How are we going to pay $1.3 billion infrastructure bill?

Years of chronic underfunding means Lower Hutt will need to dig deep to find $1.3 billion to future-proof its ageing water infrastructure.

With 60 per cent of the city’s three waters assets needing to be replaced over the next 30 years, Hutt city councillors will discuss investment options for the next decade at a Long term/Annual Plan meeting on Thursday. In August, Wellington Water Limited presented two options to the Hutt City Council. The infrastructure management company’s preferred “mid option” was an investment of $375 million over the next decade. The “low option” of $204m would not keep pace with growth, council officers say.