The delivery of critical infrastructure powering South Australia’s housing boom has reached another major milestone, with more than 50,000 metres of new water and sewer pipe now in the ground to help unlock capacity for more homes to be built.

Representing 67 per cent of the total length of pipe to be delivered, the achievement also rings in the two-year anniversary of the State Government’s Housing Roadmap, which has underpinned this record infrastructure investment.

As one of the cornerstones of the Premier’s Housing Roadmap, the $1.5 billion investment in growing the water and sewer network is enabling the construction of thousands of new homes across developments in Adelaide’s north and south.

Since the first pipe was laid in September 2024, SA Water’s program of work has already seen the completion of four projects – with another 10 projects in full flow.

The new infrastructure is also helping provide more certainty to developers, with 329 Development Agreement Formal Instruments (DAFIs) executed since the launch of the Housing Roadmap – confirming the availability of water and sewer services to 11,472 new allotments across South Australia.

Additional water network capacity has been created across Riverlea, Roseworthy and Onkaparinga Heights, with SA Water’s project supporting housing growth in Angle Vale also nearing completion as new water pipes are brought online.

These projects involved installing, connecting and switching on nine new major sections of the water network to duplicate existing trunk mains and boost supply.

This unprecedented investment is being co-funded by the State Government, developers of new homes and SA Water customers to ensure the state’s growth demands are shared equitably.

As announced when the Housing Roadmap was released in June 2024, the average SA Water metropolitan residential customer bill will increase by 3.5 per cent plus Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year in 2024-28, including from 1 July 2026, to help fund the investment in water and sewer infrastructure which is essential for housing.

Extensive work to increase the capacity of the sewer network servicing Angle Vale, Riverlea, Roseworthy and throughout Munno Para also continues to progress.

The pace and scale of SA Water’s infrastructure delivery program involves more than 30 crews working across the 10 projects, which includes the construction of two 10-million-litre water storage tanks and associated trunk mains at Sandy Creek.

Next month, work will also start on the installation of 2,300 metres of new 750-millimetre-diameter trunk water main to provide another supply into Two Wells.

This infrastructure, together with developer investment, is expected to unlock 700 new allotments across developments in Two Wells, while also improving water pressure for existing residents.

New housing developments require a DAFI between a developer and SA Water that outlines the responsibilities and obligations of both parties regarding the provision of water and sewer services to an allocated number of allotments.    

At Riverlea – one of the state’s largest residential projects – at least 234 homes have been constructed and 151 are now occupied since the launch of the Housing Roadmap.

The $1.5 billion in funding secured for new infrastructure has also provided certainty of services to enable DAFIs to be signed for a total of 995 new allotments in Angle Vale and a total of 530 new allotments in Roseworthy to date.