Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets

As the Local Water Authority, Council is responsible for identifying any potential impacts to Council's water and/or sewer infrastructure and to ensure the appropriate measures are implemented to control or eliminate those impacts.

Singleton Council’s water and sewer assets deliver valuable services to our residents. If you are planning to build or excavate over or near Council's assets, you must obtain approval from Council's Water and Sewer Development Team. This includes all developments requiring Council or Private Certifier consent, as well as developments exempt from approval under the Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (NSW). For example:

  • when constructing a building or driveway.
  • when installing utility services by excavating or non-intrusive means, e.g. boring.
  • when laying pipes and cables to service the community.

When applying for a Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Approval, please consider:

  • Water and sewer infrastructure must be suitably protected from damage, and to enable maintenance, minimum clearances are required to be maintained from proposed structures.
  • Unrestricted access to all maintenance structures and inspection points shall be provided and maintained at all times.
  • Concrete encasement of the sewer main maybe required for the protection of the affected pipe and any associated infrastructure due to the loss of access.

When is Council Approval required?

All developments within Singleton Council’s Water and Sewer Supply area requires the lodgment of a Building Plan Assessment Application. This application will be assessed by Council’s Water and Sewer Development Team to determine any potential impacts on Council’s Water and/or Sewer Infrastructure. Once assessed, Building Plan Assessment Advice will be issued and will identify if lodgment of a Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets is required.

Approval from Council’s Water and Sewer Group is required before building over or in the zone of influence of water and sewer infrastructure (e.g. water and sewer mains, fire hydrants, sewer manholes and junctions etc.) or moving, replacing or removing water and sewer infrastructure. This includes changing the level of your land by filling over water and sewer assets.  Council requires access the water and sewer infrastructure to ensure maintenance and repairs can be carried out safely. 

How to apply for a Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Approval?

Once Water and Sewer Building Plan Assessment Advice has been received, a Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Application can be submitted. Once the application has been received, Council’s Water and Sewer Development Team will process the application. Payment of the Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets application fee will be required prior to the application being assessed by Water and Sewer Development Engineer. 

Please refer to Council's Fees and Charges to view current application fees.

Additional information may be requested on review of the application, including:

  • Provide closed circuit television (CCTV) records of the sewer main.
  • Geotechnical report and Structural designs for proposed structures which ensures that no loads are transferred to the sewer main.

What is the Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Approval Process?

  1. The developer/applicant will submit a Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Application Form.
  2. Council will process the application and issue application fee payment advice.
  3. The developer/applicant will contact Singleton Council’s Customer Service Team on T 02 6578 7290 to make payment.
  4. The Water and Sewer Development Engineer will assess the application and issue Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Approval which outlines any conditions to be complied with, including any inspection requirements.
    Please note that as per Council's Water and Sewer Customer Service Plan - Levels of Service, the Water and Sewer Development Engineer has 20 business days to complete this assessment. 
  5. The developer/applicant must then take all the necessary steps to ensure all conditions outlined in the Building in the Vicinity of Water and Sewer Assets Approval are met as well as pay any additional fees required.
  6. Once the Development Engineer is satisfied that all conditions have been met, approved stamped plans will be issued. 

Additional Information

For more information on the building in the vicinity of water and sewer assets process please contact Singleton Council's Water and Sewer Group on T 02 6578 7290 or via E council@singleton.nsw.gov.au.

Additional Information

 

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