Build over or near stormwater and drainage infrastructure
Check if you are building over or near stormwater and drainage infrastructure. Find out if you need approval for works.
What do I need to know before getting started?
You’ll need to confirm if your project involves connecting to, building over or working in the vicinity of Council-owned and non-Council owned stormwater drainage infrastructure.
Stormwater drainage infrastructure may be in the street, on private property or in dedicated drainage easements.
Stormwater drainage plans show Council and non-Council owned stormwater drainage infrastructure including:
- enclosed drainage
- open drains
- stormwater gullies
- field inlets
- headwalls
- culverts
- swales
- outlets
- inter-allotment roofwater drainage
- kerb and channel
- detention basins
- bio-retention basins
- overland flow easements.
How to access plans
You can buy a copy of an as-constructed stormwater drainage plan:
- from a Customer Centre
- by calling Council on 07 3403 8888 and speaking to the Plan Custodian.
If you only want a specific section or specific plans from a plan set, you can view and buy copies of plans at the Plan Custodian customer service counter. Phone Council on 07 3403 8888 for service counter locations.
Private roofwater drainage infrastructure for dwelling houses and commercial or multi-dwellings may be shown on the drainage plans (dwelling houses) and is usually shown on as-constructed hydraulic plans (commercial or multi-dwellings).
Guideline
For more information about acceptable clearances from proposed building work structures to stormwater pipes, download our guideline.
Before you dig
If you're planning to dig or excavate, use the Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) service.
BYDA is a free, national service available to anyone who's planning any construction, landscaping or other ground disturbance activities.
The service provides maps and plans of underground infrastructure.
What types of approval do I need?
Application/Notice to Work on Council Property
You’ll need to submit an application/notice to work on Council property to connect stormwater or roofwater pipes from a residential or commercial development to a:
- kerb and channel
- open drain
- swale
- enclosed drainage
- stormwater gully
- culvert.
Request for a referral agency response (Queensland Development Code build over or near stormwater)
If your proposed works involve building over or near stormwater infrastructure, you’ll need an assessment against the Queensland Development Code (MP 1.4 Building over or near relevant infrastructure).
A private building certifier is the assessment manager for building work applications. Council acts as a referral agency under certain circumstances (set out in QDC MP 1.4), providing advice for the application.
To make a request for a referral agency response (QDC build over or near stormwater):
You must prepare the following documents.
- Proposed plans signed by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) drawn to scale that:
- show the accurate location of the stormwater pipe(s) in relation to the proposed works
- show dimensions, width, and levels of the pipe(s) and any easement over the site.
Stormwater as-constructed (‘as-built’) drawings, are engineering plans that accurately represent the final installation of stormwater infrastructure. These drawings record details (as they were constructed on-site) such as:
- the exact location, alignment, elevation, and configuration of stormwater pipes and associated structures
- any changes made during construction from approved design plans.
To ensure accuracy and compliance, the drawings are usually certified by both a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) and a licensed surveyor.
If as-constructed drawings are not available, a physical site investigation may be required to accurately determine the location of stormwater pipe(s). This investigation must include both the physical location and depth of the pipe(s), confirmed through a survey pickup and represented on drawings.
Information sourced solely from Council’s community maps, Dial Before You Dig (DBYD), or other indicative datasets will not be accepted as sufficient evidence of the pipe’s location. Field verification through on-site investigation and survey is required.
- Form 15 completed in full, including:
- reference to the build over/ near stormwater design within Section 2 - Description of aspect/s certified
- reference to the Queensland Development Code M.P 1.4 within Section 3 - Basis of certification.
- A detailed survey of the stormwater pipe(s) in accordance with the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) standard WSA 05-2020, supported by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited CCTV footage. This is to ensure the design is accurate and structural integrity of the pipe(s) isn’t damaged before construction. If the pre-construction CCTV footage identifies any damage to the stormwater infrastructure that requires urgent attention, email the Infrastructure Services team.
- A confirmation notice from the assessment manager (building certifier).
- Consent from the easement landowner and copies of easement plans. If Council is the easement owner, you’ll need to obtain consent before lodgement by emailing Council.
Refer to our Development Assessment and Compliance Fees brochure for information about the fee for this request.
Submit your request for a referral agency response (QDC build over or near stormwater) using the online form.
You can pay the fee when lodging your request or ask for a fee quote with alternative payment options.
After lodging your request
If we get all the information we need from your lodgement, we'll provide you with a response within 10 business days.
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
To purchase a copy of an as-constructed stormwater drainage plan, contact Council on 07 3403 8888 or visit a Customer Centre.