Housebuilders across Northern Ireland might be required to contribute to a wastewater infrastructure fund as per the plans presented by the infrastructure minister.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing an inadequately financed water system, which has been hindering progress.
Minister Liz Kimmins has presented a second suggestion entailing voluntary contributions from developers.
She stated that developer contributions by themselves wouldn’t resolve the issues, but they would represent “a step forward on the path toward establishing the necessary infrastructure for us all.”
A significant portion of Northern Ireland's sewage systems are outdated and require improvements.
This indicates that over 100 towns and villages have systems functioning at or beyond their limits, making them unable to accept further wastewater connections.
This is hindering home construction and various developments.
The minister stated: "Owing to decades of historical underinvestment and fiscal constraints imposed by the British government, our present sewage and water management systems require immediate improvements."
Enhancing our sewage infrastructure will be a major project, involving substantial funding and extending over several decades.
Alterations might result in increased property values.
The political groups within the Northern Ireland Executive oppose imposing direct fees for water consumption, unlike what occurs in the remainder of the United Kingdom.
This has prompted the minister to develop plans for imposing charges on house builders.
The two suggestions currently up for discussion are:
- A mandatory developer fee – this would mandate a financial contribution from developers, with funds allocated to support new infrastructure projects based on priority needs throughout Northern Ireland.
- A voluntary contribution - developers, currently unable to build due to a lack of wastewater capacity in their area, could opt to pay to offset the costs of upgrading or replacing the infrastructure preventing new connections.
The consultation document recognizes that either option would lead to increased expenses for developers, potentially resulting in higher costs for homebuyers or discouraging certain projects.
Mark H Durkan, who speaks for infrastructure issues as part of the opposition SDLP team, stated that developer contributions could be helpful; however, he emphasized that this should not distract from taking immediate steps to tackle the escalating issue with sewage treatment.
He stated, “The Audit Office suggested conducting an expert-led assessment of NI Water’s funding and governance structure; however, similar to her predecessor, Minister Kimmins is avoiding the issue and declines to initiate such a review.”
- Funding for water issues won't be resolved by requesting more money from developers.
- Road and sewer problems pose a 'ticking time bomb' for property owners.
- Money isn't accessible for significant water projects.
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