Plumbing and Drainage
Tweed Shire Council is the regulator of plumbing and drainage in the Tweed Shire. This means we work with the plumbing industry to ensure that all plumbing and drainage is carried out in accordance with the relevant standards.
All plumbing and drainage work carried out in the Tweed Shire must comply with the current version of the NSW Code of Practice - Plumbing and Drainage and Australia Standard AS/NZS 3500 and all work must be undertaken by a NSW licensed plumber.
Generally Council accepts the responsibility, upon notification of fault, for maintenance, repair or renewal of the water service pipework from our water main to the meter and from our sewer main to the connection point within your property. The property owner is responsible for all maintenance within the property from the water meter and sewer connection point.
Connection to Council’s Potable Water Supply
If your proposal is in an area that has reticulated water available and you need to connect to that supply it will be necessary to complete an  Application for Water Service Connection (69kb) and submit the application to Council together with the prescribed fee. This fee is determined by the size/diameter of the connection required. Once the application has been submitted and determined Council will then provide a metered connection to the site.
Approval to Connect/Carry Out Plumbing or Drainage Work
You need to obtain Council approval if you are planning to connect or disconnect from any of Council’s sewer, stormwater or water systems or if you intend to carry out any work which may affect its system. This includes any major or minor works such as those plumbing and drainage works involved with minor alterations, renovations, additions or the relocation of an existing drainage line. Council approval is also required for plumbing work being carried out on properties connected to On-site Waste Management Systems (Septic Systems).
To obtain approval to undertake such work the owner of a property must complete an Application for Approval of Plumbing and Drainage Work on Private Land (91kb) and submit the completed application form to Council together with the prescribed fees. Once an approval is granted for the requested work an approval notice will be issued together with a number of conditions specific to the work being proposed. These conditions will also identify the stages to which inspections will be required to be undertaken prior to the covering or backfilling of the work.
Plumbing Permit
It should also be noted that once you have obtained an approval and in addition to approval for plumbing and drainage work being required, prior to carrying out plumbing and/or drainage work the licensee engaged to carry out such work must apply for a Permit to do Plumbing and Drainage Work (69kb). The requirement to obtain this permit will also be a condition of your approval to carry out the work.
Inspections
Bookings for inspections may be arranged online or by telephoning Council’s Building and Environmental Health Unit. Before booking an inspection please ensure that a plumbing permit to do the work has been obtained from Council by the contractor.
What work should I book an inspection for?
You must book an inspection for the following prior to covering or backfilling:
- All external drainage including the point of connection to Councils sewer
- All drainage (internal and external) including trade waste
- Water rough in
- Stack work
- Alterations and additions to existing water and drainage
- Connections to stormwater systems
- Sealing of disused services (water and sewer)
- Work that did not comply with an earlier inspection
- Any work on recycled water plumbing
- Any work relating to the modification of an on-site sewage management system
- Land application areas associated with on-site sewage management systems
- Final inspection at the completion of work and prior to premises being occupied
How to book an inspection online
You can book your inspections online  inspections@tweed.nsw.gov.au. Bookings for inspections can be made up until 9.30am on the day the inspection is required or for morning inspections up until 2.30pm the business day before you need the inspection.
To book online you will need to provide the following information:
- The Council approval number for the work
- The owner's name
- Job site address
- The type of inspection required e.g. internal drainage, water rough in
- The date the inspection is required
- Is the inspection required am or pm?
- The name of the person requiring the inspection and their contact number
Should a specific time be required for any inspection please phone during office hours ask to speak with one of Council's officers to arrange such time.
How to book an inspection by phone
You can book an inspection by calling (02) 6670 2400 or 1800 292872 between 8.00am and 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays. Bookings for inspections can be made up until 9.30am on the day the inspection is required, or for morning inspections up until 2.30pm the business day before you need the inspection.
Should a specific time be required for any inspection please ask to speak with one of Council's building officers to arrange such
a time.
To arrange or book an inspection by phone it will be necessary to have the following information ready:
- The approval number for the work
- The owner's name
- Job site address
- The type of inspection required e.g. internal drainage, water rough in
- The date the inspection is required
- Is the inspection required am or pm?
- The name of the person requiring the inspection and their contact number
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