Supporting housing growth
Supporting housing growth
Growing our water and wastewater network to support housing growth
We’re working closely with the State Government and industry leaders to develop effective water and wastewater solutions to support housing growth, driving the single largest expansion of our metropolitan water and wastewater network in decades. This expansion is crucial to supporting new housing developments located on the outskirts of our existing networks, particularly in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. These areas require large-scale infrastructure systems to ensure reliable water and wastewater services.
South Australia is facing its largest housing infrastructure challenge in a generation. To meet this challenge, we’re working with the State Government and industry leaders to drive a once-in-a-generation expansion of Adelaide’s water and wastewater infrastructure.
This critical work will enable the development of thousands of new homes across Adelaide’s north and south, supporting expanding communities and our state’s housing growth ambitions.
As part of the State Government’s Housing Roadmap, we’re investing $1.5 billion to deliver the single largest expansion of our metropolitan network in decades. This includes installing in the order of 30 kilometres of trunk water mains, 54 kilometres of trunk wastewater mains, 9 new water and wastewater pumping stations, and 2 water storage tanks.
Increasing our network capacity and upgrading the network are essential to ensuring reliable water and wastewater services for over 40,000 new homes.
This essential work spans Adelaide’s northern suburbs, including Angle Vale, Elizabeth North, Davoren Park, Craigmore, Blakeview, Munno Para, Virginia, Roseworthy and Gawler East, and Onkaparinga Heights in the south.
Rapid housing growth is happening in or around these areas, and we’re delivering essential enabling infrastructure to support these growing communities.
We’re delivering critical infrastructure to expand water network capacity and support housing growth, including in residential developments such as Riverlea, Angle Vale and Roseworthy.
Larger trunk water mains are being installed to increase water flow, ensuring a reliable supply and pressure for new residents and surrounding communities. Upgrades in nearby areas will further strengthen the network, maintaining de
pendable services as demand continues to grow.
To meet growing demand, we’re also expanding wastewater infrastructure along key corridors and enhancing capacity at Sandy Creek.
Delivering this infrastructure requires complex work across multiple sites so we’re working closely with local communities, with proactive engagement and direct communication to keep people informed every step of the way.
It’s not just about building infrastructure to support housing – it’s about building communities and keeping development moving to support our state’s future.
We’re building the backbone of a resilient water and wastewater network, designed to support growing communities and meet their needs for decades to come.
This vital infrastructure will unlock the capacity to service up to 50,000 homes by 2050 with future investment.
This is more than an investment in pipes and tanks, it’s about enabling housing growth and creating sustainable, thriving communities for generations to come.
Find out more about works in the northern suburbs
To support this network expansion, construction is underway across several locations in Adelaide’s north. We’re working closely with local communities to minimise disruptions and complete the work safely and efficiently. Visit our Water Talks page for details on traffic impacts, detours and other information about the works.
Connect with us
Have a question or want to know more? Get in touch with our team to learn more about these essential network upgrades.
Planned 2024-28 infrastructure water and wastewater networks in metro north
Unlocking new homes for the future
As part of the State Government’s Housing Roadmap, we’re investing $1.5 billion during the next 4 years to grow and expand our water and wastewater networks to enable an estimated 40,000 new homes to be built across South Australia. This includes an unprecedented $1.2 billion investment in critical growth infrastructure specifically across Adelaide’s north and south to directly unlock 11,000 new homes where they’re needed the most.
Delivering critical infrastructure
The planned infrastructure improvements include:
- 30 kilometres of new trunk water mains
- Two new water storage tanks
- 54 kilometres of trunk wastewater mains
- Nine new pumping stations
Work is underway with new projects starting throughout 2025 and continuing over the next 4 years.
These upgrades will facilitate housing growth in Adelaide’s northern areas, including Roseworthy, Riverlea, Dry Creek, Angle Vale, and Blakeview.
Crucially, this infrastructure lays the groundwork for future expansion. With ongoing investment, the network will be able to support up to 50,000 new homes by the 2050s, paving the way for a sustainable and thriving future.
Delivery program
This delivery program provides an overview of our program of works through to 2028.
Construction industry opportunities
Our two year forward plan provides an overview of our upcoming capital works program. This investment is creating new opportunities for the construction industry across 6 areas – major projects, water civil, water solutions, wastewater, regional, and minor works – with tender details available at tenders.sa.gov.au and upcoming opportunities listed at gateway.icn.org.au.
In November 2024 we briefed the construction industry on our two-year forward capital construction plan through to 2026 which will grow and maintain our water and wastewater networks. It covered our procurement approach and opportunities for the construction industry to get involved. You can watch a recording of the briefing below.
