email protected]. If your query relates to an existing consent, please include the consent number in the subject line.

Questions and answers

I want to build a new home south of the river. When can I do this?
I want to build a new home north of the river. When can I do this?
I’ve got resource consent but I haven’t got building consent. Can I still connect?
I’ve already applied for building consent but haven’t yet heard back. What does this mean for me?
I’m planning to lodge resource consent later this year. What does this mean for me?
When will you have firm plans for the north-west growth servicing pipeline?