Building Over or Near a Public Pipe

If there are drains owned by the Council within or adjacent to your property that may be affected, please check this out at the pre-design
stage so your project is not delayed. Council pipes may be wastewater, stormwater or water.

Download the Building Over Council Services application form  for more details about what is required and the process to follow for your application.

Building Over Council Services Application Form(PDF, 127KB)

The Council will only give approval to construct a structure over infrastructure services if:

• It is impractical to construct a new main or relocate the building, clear of the zone of influence; and
• The pipe runs in a straight line both vertically and horizontally between manholes; and
• There are no connections under the building; and
• The condition of the pipe is checked by CCTV prior to construction and the pipe condition is approved as acceptable by the Council; and
• Structures straddling or founded within the above zone are designed by a Chartered Professional Engineer such that there is no loading
  to the pipeline.

The application form and all the detail required about the process to follow and what you'll need to submit with your application are on the form Building Over Council Services.

Download it here(PDF, 98KB)

• Submit your application to the Development Engineer by email to DevEng@tcdc.govt.nz
• Post an application to Development Engineer, Thames-Coromandel District Council, 515 Mackay Street, Thames 3540
• Hand deliver applications to Thames, Whangamata, Whitianga or Coromandel offices.

If you have any questions or updates about your application, please email the Development Engineer.

Section 451 of the Local Government Act 1974 states:

1) If any person proposes to erect any building or to carry out any work in such a location and at such levels that the diversion,
alteration, protection, or replacement of any drainage works of Council appears to be essential to the erection of the building or
carrying on of the work:

a) That person shall notify Council of his proposals; and

b) If Council is satisfied that it is practicable for its drainage works to be diverted, altered, protected, or replaced without material
interference with the services for which it is responsible and that it is reasonable that this can be done, it may enter into an
agreement with that person as to the manner in which the drainage works shall be diverted, altered, protected, or replaced.

2) The cost of so diverting, altering, protecting, or replacing the drainage works of Council shall be borne by that person, and all other cost.

3) If that person fails to comply with any condition specified in any such agreement, he commits an offence against this Act.
You will need to cover any costs to the Council of:

• CCTV condition surveys; and
• Changes to any easement documents, if necessary; and
• Memorandum of Encumbrance expense, if necessary; and
• Design and construction work to move or change the assets in any way.

Details of existing Thames-Coromandel District Infrastructure service locations can be viewed directly on SMART Maps.

This will allow viewing of Council-managed infrastructure in your area but does not include easement information. (Please note that Council's GIS is indicative only.)

If you have a copy of a PIM or obtain one from Council this may assist identifying services and easements on your site.

A physical locate of the public service in question can be undertaken by Council's Operations Contractor in order to confirm the pipe location, material and depths. Should you require this service you will need to undertake a request for service through Council's Customer Services 07 868 0200 or DevEng@tcdc.govt.nz. The information that you receive from Council's Operations Contractor must accompany your application form.

Easements for public infrastructure grant rights that provide Council with the right to work on and replace a pipe if and when necessary.

You will need to identify where easements for Council services are located on your property. These are registered on your property Certificate of Title and your lawyer will be able to assist with obtaining relevant title and easement data.

The easement prevents the landowner from placing structures and/or landscaping within the easement area without prior approval from the Council. If you want to place any structure within the easement then the easement terms must be varied to reflect the fact that Council has given approval, and to reflect that Council's obligations with respect to making good any damage caused as a result of it exercising its rights does not apply to the repair of any structures erected within the easement area.

A CCTV survey of existing drains (waste and storm water only) to be carried out by a suitably qualified person at the applicant's expense.

Depending on the risk to the pipe during construction a further CCTV survey may also be required at the cost of the applicant. Any damage will be the responsibility of the applicant.