Utilities

Here are the top 10 projects for Auckland’s water, wastewater, waste, and power infrastructure over the next 50 years.
Central Interceptor Wastewater Tunnel
16.2 km main tunnel plus link sewers; NZ’s largest wastewater project. Will eliminate most overflows into the Manukau Harbour and add significant capacity.
Huia Water Treatment Plant Replacement
Full replacement of the existing 1900s-era plant with a new 21st-century facility and large treated-water storage reservoirs – critical for west and central Auckland security.
Western Isthmus Water Supply Resilience Programme
Replacement/duplication of century-old raw water mains from the Waitākere dams, new pump stations, and earthquake-resilient pipelines.
Potable (Direct) Water Recycling
Advanced purification of treated wastewater back to drinking-water standard for recharge into dams or direct supply – the most likely major new drought-proof source post-2050.
Resource Recovery Network & Zero Waste Facilities
Roll-out of 2–3 large regional resource recovery parks + expansion to ~21 community recycling centres; key to meeting the 2040 zero-waste-to-landfill target.
Southern & North-West Growth Servicing
Major new water and wastewater trunk infrastructure for Drury, Paerata, Red Hills, Whenuapai, Wainui, Dairy Flat and Pukekohe to enable ~200,000 new homes.
Water and Wastewater Network Renewals Programme
Ongoing $15–20 billion (over 30–50 years) pipe and asset replacement programme to stop leaks, reduce breaks, and maintain service levels.
Localised Wastewater Overflow & Separation Projects
Dozens of suburban projects (e.g. Herne Bay collector, Eastern Isthmus separation, Clarks Beach, Army Bay, Ōrākei, Point Chevalier) to remove stormwater inflows and stop beach closures.
Auckland Upper North Island Grid Upgrade & Electrification Programme
Transpower/Vector projects: new 220 kV lines, Ōtāhuhu–Pakuranga–Albany grid spine upgrades, substation expansions, and battery/storage integration to handle full electrification and data-centre demand.
City-wide Organics Processing & Energy-from-Waste Facilities
Large-scale anaerobic digestion and/or thermal processing plants for food scraps and residual waste to divert organics, cut methane emissions, and potentially generate energy.
These are the projects that will have the biggest impact on Auckland’s liveability, environmental performance, and economic prosperity between now and 2075.