The following is an introduction to some of Gippsland Water's requirements to assist you, the developer, with subdivisional and non-subdivisional property development.
Planning / Land Development
Developer Works (owner's cost works)
Planning / Land Development
Planning permit process
An owner wishing to develop a parcel of land by subdividing, extending water and/or sewerage mains to service the development or install a septic tank, for example, is known as a developer. In most cases, the developer is required to submit an application to council for permission to develop the land.
Council issues what is known as a planning permit to enable the developer to proceed. Prior to council issuing the planning permit, they refer the application to all the relevant referral authorities such as Gippsland Water, Telecom, gas and fuel, power, etc., for comment.
Gippsland Water assesses the application and places appropriate conditions outlining its requirements in a letter of response to council. The other referral authorities do the same. Council then collates all referral authority conditions into the planning permit and issue it to the developer.
Subdivisional development
The developer is required to apply to council for a planning permit. When council refers the application to Gippsland Water, the following conditions may be applicable to the development:
- Payment of new customer contributions:
- Contribution costs are payable where land is subdivided, or an existing property is redeveloped
- Payment of water and/or sewer connection fees for new connections
- Extension of water and/or sewerage services
- Formal agreements reached between the owner(s) and Gippsland Water for the construction of works to provide water and sewerage to the individual lots where applicable
- Install separate (metered) water services and sewerage disposal connections
- Ensure existing water services are contained within the individual lots
- Have easements created over existing and/or new services within the development
- Provide a Body Corporate Schedule where required
- Lodgement of the Plan of Subdivision for certification
NOTE: Once all conditions have been met by the developer, Gippsland Water will then consent for a statement of compliance to be issued by council.
Non-subdivisional development
Depending on the nature of the development, a planning permit may or may not be required to be issued to council but generally should not proceed without consideration from Gippsland Water.
Examples of this type of development are:
- Construction of a new building, for example, unit development.
- An alteration to an existing development, for example, removal of a wall between two existing offices.
- Extension of water and/or sewer mains.
The submission of a plan of the overall development by the developer or a planning permit application by the relevant council is to be provided to Gippsland Water for consideration.
Some of Gippsland Water's conditions that may be applicable are as follows:
- Ensure no construction is over a water and sewer easement that may be located within the property. Easements are created to protect Gippsland Water assets.
- Trade Waste Agreement entered into where applicable (commercial/industrial). Waste other than domestic sewerage generally requires pre-treatment. Any business discharging trade waste must have a Trade Waste Agreement.
- Install a back-flow prevention device where applicable to commercial/industrial developments.
Building approval request
An application for a building approval may be submitted to Gippsland Water prior to construction taking place.
This process is to ensure structures are not located where they have the potential to cause damage to our assets. It is important that we are provided with plans for proposed structures on properties within our region.
Applications can be made either by:
- email
- fax to (03) 5174 5174; or
- mail to Gippsland Water, Property Connections, PO BOX 348 Traralgon VIC 3844.
NOTE: Please allow five working days for requests to be processed.
BUILDING APPROVAL REQUEST FORM
New customer contributions
When land is subdivided, or an existing property is redeveloped, the demand on water and wasewater systems increase. Eventually, storage capacities and treatment works have to be enlarged to meet this demand. New customer contributions recover part of the cost of constructing permanent works such as storages, pumping stations, treatment plants, water distribution mains and outfall sewers.
New customer contributions for water supply and wastewater services apply to each additional lot created by subdivision, including body corporate subdivisions, multi-unit and dual occupancy developments. A credit is applicable for an existing lot that is connected to water and or wastewater services and forms part of the subdivision.
When a developer requests connection to Gippsland Water's water and sewerage network, Gippsland Water and the developer generally work together in providing their respective works. The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has set out in its "Water Industry New Customer Contributions Guidelines", the assets that water businesses and developers are required to provide.
Water businesses provide:
- major treatment plants, headworks and outfall; and
- shared distribution assets that have sufficient capacity to meet future demand taking into account a long-term planning horizon.
Developers provide:
- the reticulation assets that are required to service their development and connect to the business's network; and
- any temporary works required to connect their development to the business's network on a temporary basis whilst the long-term works are being completed.
For further details, please refer to the documents below.
WATER INDUSTRY NEW CUSTOMER CONTRIBUTIONS GUIDELINES
WATER INDUSTRY NEW CUSTOMER CONTRIBUTIONS EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Subdivisions with a body corporate
A copy of the Body Corporate Schedule should be forwarded to Gippsland Water to enable compliance to be given.
Developments within special areas (proclaimed water supply catchments)
To ensure water quality is protected within our special areas, Gippsland Water requires the responsible authority (council) to forward any planning permit or application lodged by the owner/developer for Gippsland Water's consideration. With reference to the Septic Tank Code of Practice and the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, the following are conditions that Gippsland Water is likely to include, where proposed developments are referred to us:
- Effluent disposal systems must be installed at least 100 metres from any surface waters within a "Special Area Plan" declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, where there is existing development, unless approval is granted by both the EPA and relevant water supply authority.
- Effluent disposal systems must be installed at least 300 metres from any surface waters within a "Special Area Plan" declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, where new development is proposed, unless approval is granted by both the EPA and relevant water supply authority.
- All effluent disposal systems are to comply with the requirements of the EPA. For example, septic tanks are to comply with the EPA's Code of Practice - Septic Tanks.
If you require further detailed information, please email Gippsland Water or contact our Land Development team on 1800 066 401 who will assist you with your inquiry.
