In your home

What is sewer infrastructure?

Sewer infrastructure includes all Yarra Valley Water owned sewer pipes, inspection shafts or manholes on your property. We recommend you make yourself aware of the sewer infrastructure and easements before you purchase a property as they are subject to legislation regarding easy access by Yarra Valley Water. Most of the infrastructure is completely underground however manholes and inspection shafts are surface fittings.

What is a sewer pipe?

A sewer pipe includes the sewer branch that services an individual property and the main sewer lines which transport sewage away from the properties in the area to the sewage treatment plant.

What is a manhole?

A manhole is a sealed chamber attached to a sewer main providing access for Yarra Valley Water staff to inspect, test and clear blockages and obstructions in the sewer pipe. Manholes are fitted with removable covers and must be easily accessible at all times.

What is an inspection shaft?

An inspection shaft is an access point to the sewer system that is too small for human access, but does allow instruments to inspect, test and clear blockages and obstructions within the sewer pipe. It must be accessible at all times.

What is an easement?

Easements are land where sewer pipes are located or where sewer pipes may be located in the future. Easements generally run along a boundary of a property. If sewer pipes are situated at the front of properties they are usually located outside the property boundary. Easements must be easily accessible at all times.

What are the rules?

Section 66 of the Water Industry Act 1994, states a property owner must not without the licensee’s consent build a structure or place soil, rock or other matter over land containing Yarra Valley Water sewer infrastructure (such as a sewer pipe, manhole, inspection shaft or another access point) or land containing an easement.

A ‘structure’ includes but is not limited to:

garden sheds
water tanks
barbecues
pergolas
cubby houses
fences
garages
home extensions
granny flats
landscaping.

What if a structure is already built over sewer infrastructure when I buy the property?

If a structure already exists over sewer infrastructure, the encumbrance certificate in the Section 32 should include the details of either Yarra Valley Water’s consent or, because consent was not applied for or provided by Yarra Valley Water, details of the Delayed Demolition Order that was issued by Yarra Valley Water.

Where a structure has been built without Yarra Valley Water consent and no Delayed Demolition Notice issued, there will be no encumbrance details in the Section 32. Therefore Yarra Valley Water may require that it be removed immediately or may place a Delayed Demolition Order on the structure to enable access in the future if required.

Buried or damaged assets

If you discover manholes, IS shafts or other sewer infrastructure buried or inaccessible you should report them to Yarra Valley Water. If work must be done to make a manhole accessible or if infrastructure must be repaired (as a result of damage) Yarra Valley Water may seek recovery of costs from the property owner or the developer.

Why would Yarra Valley Water require access to the sewer?

Maintenance and repairs are conducted by Yarra Valley Water to minimise the risk of blockages and sewer spills which can create health risks and damage the environment. If sewer pipes become blocked they can prevent the flow of sewage into the sewerage network, resulting in sewage flooding nearby properties.

If there is a blockage Yarra Valley Water consults with property owners to use a sewer access point to conduct maintenance or repairs. Access may be required to the sewer access point in your property to repair sewer pipes in a neighbour’s property. Section 58 of the Water Industry Act 1994 allows for Yarra Valley Water to enter land for the purpose of repairing, maintaining and inspecting its infrastructure.

Yarra Valley Water requests you provide access to its assets inside your property however is not necessary for you to remain at home for the duration of the time the Yarra Valley Water crew or contractor is onsite. Yarra Valley Water will not compensate you for loss of income if you choose to remain at home while the work is done. Staying at home is your own personal choice.

If there is lawn or garden that has grown over a manhole or IS shaft, Yarra Valley Water must remove it to create access, but we always try to reinstate the lawn or garden surrounding the access point back to its original condition if possible.

How do I apply for permission to build a structure over or within one metre from a Yarra Valley Water asset on my property?

A property owner should submit an application form seeking permission to build a structure over or within one metre from a Yarra Valley Water asset. An EasyDevelop/Easy Access Application form can be downloaded via this link.

We recommend that prior to submitting any Build Over application you confirm what, if any, sewer assets are on the property and note their location. This information can be obtained by contacting us on 13 1695.

What should I do if I have a blockage?

The first step is to locate the source of the blockage. If you cannot tell, we encourage you to call Yarra Valley Water, as our staff can help you determine the location of the blockage by asking a few simple questions.

Who is responsible?

If the blockage is in a home’s internal pipes, the property owner is responsible.
If the blockage is beyond the connection point in the sewer, Yarra Valley Water is responsible.
If the location of the blockage is unclear, Yarra Valley Water will make an assessment to determine who is responsible.

For any related enquiries please call Yarra Valley Water on 13 2762.