Auckland Council committed to cleaning up harbours and beaches

Auckland Council is committed to improving water quality at Auckland’s beaches.

A proposed targeted rate of around $1.30 per week for the average residential household will fund critical investment in water infrastructure that will clean up the city’s harbours and beaches, and reduce wastewater overflows into Auckland’s waterways by between 80 per cent and 90 per cent.

Mayor Phil Goff says, “Poor water quality is no longer acceptable to me and it’s no longer acceptable to the majority of Aucklanders who love our beaches."

“Our 10-year Budget sets out the critical investment and new funding mechanisms needed to clean up our beaches and waterways. It outlines our plans to address decades of underinvestment in our stormwater and wastewater system and do this while keeping rates low and reasonable.

“A water quality targeted rate of around $1.30 per week for the average residential household will enable us to clean up our harbours and waterways and do in ten years what normally would have taken 30.

“It will make our environment cleaner and water quality better. It will make beaches safer for our children and grandchildren to swim in,” says Mayor Goff.

Targeted rate will generate $400m for stormwater improvements

The proposed targeted rate will generate $400 million to invest in stormwater improvements. These will include reducing stormwater infiltration that causes wastewater overflows into Auckland’s harbours every time it rains. It forms part of the council’s $7 billion investment in Auckland’s water infrastructure in the proposed 10-year Budget.

Councillor Penny Hulse, who chairs the Environment and Community Committee, says she acknowledges the frustration of organisers and participants of beach-based events on Auckland’s North Shore, which have recently been cancelled following concerns around water quality.

“Auckland’s water quality has been a big talking point this summer, and the council is acting on Aucklanders’ desire for cleaner, safer beaches,” says Cr Hulse.

“This is not a new problem. What is new is a wider awareness of water quality issues through council’s Safeswim programme. We are determined to fix this over the next decade.”

Aucklanders are invited to have their say on water quality and the proposed targeted rate at akhaveyoursay.nz. Consultation on the 10-year Budget closes on March 28.

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