Stormwater drains

Council’s drainage network includes pits, pipes, swales and channels. Stormwater runoff is collected by the network and moved away and into our waterways.

The way in which we manage stormwater helps us protect local waterways and improve our flood resilience

 

1. Identifying the owner of a stormwater drain

Property owners are responsible for all stormwater drainage within their property along with the section of drains from their property to the approved point of discharge.

The Legal Point of Discharge is the point in which private drainage connects to the responsible authority’s drainage system. Stormwater from a building or development needs to be captured and directed to an approved legal point of discharge. Legal points of discharge are connected to public drainage infrastructure, which normally includes:

  • underground drains or kerbs within in the street,
  • an underground drain within an easement,
  • a private drain managed by an owners corporation,
  • a Melbourne Water distribution drain, where explicit permission from Melbourne Water needs to be sought

2. Apply for Legal Point of Discharge

stormwater-drainage-diagram.png

Easements may be within a property to allow a section of land for service assets (including stormwater or sewage pipes). This land is owned and maintained by the property owner, however the assets servicing the easement are the responsibility of the relevant authority (eg. Council, Yarra Valley Water, South East Water, etc.)

Apply for point of discharge

3. Who can resolve a stormwater issue between neighbours? 

Flooding or water flow issues between adjoining properties should be resolved between the private property owners involved. Should you be experiencing this issue, please refer to our Resolving Drainage with Neighbours for more information.

4. Stormwater requirements for Building & Planning

Stormwater must be connected to a legally approved point of discharge. A point of discharge is usually an underground drain, kerbs or open table drains.

To meet our stormwater drainage requirements for a planning or building permit, please follow these steps:

5. Stormwater FAQs