The developer may be required to submit detailed engineering plans to TasWater for approval for issue of an Engineering Design Approval. The engineering plans must include details of the extensions to TasWater mains and/or connections to TasWater infrastructure.
Construction
The contractor needs to obtain a Permit to Construct prior to commencement of the construction of infrastructure intended to be ‘gifted’ to TasWater.
- The Permit to Construct will provide details on:
- required TasWater inspection including "hold" points
- testing compliance criteria
- as constructed plans
- practical completion and final acceptance requirements
- security bonds and defects liability period.
An application for new connections is required for connections to existing infrastructure, connections for a “connections only subdivision” and for removal of redundant connections.
Plan of Subdivision - Following the issue of a TasWater Practical Completion Certificate, the developer may lodge the Plan of Subdivision with council and request the Council to ‘seal’ the Plan.
Council will seek confirmation that all TasWater permit conditions have been met, including payment of developer charges (if applicable). TasWater will issue a Certificate of Approval of the Plan of Subdivision to Council if all conditions have been met.
Following approval of conceptual design via a Development application to council and TasWater’s SPAN, you are required to submit an application for Engineering Design Approval (EDA) directly to TasWater. This process will involve assessment of the detailed design and the outcome will be a set of endorsed engineering plans including conditions for the development.
Once you have been granted EDA, a TasWater Field Services Officer will contact you to arrange a Pre-Start Meeting. At this meeting the TasWater officer will discuss your development and is able to clarify any questions you may have regarding specifications or requirements. Following the Pre-Start Meeting, you can apply for a Permit to Construct that enables you to start construction and will include any specific requirements for your works and detail the testing and witness points. You can apply for a Permit to Construct using a Development Services application form and emailing the completed application to TasWater on [email protected]
It is important that construction does not commence without a Permit to Construct as you may discover important elements that need to be considered after you have installed assets. This may mean you have to expose or re-lay infrastructure incurring unnecessary cost to your development.
Rezoning process
Rezoning of land to enable development is legislated under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act (LUPAA). Section 34 of LUPAA deals with the rezoning of land (amendment to a Planning Scheme) while Section 43 enables assessment of both the rezoning aspect, along with an application for development of the land after the rezoning.
As with other development applications, council will refer these applications to TasWater for assessment. TasWater will make a representation (Submission to Planning Authority Notice (SPAN)) to council in respect to its requirements for the rezoning and development.
Rezoning application
Where water and sewerage services are required, a rezoning application triggers the necessity to review the capability of TasWater infrastructure to service the land (“serviced land”). There are essentially two scenarios, namely that:
- rezoning of unserviced land may result in an extension to TasWater’s serviced land boundaries
- rezoning within serviced land may increase the demand on hydraulic infrastructure.
The implication for land developers, is that more comprehensive investigations into external impacts outside of the land under consideration for rezoning, are likely to be required. TasWater will need to review the infrastructure and funding arrangements, which may result in an increase to developer charges for infrastructure outside of the subject land.
As part of the application to council the developer will be required to submit a report and Concept Servicing Plan. Depending on the complexity, hydraulic modelling may be required. Where further information is sought the ‘clock stops’ and the timeframe recommences when satisfactory additional information is received.
Once satisfied with the information TasWater will issue a “Submission to Planning Authority Notice” (SPAN) to council and this will form an attachment to the planning permit that may be issued by council.