Essential infrastructure

Hastings covers 5229 km², and within that area we have about 1640kms of roads (not including state highways that are managed by NZTA). Many of them were constructed in the late 1950s – so are circa 70 years old.

All roads require ongoing maintenance, while older ones need to be scheduled for renewal. On top of that is the repair and replacement of significant road, bridge, culvert and major slip damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, which is expected to take about seven more years to complete (circa 2032).

A safe, efficient, resilient transport network is essential for keeping our community connected and supporting our local economy, the foundation of which is our primary producers and associated industry. It’s very important all roads, including the rural roading network, are fit for purpose for transporting produce in and out of the region.

As well as managing the state highway network, NZTA part-funds local road projects. Therefore, ongoing discussions with that Government organisation is essential to address the critical work that’s needed to maintain and improve the safety of our roads.

Find out more about cyclone-related infrastructure repair projects on the Cyclone Recovery page of our website.

Three waters refers to the water networks Council supplies in the urban areas: Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.

For more information visit the Three waters page of our website. 

Drinking water

Council supplies drinking water to more than 23,000 homes and business across the biggest urban areas of Hastings Heretaunga (Flaxmere including Bridge Pa and Pakipaki, Hastings and Havelock North). There are two major treatment and storage facilities, in central Hastings (Waiaroha) and in Frimley Park, which service the main urban centres, eight small treatment and storage facilities for smaller urban areas, and complex pipe and pumping networks taking water from these facilities to homes and businesses.

A Council priority is to provide safe, resilient drinking water to all users on the Council-provided network while also ensuring that the network is developed in a way that supports sustainable residential and business growth. 

For more on drinking water projects, current and completed, visit the Drinking water projects page.

Stormwater

Stormwater systems are used in built-up areas to remove rainwater from streets to reduce surface flooding. Urban areas require intensive stormwater management, given the amount of hard surfaces and roofs compared to soft ground that can soak up rain water.

There is about one kilometre of pipe for every 213 people living in the urban areas (Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North) serviced by the urban stormwater system. The network also includes more than 5000 roadside stormwater drains, 6000 sumps, 21,000 connections and 12 pumping stations across the network.

All of Hastings’ stormwater pipes empty untreated into Karamū Stream, so a focus of storm water service and maintenance is educating residents to understand that litter dropped on streets in town will land up in the stream.

Find out more about stormwater here.

Wastewater

Hastings District Council collects domestic and industrial wastewater (sewage) from the main urban areas, piping it to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in East Clive, where it is treated before it is discharged into Hawke Bay via a 2.75km long ocean outfall. 

The wastewater system is vital infrastructure that provides for the health, safety and well-being of Hastings residents and visitors.

With a growing population, Hastings’ wastewater network is being expanded to service the increased number of households estimated to be built in coming years. In addition, Council’s three key wastewater trunk mains require renewal over the coming years.

Another major project is the renewal of the outfall and pump station at the Clive Wastewater Treatment Plant, scheduled to be put out to tender mid-2025.

Find out more about wastewater here.

Managing the disposal and recycling of rubbish is a key Council function. The work in this area is guided by Hastings’ and Napier’s Joint Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which is renewed every six years.

This plan outlines targets and actions to reduce waste with waste minimisation and recycling an important focus.

Another key responsibility for the councils is the management of their jointly owned Ōmarunui Landfill, which takes the rubbish from Hastings and Napier transfer stations, kerbside rubbish collections, and businesses using commercial collection companies. A construction project building a new ‘cell’ within the landfill is underway, Stage 1 of which is expected to be finished by mid-2025.

This work includes bulk earthworks, access roads, placement of engineered fill and construction of the clay liner.

Landfills continue to be developed over many years as they fill up and planning and construction of future Stages 2, 3 and 4 will be developed as and when required. 

Council also monitors and manages historic landfills in Hastings which date back to the 1950s and 1960s, and has a focus on waste minimisation education, with programmes predominately funded via the national Waste Minimisation Fund.

Find out more about rubbish and recycling here.