Guidelines for schemes

Council's water and wastewater contractor is Downer EDi Water, who carries out day-to-day operations and maintenance of the schemes.

Service Mains

If you plan to carry out any excavations within the road reserve, please contact your local Council office, for service plans of the area in which you will be working. If necessary, Council will arrange for water and sewerage services to be located on site.

These services are usually provided free of charge. Please make use of them, because if you damage any Council services and have not obtained plans or service locations from Council, you will be liable for all repair costs and administration charges.

Remember to contact Telecom and Powernet to obtain information on the location of underground power and telephone services.

All permanent structures must be either 1.5 metres away from the main, or a distance equal to the depth of the main plus the diameter of the pipe, away from the main, whichever is greater. This applies to all permanent structures such as houses, garages, workshops, sleepouts, garden sheds (with foundations), glasshouses and commercial buildings.

Fences, gazebos, garden sheds with no foundations and paved areas are generally exempt as they are able to be moved or dug up if required.

The Local Government Act protects Council assets within private property (including piped services), and gives us the right to access, maintain and protect those assets (although there are some conditions).

This is why it is important for prospective purchasers to obtain a LIM before buying, as then we will advise of any service mains through the property.

Many existing mains have no easement and there are no immediate plans to change their status.

Costs

All properties within a water or sewerage scheme boundary pay water or sewerage rates. Properties that are connected to the scheme pay a full rate, and vacant sections that are not connected pay a half-rate. (NOTE: Large commercial premises may pay multiple charges for water and/or sewerage, or a metered water rate). Contiguous properties (i.e. a group of adjoining or adjacent properties in the same ownership) are rated on a case-by-case basis - please contact Council for further information if required.

 
If there is no connection at the boundary, or if the existing connection is not suitable for use, then the property owner pays for new connections to be installed.

Connections

Township connections to water, sewerage and stormwater may be completed by any Registered Plumber or Drainlayer as long as they have the required permits. Alternatively, the Applicant may engage Council’s Contractor.

Rural water connections are different. In this case, Council’s Contractor must do the connection at the main and the tank, although the owner has the option of laying the rest of the pipe themselves.