If you are planning work near our assets, you have obligations when building or moving construction plant. See Working and building near our assets for more information.
Land development
Developers of subdivisions that are close to our water supply or wastewater reticulation networks, will need to complete a Developer Agreement to install water and sewer infrastructure to our requirements and standards, servicing the new lots and ratable properties.
You can find out more information about this on our Developer works page.
Property development
Subdividing, consolidating, or realigning boundaries
Each lot must have water and sewerage main frontage and a sewer house connection branch in accordance with our standards.
Lots are allowed only one water connection and one sewer connection, unless agreed to in writing.
You may be required to relocate or remove existing connections and install new connections which meet our standards.
Where your activity involves extensions or alterations to our network, you will need to complete a Developer Agreement. See Developer works for more information.
Subdivision requirements / Common issues:
- No asset plans. Provide concept plans showing how each lot will receive frontage to the water and sewer mains.
- Missing easements. Provide 3-metre-wide easements in favour of GWMWater over any sewer mains.
- The Plan of Subdivision must state the purpose of sewer easements as “Sewerage” in favour of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Corporation.
- Water mains must be located within the road reserve.
- Owners corporation requirements
- If you propose combined sanitary drains or water sub-metering, these assets must be listed on the Owners Corporation.
- The Owners Corporation schedule should include the following wording:
- “The Owners Corporation, affecting Lots __, is responsible for the ownership and maintenance of any combined sanitary drains upstream of GWMWater’s common sewer acceptance.”
- “The Owners Corporation, affecting Lots __, is responsible for the ownership and maintenance of any common water service downstream of GWMWater’s service point.”
Developing a multiple rated lot (multiple rated dwellings on a single lot)
Each rated dwelling must be connected to water and metered in accordance with our standards (Water Service Connections).
As there is only one lot, only one sewer connection is permitted, unless agreed to in writing.
Each dwelling must connect to the sewer acceptance point via a combined sanitary drain. The drain is owned and maintained by the property owner.
Installing a dependent persons unit or small second home
A Dependent Persons Unit (DPU) as defined by the Victorian Building Authority is known as a ‘small second home’. A key feature of the definition is a floor area equal to or less than 60 square metres.
If the building is considered a DPU, it is treated as part of the primary dwelling for water and sewer billing purposes. A separate water meter is not required, provided the DPU connects to the existing water meter and sewer connection of the primary dwelling.
There may be other requirements from agencies that apply. Please talk to your local council for more information about these.
Buildings not considered as small second dwellings will be treated as a multiple rated lot.
How can I achieve lot frontage?
Review the GWMWater Interactive Map to check whether a water or sewer main fronts your lot.
If one or more of your proposed lots does not have frontage, you may:
- Apply to extend an existing pipeline to front lots under a Developer works Agreement.
- Revise your plan of subdivision so each lot has frontage to the existing main.
How can I service my lot?
Once lots have frontage and the subdivision has achieved ‘statement of compliance’, property owners can apply for consent to connect.
See Connecting services - GWMWater for more information on the connection process.
