What to know before you apply

1. Find your site on the GIS map. 
2. Check for pipes and manholes that are on or near your site: blue for water, red for wastewater, and green for stormwater (note that the stormwater network is managed by Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters).
3. Click on the asset to view its GIS ID, status, material, diameter, process, and the type of network to which it belongs. The important things to note are network (transmission or local) and, for wastewater pipes, the process (gravity or rising).
4. If necessary, use the measuring tool to estimate how close your work will be to our assets.

Before proceeding to answer the question of whether Works Over approval is required, it is necessary to understand that our assets are divided into two groups - critical and non-critical. This is based on their diameter, process, network to which they belong, risk of damage, and the actions required to maintain them.

Critical assets include: 
a. Transmission network pipes of any size. 
b. Wastewater rising mains of any size 
c. Local network pipes 300 mm diameter or greater.

Non-critical assets include all other local network pipes less than 300 mm in diameter, except rising mains.

• Building over chambers, valves, manholes, rising mains and connections is not permitted.
• Do not CCTV transmission pipes.
• Critical pipes need to be clearly located and marked out on site. You may either spear and pothole or hydro excavate to locate the pipe. An investigation approval must be applied for prior to undertaking any works.
• If it is not practical to spear and pothole for the pipe, it must be marked out by a registered surveyor at the applicant’s cost.
• Please note that for health and safety reasons only approved third parties are allowed access to our networks.
• Foundations are to be designed to ensure that no additional loading is imposed on the affected pipe by the new structure. 
• Please refer to our Code of Practice and Standard Drawings for the minimum clearances from our assets, bridging details and piling requirements. 
• An engineering report may be required depending on the proposed development, depth and condition of the pipe.
• These requirements are also applicable to retaining walls/fence.
• Inspections and stand-over requirements will be set out in the approval conditions.
• Final sign off, as required by Auckland Council, will be dependent on the results of the specified inspections and stand-over.

 

• Building over chambers, valves, manholes, rising mains and connections is not permitted.
• A pre-construction CCTV inspection is required and a permit for accessing our wastewater network must be obtained. CCTV footage and the permit must be less than six months old and submitted upon lodgement of the works over application.
• Please note that if the pipe that is proposed to be built over is damaged or deemed to be in poor condition, it must be repaired at the applicant’s expense. The Works Over approval will be granted with specific conditions detailing the remedial action required.
• Affected pipes must be clearly marked out. This can be done by the CCTV contractor during the inspection or marked out by a registered surveyor at the applicant’s expense.
• Please note that for health and safety reasons only approved third parties are allowed access to our networks.
• Foundations are to be designed to ensure the new structure imposes no additional loading on the affected pipe. 
• Please refer to our Code of Practice and Standard Drawings for clearances from our assets, bridging details and piling requirements.   
• Final sign off, as required by Auckland Council, will be dependent on the results of the specified inspections and stand-over. A post-construction CCTV inspection must be carried out to ensure the affected pipe has not been damaged.

The minimum cover required over transmission network pipes is:

• 1500 mm for new carriageway and existing carriageway reinstatements
• 900 mm in berms and footpaths

The minimum cover required over local network pipes is: 

• 900 mm for new carriageway and existing carriageway reinstatements
• 600 mm in berms and footpaths

If either of these minimum cover requirements are not achievable, please contact us on (09) 442 2222 or email [email protected]

We aim to complete an application within 20 working days of receiving it. Times may vary depending on the complexity of the project, and whether all information is provided.

If you have any questions, please contact us
​
Phone: (09) 442 2222
Email: [email protected]  

Please see the hourly technician and engineer rates: Other charges

The regulations and guidelines that specify safe working practices and penalties for carrying out unauthorised work are listed below:

• Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 
• Local Government Act 2002 and 2009
• The Utilities Access Act 2010, and its related Code of Practice
• Department of Labour - “Guide for Safety with Underground Services”

Auckland Council require Works Over final sign off from us before processing the Code of Compliance for any property where a structure is built near and/or over our assets.

When applying for a final sign-off, all construction works on-site must be fully completed and the following requirements submitted to [email protected]

1. Completed network Works Over inspection report and as-built drawings signed by a certified structural engineer. Click here to download and complete the inspection report.

• Note: Refer to the initial Works Over approval letter.

 

2. Final CCTV inspection of the affected wastewater network

• Note: Please do not do a final CCTV inspection until all the works are fully complete as the final Works Over sign-off we will not approve the final sign-off. Final CCTV must not be older than 1 month at the time of the final sign-off application.

 

3. Photos of the completed works including but not limited to: street view images showing the house structure, fences/retaining walls, driveways and landscaping.

 

4. Certificate of Acceptance (CoA) for any work and/or new water and wastewater assets installed as part of this development.