On-site Sewage Management
If your home is not connected to the sewer, you may have an on-site sewage management system, such as a septic tank, composting toilet or aerated system.
There are special regulations that apply to these systems. As the owner of the property, it is your responsibility to ensure that the system is approved by Council and that it is working properly. On-site systems can be a risk to the health of your family and other community members if they are not properly maintained. They can also cause harm to the environment.
To ensure that your system meets the requirements, you need to obtain two approvals from Council.
The first approval is to install the system.
This applies to new homes or alterations to existing systems.
The second approval is to operate the system.
As a new owner of land with an existing on-site sewage management system (or systems), you need to have the approval to operate transferred to you. Council will carry out regular inspections to make sure the system is working properly - these inspections carry a fee for this service.
Further information
For more information, visit the Office of Local Government On-site sewage management page – this page contains a link to The Easy Septic Guide, as well as other documents.
If you would like to view our Onsite Wastewater Management Local Approvals Policy, you can find it on our Council Policies
Onsite Sewage Management Fact Sheet (PDF 385KB)
Application forms are on Council's forms page.