Applying for a Septic Tank Permit

Collect the following information to be submitted with your application:

Land Capability Assessment (LCA)

A LCA may need to be submitted as part of your application. Refer to the section below “Land Capability Assessments - When are they required?”.

Without a LCA it is impossible to determine the capability of the land to sustain a septic system.

A LCA for your property may have already been undertaken when the property was sub-divided and you may be able to access this report.

Locality Plan

Your locality plan needs to include:

• the location of the property including the street or lot number
• the location and names of other streets and laneways in the immediate area

Site Plan

Your site plan needs to include:

• the proposed location of dwellings including sheds, driveways, stock areas, tennis courts, swimming pools or any other structure intended to be constructed on the land
• the area you intend to install the septic system

A House/Building Floor Plan

Your plan needs to clearly identify all bedrooms and studies and be on a scale of no less than 1:100.

Title

A copy of the land title is required to determine if there are any encumbrances on the land.

Council is required to issue a permit to install or alter a septic system within 45 working days of receiving your application, if you have lodged all the correct paperwork.

You should not conduct any installation works until you’ve received this permit.

Once we receive your completed application and supporting documentations, Council will issue an invoice for the permit fee. Once payment is received, we will proceed with the next step in the application process.

Next steps may involve a site visit to your property by our Environmental Health Officer. If a site visit is required, we will contact you to book a time.

If we need further information or require alterations to your proposed plans, we will contact you to discuss and advise.

Once satisfied your proposed septic system is suitable, Council will issue your permit.

Before you can begin using your septic system, Council must issue a Permit to Use.

Contact Council to notify us your installation is complete and provide us with a Victorian Building Authority Compliance Certificate and 'As Laid' plans for your plumber, ensuring all work complies with relevant standards and regulations.

Aerated septic systems also require you to submit a Commissioning Certificate.

Council will then conduct a final inspection of the installation to ensure it meets the criteria and conditions on your Septic System Permit, before issuing a Permit to Use.

You may then begin using your septic system.

If you require an extension to your septic system permit, complete an extension request form below.

A fee of $165.50 is payable for permit extensions.

Septic Tank Permit Extension Application Form(DOCX, 170KB)

If a property or an existing dwelling that you are planning to develop is not able to be connected to a reticulated sewer system, in most cases, Council will require a Land Capability Assessment (LCA) to be undertaken. This will enable Council to make an informed decision on the viability of the proposed development in regard to the onsite management of the resulting wastewater.

What is a Land Capability Assessment?

 A LCA is a report, prepared by a suitably qualified person, which is needed to determine the type of treatment system and the area of land that is required in order to dispose of the wastewater created by a dwelling.

The LCA will demonstrate to Council if the proposed dwelling/commercial site is capable of sustainably managing within allotment boundaries all wastewater likely to be generated by the proposed development. The LCA also stipulates an ongoing management program that must be implemented to ensure that the health and environmental impacts of on-site wastewater management are minimised.

Who should carry out an LCA?

The preparation of a LCA requires a range of skills and must be prepared to a high standard in order to meet Council requirements. The LCA should be prepared by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional in the environmental, geotechnical, soil science and/or wastewater consulting field. Owners are advised to ensure that assessors have the appropriate qualifications, accreditation and experience and have professional indemnity insurance cover.

The LCA must reference Council's Domestic Wastewater Management Plan and show how it meets the requirements for treatment and disposal within certain areas and land size within Murrindindi Shire.

A LCA is mandatory for any developments that occur in the Lake Eildon (Environs) Special Water Supply Catchment (SWSC). For more information about special water supply catchment areas, refer to the Environment Protection Authority Victoria Guidelines for onsite wastewater management.