Council administers and approves permits for the installation of onsite wastewater management systems, including septic tanks, that are used for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater onsite when sewerage is not available.
If reticulated sewerage is available to a lot then the buildings on that lot must connect to reticulated sewerage.
For development in the township of Natimuk, where a septic-to-sewer connection is available, an application and Permit to Install are required.
Onsite wastewater management is overseen by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), which approves wastewater systems suitable for the treatment of wastewater under 5,000L per day.
The EPA also provides additional guidance on the design, maintenance and operation of wastewater systems:
Australian Standards 1546.1:2008 and 1547:2012 also provide the relevant design criteria for the construction and installation of an onsite wastewater management system.
Any person who installs or alters an onsite wastewater management system must first obtain a permit from Council to install or alter and must not use a system until the permit to use has been issued.
Council’s Onsite Wastewater Management Plan includes risk management approaches to wastewater management. This document should be referred to in the development of the septic tank planning and permit application process to ensure human health and the environment are protected in the construction and operation of septic tanks.
Installing an Onsite Wastewater Management System
To obtain a permit you will need to complete an application form and provide:
- Details of the building
- Details of the proposed system
- Plans of the proposed system
- Floor Plans of the building
- Locality Plan of the lot
- Land Capability Assessment (if available)
A land capability assessment is not required for every application, however if a land capability assessment is not provided, Council will calculate the required disposal area as provided in AS 1547:2012. This calculation is based on the number of rooms in the building and is conservative, by undertaking a land capability assessment you may be able to reduce this area.
Septic Tank Permit Application Form
Maintenance of a septic system is the responsibility of the property owner. Septic tanks should be pumped out every three years to ensure that they maintain their efficiency and to avoid potential failures.
Packaged Treatment plant systems require quarterly maintenance to ensure that they are working efficiently and maintaining a high level of treatment. It is the property owner and occupier duty to notify council of signs of failure or that the system is not in good working order. More information regarding septic tank maintenance(PDF, 321KB).
General environmental duty also applies to the owner and users of wastewater systems. This is to minimise harm to human health and the environment. More information on general environmental duty.
The planting of vegetation is an important step in the performance and maintenance of an onsite wastewater management system. This document will provide you with plant species(PDF, 348KB) that are appropriate to plant on and around an onsite wastewater management system.
For more information on wastewater see the Environment Protection Authority's Website.