Paying for new sewerage infrastructure

Hey guys - I looked through Google and through these forums for an answer to our issue but couldn't find one but I'm sure someone must know something about this.

So my wife and I bought a block of land in Malmsbury last year and are going to build on it next year.

But, the block doesn't have services connected. We paid Powercor $15,000 to get the power infrastructure to the block - that was the easy part.

We got the sewerage and water extension designs done by Coliban's approved engineer and Coliban are about to signoff the designs. So far so good.

We are now getting a quote from a contractor to do the sewerage extension and the costs are coming in at $60,000. It effectively is able to service all the blocks it runs past. 3 or 4 of them.

We didn't expect it to cost so much. But we were wondering if we did pay for this infrastructure does this mean that those blocks that it runs past, when they decide to connect to the sewerage they will have to pay us to connect, or will Coliban pay us back when they connect?

Any advice here would be amazing. Thanks everyone.

 

The answer is probably no and no. Don't get anything.

 

Are the other blocks vacant?

Normally once you put the infrastructure in they can use it for free. This is the downside of going first.
You could potentially contact your neighbours and try to do a deal but they’re not obliged to do anything. Is there anyone up hill of you who would also want the drain extended or are you the last block?

 

can you do have a onsite treatment - septic tank?

 

The people up the hill from us have septic and don't want to invest in a sewerage line because of how expensive it is. And the blocks down the road from us are for sale.

 

Unfortunately the council is not permitting septic any more. And it was clear in the planning permit that they issued.

 

Im guessing you have bought a lot that was one of a number of lots previously owned by the one owner, who has seperated them outside the formal subdivision process, hence you need to do services extensions. If the developer went through the formal subdivision process then the developer would have been made to bring the services in ready for connection for all the new lots.

You can chat with your neighbours/purchasers of the abutting lots and see if you can come to an agreement.

You can also try coliban, or ask your engineer to enquire. There are some circumstances where the water authorities reimburse developers for constructing shared assets, but that is usually for larger diameter pipes, not for smaller assets that only a few will use. You can also enquire if coliban will levy future connectors, and reimburse some of your costs. I believe powercor do this in some situations for the electricity.

 

Thanks - we'll contact Coliban tomorrow and ask.

 

Yes when the water authority has sewer assets nearby then they/council normally dont allow septic systems. There are some situations when they will allow a septic system, under the privisio that when sewer is extended past your property, that you will decommission the septic system and connect to the sewer. This is normally enforced through a section 173 agreement that is registered on title. And the lot will need to be over a certain size for this to be allowed, as septic systems take up a bit of room and there are minimum offsets required to dwellings and abutting properties. You could also look into this, but note you will still need to do the water extension, so the savings might not be that much when everything is costed up.

 

I am also dealing with similar issues in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs - subdivided block in established area, only feasible sewer connection point is 30m down the road.

Only advice is to get a few quotes and make sure they cover off additional costs such as traffic control and excavation if they encounter rock. Also council road restoration fees can really add up