Stormwater

Repairs will be prioritised as follows:

Priority	Issue type	Service standard
High	Blocked pits causing flooding to properties or hazardous to road users.	24 hours or next working day
Medium	Requests for legal points of discharge will be responded to within one day.	30 working days response
Low	All other requests for the investigation of drainage complaints.	Actioned within 30 business days

Note: The maintenance and construction of stormwater pipes and drains is the responsibility of:

• For individual properties: the property owners including for pipes outside the property boundaries that connect to a Council drain or to the kerb and channel.
• For pipes and drains in the road reserve and in easements serving several properties: Council is usually responsible.
• For large drains generally over a metre in diameter: Melbourne Water.

Stormwater problems

If you are experiencing problems with stormwater runoff, you can obtain advice from Council on 9599 4444. Council will investigate complaints and can require property owners to undertake works to minimise nuisances. The range of assistance includes:

• advice on stormwater problems
• investigation of requests or complaints concerning stormwater issues
• technical advice on Council standards for drainage
• issuing of legal points of discharge - where stormwater from properties can be discharged
• issuing of permits authorising connections to Council drains
• approving applications to build over easements
• checking subdivisions and development proposals for drainage requirements.

Legal point of discharge

Stormwater falling on any building or development must be collected and directed through underground pipes to a legal point of discharge. This is normally:

• A Council drain in the street;
• A Council drain in an easement;
• A private drain if suitable;
• A Melbourne Water main drain, if permission is obtained.

Individual houses, dual occupancies or small shops may pipe the stormwater to the kerb and channel in the street adjacent to the property if there are no underground drains nearby.

Contact Council's Engineering Services Department for the location of the legal point of discharge for individual properties.

Wherever possible, stormwater shall flow under gravity in pipes and not be pumped unless agreed to by Infrastructure staff beforehand. For minor areas a pumped discharge may be considered but it must connect into Council's underground drainage system, the details are to be resolved with Infrastructure staff beforehand.

Approved stormwater pipe materials:

• Reinforced concrete, class 2 rubber ring joints.
• Cast iron, complying with AS1631.
• Class 12 UPVC complying with AS3500.1.

Contact the Engineering Services Department on 9599 4444 regarding the use of any other pipe materials.

Minimum pipe sizes shall be:

• From houses or multi-unit development -100mm diameter;
• From grating pits or trench grates -150mm diameter;
• Under the road pavement - 300mm diameter.

Permits are required for any excavation in the street or for connecting to a Council drain/kerb and channel.

• A Storm Water Tapping Permit (cost $125) is required beforehand to connect to a Council underground drain or kerb and channel.
• Tapping into easement drain (cost $52.50)
• A Road-Opening Permit is required for any excavation within a road reservation. The cost of the permit is $125 plus the cost of any reinstatement works that Council is required to undertake.

Permits are issued on the spot at Council's Corporate Centre, 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham - 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.