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A guide to build over policies

There are some general rules that apply to building most structures.  If you intend to build over a Yarra Valley Water easement, or within 1 metre of a water supply, sewerage or recycled water asset, you will be required to obtain Yarra Valley Water’s approval.

Yarra Valley Water has recently worked with City West Water and South East Water to establish a new set of guidelines to assist customers who are intending to build or carry out works over or near water business assets.  The guidelines are consistent across the three authorities and supersede Yarra Valley Water’s previous version of the guidelines.  This latest version can be found under the Related Links section of this webpage.

Prior to planning any works, it is recommended that you review the guidelines.  They provide an outline of the requirements that need to be considered when planning to construct works over Yarra Valley Water’s easements or within 1.0 metre of Yarra Valley Water’s water supply, sewerage, or recycled water asset(s).

Easements exist so that Yarra Valley Water can access and maintain its water and sewerage assets.  However, Yarra Valley Water can grant permission to build over an easement or near its assets if it can be demonstrated that the proposed structure doesn’t adversely affect the assets or restrict access.
 

When is consent to build over not granted?

Further details are available in the guidelines, but as a guide, consent will not be given to carry out works over assets in the below situations as they represent situations of unacceptable risk:

  • Works over water mains of any size are not permitted.
  • Works over concrete sewer pipes are not permitted.
  • Works over sewer mains greater than 225mm in diameter are not permitted.
  • Works over sewer mains greater than 3.5m deep are not permitted.  This is as measured from the ground surface level to the invert of the sewer pipe.
  • Works over property connection branches servicing a neighbouring property are not permitted.
  • Works over property connection branches servicing multiple properties are not permitted.
  • Works over sewer rising mains, vacuum lines and pressure sewers are not permitted.
  • Works over maintenance holes or maintenance shafts are not pemitted.
  • Residential structures, industrial / commercial buildings, or habitable structures are not to be built over a sewer main or property connection branch.

In these situations, Yarra Valley Water may allow works to be carried out adjacent to the assets.  The minimum horizontal clearance required will vary depending on the asset in question and the works to be carried out, but the provision is generally whichever provides the greater clearance out of:

  • Works are to be undertaken outside the easement OR
  • Works are to be 1m clear of the asset in question
 

Note that some situations of reduced risk will only require a minimum clearance of 600mm from the asset. 
 

When may consent to build over be granted?
 

Consent to build over may be granted by Yarra Valley Water on a case-by-case basis upon application by the customer.  But as a guide, consent may be granted by Yarra Valley Water to build over one of its easements or near its assets in the following situations:

 

  • If it does not represent a situation of unacceptable risk, as detailed above under “When is consent to build over not granted?”
  • If the works in question will allow Yarra Valley Water to maintain access to the assets.
  • If it can be demonstrated that the works will not damage the asset.
    • Note in the case of footings, the footing depth must extend to a minimum depth of the angle of repose of the sewer.
      • As a conservative guide, the footing depth should extend 200mm below a 45° line drawn upwards from the invert level of the pipe.
      • Alternatively, the angle of repose may be determined by an engineer and proven via an engineer’s report.
    • The Minimum Clearance required from the sewer will depend on the structure in question, and the depth of the sewer pipe.
 


Could my structure be an issue?

 

For feedback regarding the new set of guidelines launched in 2011, please send comments to buildover-feedback@yvw.com.au