Plumbing and Drainage works

Council approval is required if you seek to undertake works to connect / disconnect to/from Council's sewer or stormwater drainage systems or if you intend to carry out any work to internal property services. Work to internal property services can include major or minor work(s) plumbing and drainage works involved with additions, alterations, renovations, or erection of new buildings.

Approval to undertake plumbing and drainage works, is required under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Activity Approval), involving one or a combination of the following:

• PART B4 - Carry out sewerage work

• PART B5 - Carry out stormwater drainage work

• PART B6 - Connect a private drain or sewer with a public drain or sewer under the control of a Council or with a drain or sewer which connects with such a public drain or sewer

Application is also required to be made to Council for plumbing works proposed to be undertaken in relation to On-site Systems of Sewerage Management Systems (Septic Systems) –under the following parts of Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993:  

• PART C5 - Install, construct or alter a waste treatment device or a human waste storage facility or a drain connected to any such device or facility

• PART C6 - Operate a system of sewage management (within the meaning of section 68A)

Prior to lodging an application Council recommends that you refer to the Activity Approval Application Guide. Your application must be submitted on the Activities Approval Application Form and be accompanied by the Section 68 Activity Approval Attachment A.

Council is happy to undertake a pre lodgement meeting with you to address any questions you may have in relation to the approval process prior to you formally lodging any application.  A fee quote can also be obtained from Council prior to lodgement and applicable fees must accompany your application.

All Activity Approvals will be accompanied by a ‘Contractor's Copy’ of the approval with such a copy to be distributed by the applicant to their nominated contractor. For further information phone Council on (02) 6930 1800.

The Activity Approval Application Guide and the relevant application form and attachments that are necessary for the preparation and lodgement of a Section 68 Activity Approval application are available on the Development Guides, Checklists & Forms page.

All plumbing contractors undertaking  the works are required by the NSW Department of Fair Trading to provide completed ‘Notice of Works & Certificate of Compliance Forms’, failure to do so will result in an inability to carry out an inspection or any undertake final / occupation certificate inspections relating to the work.  Please see attached combined interactive ‘Notice of Works & Certificate of Compliance Forms’ for the convenience of contractors.

Onsite sewage management systems (such as Septic Tanks and Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems) process waste water generated from the household where the property is not connected to Council’s reticulated sewerage system.

Approval to install an OSSM is required under Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Activity Approval) under Part C6 – Operate a system of sewage management. This type of Application it to be applied for via the NSW Planning Portal. 

For the above type of application the following information (at a minimum) is required to be submitted:

• Site Constraints Plan - to scale detailing the location of the proposed OSSMS and it land application area.  All buffer distances to all waterways, dams, buildings and driveways, swimming pools, water storage tanks and property boundaries must be shown;

• Drainage Diagram - to scale in accordance with  National Plumbing & Drainage Plumbing Code AS/NZS 3500;

• Floor Plan - of any building connected to the sewage management system;

• Manufacturer’s Specifications - for the proposed OSSMS;

• Site and Soil Assessment Report/Land Capability Assessment Report - for wastewater disposal conducted by a suitably qualified person and demonstrate compliance with AS1547 and NSW Environment & Health Protection Guidelines; and

• Operations and Maintenance – details of the operation and maintenance requirements for the sewage treatment facility and the proposed operation, maintenance and servicing arrangements.

Factsheets and Checklists

Conventional Systems Factsheet

Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS) Factsheet

Designing, Constructing and Installation of an OSSM Factsheet

What is a Land Capability Report? Factsheet

OSSM Troubleshooting Factsheet

OSSM Failing Systems Factsheet

Decommissioning Septic Tanks Factsheet

Plumbing inspections need to be carried out on all Section 68 Activity Approvals as nominated in the conditions of consent contained within the approval . To book a plumbing inspection please contact Council on (02) 69 301 800  at least 24 hours prior to the inspection being conducted.

Please note: A Notice of Work must be supplied to Council at least 24 hours prior to commencing any works.

Sewer Service Diagrams submitted by Plumbers

Sewerage Service Diagrams need to be provided by the licensed plumber and approved by a Plumbing Inspector either before or at the time of the final drainage inspection. Sewerage Service Diagrams are a requirement of the Plumbing & Drainage Act 2011 No. 59.

Council has various templates and examples available to assist in the creation of Sewerage Service Diagrams. These can be found below:

Sewer Service Diagram Templates

• A3 Sewer Service Diagram Template Portrait

• A4 Sewer Service Diagram Template Portrait

• A4 Sewer Service Diagram Template Landscape

All diagrams shall be in electronic format – drawn using a CAD program or using the above templates and scanning and sending to Council.

Diagrams are required at the time of or prior to any final inspection being undertaken for works.