Growth infrastructure
We have a number of strategies in place to support good development in the Lower Hunter region for years to come. Learn more about our Growth Plan and the funding initiatives available.
Enabling good development in the Lower Hunter region is a strategic priority for Hunter Water.
Our growth plan
We publish a Growth Plan annually which includes detailed maps showing the likely time frame for new developments in the Lower Hunter, which assist us in determining funding categories under the Standard.
Our growth maps
Funding growth in the region
Hunter Water’s 2018 Funding and Delivery of Growth Infrastructure Standard recognised that capital investment in water and wastewater infrastructure to connect new developments can provide shared capacity for future developers and future customers.
The Standard set out the circumstances in which Hunter Water may enter into a commercial agreement to repay developer costs incurred in delivering connection infrastructure and any up-sized reticulation assets. We’ve entered into about 50 commercial agreements since 2018.
A key feature of the 2018 Standard was the staggered repayment of developer costs as new lots were connected to Hunter Water’s networks.
With the reintroduction of developer charges, Hunter Water will continue to invest in connecting assets and any up-sized reticulation assets. The revised and renamed ‘Connecting Asset Funding (CAF) Standard’ applies new funding categories.
For all in-sequence development, we will repay, in full, all agreed amounts for developer-delivered infrastructure upon the transfer of asset ownership to Hunter Water. The staggered repayment arrangements will apply to out-of-sequence development.
The new 'Connecting Asset Funding Standard' will take effect from 1 July 2023. The CAF Standard details transitional arrangements for existing commercial agreements.
Our Connecting Asset Funding (CAF) process
To help support the growth objective, we will repay developers the cost for appropriately sized water and sewer infrastructure that meets our funding and procurement requirements. Refer to our Guidelines for Funding and Procuring Assets for detail on the process.
- Submit your application
You will need to complete an application for developer delivered contribution. If successful, a commercial offer letter will be sent to you and a funding deed will need to be executed by both the developer and Hunter Water.
A procurement plan will only be required where you are requesting to deviate from our minimum procurement requirements.
Application for Developer delivered Contribution - Design Tender Evaluation
We will then assess your submitted design tender evaluation report and issue you with a notice outlining the agreed outcome of the evaluation process.
* If you are requesting funding for the design phase as well as the construction phase you will need to use the Tender Evaluation Report and the Tender Evaluation worksheet templates for both steps 2 and 3.
View our Register of Accredited Design Consultants - Construction Tender Evaluation
We will then assess your submitted construction tender evaluation report and a pre-construction infrastructure contribution notice will be sent to you outlining the agreed outcome of the evaluation process.
View our Register of Accredited Construction Contractors - Project Finalisation
Once steps 1-3 have been completed, a final infrastructure contribution sum notice will be sent to you confirming the final agreed value of the works.
* Thereafter, in order to make a claim, invoices can be emailed to us alongside the associated Section 50 Compliance Certificate for the stage of works completed.
Submissions
All forms and attachments can be submitted to connecting.asset.funding@hunterwater.com.au
Want a meeting?
If you need a meeting on whether or not your development meets the Connecting Asset Funding Standard, please contact our Land Development Engineers or Account Managers via the email link below detailing the development and the associated assets you are looking at CAF funding.
Application templates
These documents should accompany your funding application