What is a wastewater disposal system?
If your property is not connected and cannot reasonably connect to a reticulated sewerage network, you must have an onsite wastewater disposal system if you are generating wastewater.
Onsite wastewater systems require a Permit to Install before any works on the system can commence. If you require a Building Permit for your development you need to be aware that a wastewater system’s Permit to Install needs to be approved before your Building Permit will be issued. Similarly, you will need the wastewater disposal system’s Approval to Use before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.
You need to be aware of your wastewater obligations during the planning stage of your development to ensure you will be able to obtain a Permit to Install before works commence. Please see your development type heading below for further information.
Summary information can be found in table Land Capability Assessment Requirements and Referrals (below) extracted from Council’s Domestic Wastewater Management Plan 2019.
Subdivisions
In any application for a subdivision where reticulated sewerage (or an approved alternative) is not available you must demonstrate that onsite wastewater disposal is viable for all proposed parcels. This will require a land capability assessment to be supplied with your application. Council’s Environmental Health Officer will ensure the proposal complies with legislative requirements and will condition the Planning Permit with applicable requirements. Where the subdivision is in a Special Water Supply Catchment, Goulburn Murray Water will also make an assessment and supply appropriate Planning Permit conditions to ensure our potable water supply is protected.
New Developments on an Existing Parcel
If your development is on recently subdivided land you need to check the planning permit and any applicable Section 173 Agreement to ensure you are aware of any wastewater disposal requirements that may impact your development. Requirements may include but are not limited to the type of wastewater disposal system you can install, the number of bedrooms you can have, and where the wastewater disposal field can be located.
If you need a new planning permit for your development and there are no existing wastewater disposal requirements you will likely need to supply a land capability assessment with your planning permit application. This will assist ensuring you can get an Onsite Wastewater Disposal System Permit to Install when it comes time to build your new development. Where your development is in a Special Water Supply Catchment, a land capability assessment is strictly mandatory. Goulburn Murray Water will also make an assessment on the proposal and supply appropriate Planning Permit conditions to ensure potable water supplies are protected.
Alterations to Existing Dwellings / Businesses
Depending on the type of alteration you are proposing you may need to upgrade the existing onsite wastewater disposal system. Please refer to table below and seek pre-application advice from Council’s Environmental Health Team (See pre-application advice section on this page).
The following table summarises requirements for land capability assessments in catchment areas and non-catchment areas within the Alpine Shire Council.
Pre-application Advice
For alterations to existing systems and developments that fall outside of the categories in the above table please email a brief summary of your proposal to Health@alpineshire.vic.gov.au.
Please include:
- Your contact details
- Address of the property
- A brief outline of the proposal
- Existing and proposed floor plans
- Details of any existing onsite wastewater disposal system
- Application for a Permit to Install or Alter a Septic Tank System.
New wastewater system application fee is $777.20. Please contact Council to discuss an application to alter your wastewater system fee.
To ensure your application can be processed in a timely manner, please ensure the following items are supplied with your application:
- Fully completed application form including system type and disposal mechanism.
- Detailed floor plans.
- Relevant Land Capability Assessment (LCA). Older LCA’s may not be accepted if system design specified does not conform to current Australian and or Victorian standards.
- If you do not have an applicable LCA you will need to supply detailed site plans indicating location of all buildings, water ways/bodies, wells/bores, significant vegetation, slope of the land and any other significant features.
- The installer’s intended installation plan including treatment plant location and disposal field measurements.
- Payment of relevant fee.
Please note that Council has 42 days to approve a Permit to Install. Where further information is required in order to process your application a ‘stop the clock’ approach will be applied until the further information is received.
Land Capability Assessment Requirements and Referrals
| Locality | Type of Application | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Special water Supply Catchment Area. | Subdivision | LCA required in line with Code of Practice and Victorian Land Capability Assessment Framework.
Must include water and nutrient balance. Referral to relevant authorities including GMW and NEW. |
| New Buildings with onsite wastewater disposal | ||
| Alteration increasing flow rate | ||
| Alteration | Requirements determined on individual application at EHO discretion | |
| Non Special Water Supply Catchment Area. | Subdivision | LCA required in line with the code of practice and Victorian Land Capability Assessment Framework. |
| New Buildings with onsite wastewater disposal | ||
| Alteration increasing flow rate | Requirements determined on individual application at EHO discretion (likely LCA) | |
| Alteration | Requirements determined on individual application at EHO discretion. |
