A water and wastewater servicing strategy is a long-term plan that helps ensure communities have clean and safe water to use and drink, and that the water used is treated properly before being returned to the environment.

A servicing strategy considers things like finding water sources, making sure we don't waste water, and building treatment plants to clean water and safely dispose of wastewater. The strategy also thinks about how we can ensure we have enough water for the future, and that our assets are durable and resilient to factors such as climate change.

Servicing strategies will be progressively developed for the 30 catchments across our network. In some cases, multiple catchments will be grouped together for a servicing strategy. A good example is the large metropolitan servicing strategy which will include many catchment areas from the North Shore through to south Auckland.

Our servicing strategies will:

• Be long-term, looking out at least 70 years

• Be cognisant of mana whenua and local community values and aspirations

• Consider long-term impacts of external factors such as population growth, network demand, climate change, and changing regulatory requirements

• Be flexible and adaptable for future uncertainty, providing resilience for future generations

• Provide options and high-level cost estimates

• Inform choices about water sources, discharge points, sea-level rise, resource allocation and priorities

• Inform our Asset Management Plan (AMP) for future-focused investment planning and prioritisation.

The diagram below shows some of the many factors the servicing strategies will consider when planning for future decisions and investment. This includes various aspects of community wellbeing such as environmental, social, cultural, and economic. In the process of decision-making, trade-offs between various factors will be important. Making the right trade-offs and investment choices will help future communities remain healthy but also resilient to future challenges.

Infrastructure servicing strategies are plans that ensure our water systems and physical assets are well-maintained and upgraded over time because they play a critical role in our daily lives. We plan for 70 years because infrastructure is expensive to build and maintain, and we want to make sure it lasts. To do this, we use an approach that breaks down the 70-year timeframe into smaller planning periods called horizons (refer to the below image). This helps decision-makers anticipate future needs, plan infrastructure development accordingly, and avoid costly last-minute investments. Anticipating future infrastructure needs can help build community resilience.

By anticipating major changes and being willing to adjust the servicing strategies and plans as conditions change, we can develop large-scale infrastructure projects that are aligned with future needs and prepared for potential challenges.

Our relationship with mana whenua is a partnership. It is a collaborative relationship between local iwi or hapū, which recognises mana whenua as kaitiaki or guardians of the land. The partnership ensures that cultural values, knowledge, and aspirations are respected and integrated into our decision-making processes. This partnership involves the sharing of information, resources, and decision-making to address community and environmental issues. Working together, we can achieve better outcomes for the community, enhance cultural understanding, and promote environmental sustainability.

We recognise the significance of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems) and their valuable contribution towards preserving natural resources with a long-term vision. When we develop the servicing strategies and make decisions, these principles provide us with fresh perspectives and opportunities to achieve outcomes that are agreed to by everyone. Through our joint efforts, we can create positive outcomes for the community and safeguard our natural resources for generations to come. ­­