Planning a small residential subdivision?
Then review our guide below. It outlines the key steps such as planning, approvals, water and sewer requirements, and compliance.
Determine if the land can be subdivided
Your first step should be to review the Certificate of Title to see if there are any restrictions that will prevent you from subdividing and developing the land. Next, get in contact with your council’s planning department and a surveyor to see what a subdivision might look like.
Chat to us and other utility providers about what servicing requirements might be required.
Get planning approval
In the majority of instances, you’ll need to obtain planning approval from council for the subdivision, either prior to, or concurrent with an application for certification.
Council will assess any planning application and administer the plan certification, which includes referral to the relevant authorities to determine specific servicing requirements. The servicing authorities include us as the water authority and drainage (council), electricity and telecommunications.
Engage a surveyor
The surveyor is responsible for drafting the proposed plans, applying for certification of the Plan of Subdivision and ultimately lodging the plan with the Titles Office.
The surveyor may also be able to guide you through the council planning application process.
Our requirements
In accordance with our land development principles set out in the Land Development Manual, we may require an extension of our assets at the owner/developer’s cost where there is a possibility of future development or subdivision. The potential for future development/ subdivision is normally when the lots are more than 500 square metres in size.
In these cases you would need to follow the land development process – Apply for a development.
Once we receive the application from council, we’ll send you a letter setting out the subdivision requirements which could include:
- Water tappings, water meters
- Sewer cut-ins
- As-constructed plans provided by your plumber
- Disconnection of internal pipework crossing the new property boundaries
- Amendments to the Plan of Subdivision to be completed by your surveyor (easements, limit of serviceability for gravity sewer)
- Applicable fees and charges. You should also expect your plumber to have their own fees.
Note: other utility providers will have different requirements.
Roof water harvesting only applies to some developments in the north-east Warrnambool housing estates.
If your subdivision falls within the roof water harvesting area, your plumber will be required to follow the ‘connection process’. The roof water harvesting requirements will also be set out in the subdivision requirements.
Find out more about roof water harvesting.
New Customer Contributions (where additional lots are created). The location of the subdivision determines the contribution amount payable.
Conceptual design liaison fee (assessment of subdivision applications).
Water and sewer connection costs.
Connection and compliance
Each lot will require a direct, individual connection to our sewer and water main. A common property subdivision can usually share one water and sewer connection into the common property boundary.
Once you receive the subdivision requirements from us, you must engage a qualified licensed plumber (at your own cost) who will need to submit connection applications via our website for approval.
These must be completed before any works can start. Please note; connection applications received from your plumber will only be accepted once your subdivision has been referred to by the council planning team.
After we approve the connection applications, your plumber will book in a time for our Civil Maintenance Team to complete the required connections. All work permits, excavation, trench support, pipe laying, backfilling and reinstatement work must be done by the owner’s plumber.
Once all our requirements have been completed, you’ll need to submit a Completion of Works form.
With all our requirements met, a compliance letter and Serviced Properties Notice will be forwarded to council. The allocation of titles will be issued for the subdivision when the Plan of Subdivision has been registered at the Titles Office.
Service Charges
- Connected tariffs will apply once water meters have been installed at the property.
- Sewer availability tariffs will apply for vacant land when the allocation of titles are received.
When all authority requirements are met, council will be able to consent to a Statement of Compliance, allowing your surveyor to release documentation to the Titles Office so your subdivision can be processed.
Are there any pipes that cross title boundaries?
If we’ve identified that private pipework is crossing new boundaries as part of your subdivision then you’ll need to let us know when this has been removed.
We’re here to help
Have a question or need more information? Then call us on 1300 926 666 or email info@wannonwater.com.au
