Forums Posts

by lorenzo.sposito@midcoast.nsw.gov.au Joined 25-11-2024 02:57 PM Posts 6

Midcoast have identified that the modern driveway requirements seem to require more cut to the natural ground surface. Additionally, the older water mains seem to be laid shallower than what the current WSA codes specify, or in an older more brittle material such as series 1 PVC or AC. As we are a LWU within a council, landowners apply to a different part of council seeking approval to construct a new driveway without much consideration for the water main below the proposed pavement. Sometimes when the contractors cut back the natural ground level to form the driveway they find that the water pipe is exposed, othertimes we have located the service to find only 100-200mm of cover to the pipe. This has led to instances where we lower the main to be consistent with the WSAA codes, sometimes at an unexpected cost to the landowner. I would like to hear from other councils of LWUs regarding the following: - what do you consider adequate cover for an existing main under a new driveway? - how do you identify and plan for alterations to water or sewer mains under new driveways? - do you place the cost of main renewal or lowering on the landowner? any information is welcomed. Lorenzo MCC

by Shoalhaven City Council Joined 01-01-0001 12:00 AM Posts 29

Lorenzo, Some background for you, prior to the developement of the Regional Codes we identified this issue and made the decision lower all water mains to minimum 600mm below FSL. This would then reduce the impact of brown feild sudivision roads and driveways as the standard cover was 450mm for sealed road so adding and additional 150mm for non trafficable would allow for construction or roads and driveways without the need to be constantly lowering mains. We then took that into the new codes as it reduced the issue significantly where standard covers of 450mm could still be achieved. There are still situations where cover is still impacted and that will always be the case but ultimately the developer changing the state of play so they are responsible the impact on those works. If it was telstra or NBN that wouldnt even be a converstation so why should water and sewer be any different. Yes it can be expensive but it is the developers responsibility to consider all impacts as part of there development not just those above ground. These issues are usually pick up by our development team as part of the development assessment process, yes some can be missed but these usually get resolved during the construction phase when they commence excavation and realise there is a problem. All costs for these relocations are at the landowner/developer expense and it is important to pick these up in the design phase as part of the development assessment as there is far less cost and greater potential for redesign at that stage so early intervention is better than trying to reslolve it when there is a concrete truck parked on site. I hope that helps Matt Kidd Shoalhaven Water.