Guide to

Building Over Easements

Construction Conditions

Major and minor structures must all comply with the following requirements and will be reviewed as part of the application process.

• Anyproposedbuildings,worksorstructuresaredesignedand constructed in a manner which protects the structural integrity of the drain e.g. no loads transferred to the drain. This may require deeper footings than structurally required to satisfy the angle of repose.

• Anypartofthebuilding,structure(includingfootings)or worksiskeptatleast300mmclearoftheundergrounddrain.

Application process

Applicationformsareavailablefordownloadfromwww.melton.vic.gov.auorcanbepickedupfromcustomer service in Melton and Caroline Springs.

There may be other services such as sewer in your easement.Approvalfromallotherauthoritiesmustbeobtained before submitting your application and gaining Council approval.

Applicationsreceivedwillbeassessedaccordingthepolicy and approved structures will receive an approval letter and stamped plans. Structures that are not approved will be informed via a written response.

45 o

Minimumfooting

distance

Minimumfootingdepth

300mm

Angle of repose

Minimum clearanceto top of pipe

400mm

Diagram not to scale

For more information contact:

Melton City Council Melton Shire Council

232HighStreet, MeltonVictoria3337

193-199CarolineSpringsBoulevard,CarolineSprings3023

(03)97477200www.melton.vic.gov.au

December 2010

This is a general guide. Not all aspects have been covered.

Please contact Engineering Services for further information.

What is an easement?

An easement is a defined area of land registered on the certificate of title around:

• Powerandtelephonelines• Waterandseweragemains• Naturalgaslines• Drainagepipelines• Othercablesandsubstations.

Theorganisationswhomaintaintheseserviceshavetherighttocontrolhowthelandinthedefinedareaisused.Evenifthelandisprivatelyowned,theyhaveaccessrightsifmaintenanceisrequiredontheirassets.

What is a build over easement agreement?

AnagreementbetweenCouncilandthepropertyownerisenteredinto upon the consent to build over an easement to protect Council’s continuous right of access. This can be a standard build over easementagreementoraSection173agreementthatrecords the same agreement onto the property title.

Council’s Objectives

• TomeetourobligationsintheBuildingAct1993andtheBuildingRegulations2006asa“serviceauthority”

• Toensureaccesstojunctionpitsismaintained• Toensurenoadditionalloadisplacedonpipes• ToensureCouncil’sinterestswillbeprotectedbywayof

agreements binding on current and future property owners.

What factors are considered?

• What’sintheeasement• Sizeofpipe• Futureaccesstopipe• Typeofstructureproposed.

Non-Permissible Structures

Council will not permit the followinginanyeasementwhatsoever:-

• Anypartofahabitabledwelling• Anystructureunderthesamerooflineasthehabitabledwelling• IngroundSwimmingPools• Structurescontainingseweredfixtureswithintheeasement• Industrialbuildings• Anystructureoverorwithin1mofastormwateraccesspit• Stripfootings,onlypadfootingsareallowed.

Minor

• Timber fence• Brick fence perpendicular to easement provided no load is

transferred to Council’s drain• Internal Servicesi.e.downpipes,sewerpipes• Stand alone outbuildings of light weight materials and steel frame

withafloorareaoflessthan23squaremetressuchasasteelshed• Cut or Fill–Minimum400mmcovertoovert(top)ofpipe• Asimpleopen carporti.e.withaflatsteelroof,flatframeandsteel

or timber posts• Simpletimber decking structure on timber stumps• Eaves where there is a minimum height from ground level of 2.2m• Rain water tank(notconcrete)providedthatloadisnottransferred

to Council’s drain i.e. must be on a structural platform

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

NOHabitable Structures Permanent StructuresShedConcrete driveways

and pavers

NOAbove or in-ground

Swimming pools

150mmmax400mm

min

YE S YE SBrick fences crossing

NONOStructures under same roofline

YE SRemovable Carports

Habitable structures

Structures under the same roofline as the habitabledwelling

In-ground swimmingpools

Brick garages Brick or timber fences crossing

Removable carports

Concretedrivewaysandpavers

Sheds

NO NO YES YES YESYESNO Require 173 agreement

Council classify approved structures into two categories:- Minor and Major

For“minor works and structures”(asdefinedbelow)theownerisrequiredtoenterintoastandardBuildOverEasementAgreement.

For“major works and structures”theownerisrequiredtoenterintoaSection173agreementwiththeCouncilthatcontainsappropriatetermsandconditionsthatensurestheongoingprotectionofCouncil’sinterestsandassetsinaneasement.WhereaSection173agreementisrequiredtheowneristobearallcostsfordraftingtheagreementandforregisteringtheagreementontitle.Thisisalengthyandexpensiveprocess.

Minor and major structures are categorised in the following section:

Permissible Structures

Allstructuresorworksoveraneasementrequirebuild over easement approval.

Generally approved structures are portable and light weight.

Iftherearenoassetsintheeasementandtheeasement it is not required for future use some exemptionsastowhatisapprovedmaybeconsidered.

• Minorretaining walls i.e. not requiring a building permit only where it is unavoidable and the full impact on the affect on the Council drain is determined

• Paving, concrete or asphalt for pedestrians and vehicles• Pool surrounds provide it is not part of the pool structure.

Major (Requiring a Section 173 agreement)

• Brick garages, workshops or outbuildings• Standaloneoutbuildingsoflightweightmaterialsandsteelframe

with a floor area of greater than 23 square metres such as a steel shed

• Major timber structures that don’t fall within the minor category• Anystructure over a Legal Point of Discharge (LPOD)• Abovegroundswimmingpools.