Developer Works (owner's cost works)
Water and/or wastewater main extension information
Design and construction of extensions to water and sewer mains are undertaken by Gippsland Water accredited consultants. The property owner is required to employ a consultant to provide details of costs, undertake responsibility for design, supply materials, and arrange construction of works using accredited pipelayers, to Gippsland Water's standards and specifications.
The consultant will charge a management fee for these services, so you may wish to obtain several quotes. The following are steps required to be followed for work to proceed:
- Contact any of the accredited consultants listed via the link below, who will be able to advise you on approximate costs and extent of the work involved.
- Select the consultant of your choice.
- The consultant will prepare the design and estimates for construction of the works on your behalf and submit this to Gippsland Water.
- After receiving the design plans and costs, etc. from the consultant, Gippsland Water will prepare and send you an agreement. The agreement will include details of Gippsland Water charges and connection fees.
- Sign and return two (2) copies of the agreement and pay any charges.
- Construction can proceed under the management of the design consultant. All works must be undertaken by a Gippsland Water accredited pipelaying contractor.
Accredited consultants for design and construction of water and sewer main extensions and accredited pipelaying contractors
ACCREDITED DESIGN CONSULTANTS
ACCREDITED PIPELAYING CONTRACTORS
Information for design consultants/surveyors
Process flowchart for subdivisional owner cost works
Process flowchart for minor works
Policy for water and sewer easements - PSM
Specification of drawings produced for Gippsland Water
Design audit report - criteria
Design audit report - information
As constructed audit report - information
Forms/applications for design consultants
Flowchart for use of forms (owner cost works)
FORM 1W - Design Certification List - Water Agreements
FORM 1S - Design Certification List - Wastewater/Sewer Agreements
FORM 2 - Start Works Request - Water and/or Wastewater
FORM 3 - Application to work on or near Gippsland Water assets
FORM 4 - As Constructed Certification Form - Water and/or Wastewater
FORM 4A - As Constructed Certification Form - Minor Works ONLY
FORM 5 - Acceptance of As-constructed Information Verification Form - Water and/or Wastewater
FORM 6 - End of Defects Liability Period Certification Form - Water and/or Wastewater
Sewer maintenance structure test report form
Sewer pipeline deflection test report form
Sewer pipeline pressure test report form
Sewer pipeline vaccuum test report form
Water pipeline pressure test report form
Forms/applications for accredited pipelaying contractors
For accredited contractors undertaking/requiring water main shutdown, water main live tapping or live sewer connection (including confined space entry) use Form 3:
FORM 3 - Application to work on or near Gippsland Water assets
For accredited contractors undertaking a sewer point cut-in for Property Connections (eg. a new connection branch for a minor development or single residence) (including confined space entry) use Form 3A:
FORM 3A - Application to carry out works on Gippsland Water sewer (sewer cut-in)
Where minor works are required on Gippsland Water's assets, an accredited contractor may make application. Minor works can include tee removals/replacements for fire services, fire plug installation/replacements or short main extensions. The following process flowchart details the requirements of minor works:
Process flowchart for minor works
FORM 4A - As Constructed Certification Form - Minor Works ONLY
Drawing specifications
Engineering consultants and building contractors use the Gippsland Water drawing specification to achieve an acceptable standard for construction drawings that can be easily copied and used to construct treatment plants and pipelines for Gippsland Water.
Electronic drawings can be produced on different programs with formats that are different to those used by Gippsland Water. For this reason Gippsland Water specifies that drawings are submitted to Gippsland Water in a set format. The format is set out in the Drawing Specification Document. The types of font, line thickness of lines for different purposes, character and line spacings are all specified.
DOWNLOAD DRAWING SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT
Gippsland Water accepts electronic technical drawings as files prepared using both Microstation and AutoCAD. All electronic drawings are submitted to Gippsland Water as electronic files (.DGN / .DWG and accompanying .PLT - HPGL/HPGLI2 files). Gippsland Water drawing borders for drawings prepared using either computer program can be downloaded by using the shortcuts immediately below.
DOWNLOAD DRAWING BORDERS MICROSTATION
DOWNLOAD GIPPSLAND WATER AUTOCAD BORDERS
All electronic drawings are submitted to Gippsland Water as electronic files are accompanied by the submittal file, a document detailing the electronic file types, titles and general information on the drawings being transmitted. This document also contains details on who sent the files, to whom they were sent and the time and date the files were sent.
DOWNLOAD ELECTRONIC DRAWINGS SUBMITTAL FILE
National codes (addendums) - Revised 1 July 2007
Document W1 Addendum Water Code WSA 03-1999 Part 1 Design
Document W1 Addendum Water Code WSA 03-1999 Part 2 Materials
Document W1 Addendum Water Code WSA 03-1999 Part 3 Standard Drawings
Document W1 Addendum Water Code WSA 03-1999 Part 4 Construction
Document W2 Addendum Sewer Code WSA 02-1999 Part 1 Design
Document W2 Addendum Sewer Code WSA 02-1999 Part 2 Materials
Document W2 Addendum Sewer Code WSA 02-1999 Part 3 Standard Drawings
Document W2 Addendum Sewer Code WSA 02-1999 Part 4 Construction
Documents currently under review
- Land Development Pricing Manual
- Gippsland Water Addendums & WSA Codes
If you require further detailed information, please email Gippsland Water or contact our Land Development team on 1800 066 401 who will assist you with your enquiry. |