GWMWater

Developer works

Developer works are water or sewer assets built as part of a development that will be handed over to GWMWater for ongoing ownership and maintenance.

Common examples include:

  • pipeline extensions (see Extending our network page for more information)

  • new water or sewer infrastructure for subdivisions

  • hydrants, valves or manholes

  • lowering or relocating our existing assets

  • alterations to existing water or sewer infrastructure

All developer works must be designed and constructed to our standards and requirements.

We follow the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) standards, along with our own design and construction standards.

If you are planning work near our assets, you also have a responsibility when building or operating construction equipment. 

See Working and building near our assets for more information.

Fees and charges

The following information explains our costs involved in any Developer Works.

  • Plan Checking Fee – 0.75% of the estimated cost of the works. This will be invoiced once the Developer Works application is submitted to us.

  • Review and Inspection Fee – 2.5% of the cost of the as constructed works for the Developer Works.

  • Defects Security – This is paid in the form of a security deposit and is a percentage of the actual cost of the developer works and is the larger of;

    • 5% or

    • $2,000 (if 5% is less than $2,000); or

    • Another percentage we have told you about.

  • New Customer Contribution also known as Developer Charges – These charges may apply to new developments and are a one-off payment made by the developer.

    • New Customer Contributions help cover the cost of additional water and sewer infrastructure needed to service the development.

    • The Essential Services Commission, Victoria’s water industry regulator, approves the standard rates for these charges.

    • You can find more information on pricing determinations on the Essential Services Commission website.

  • Growth Water - Growth water costs may apply. You can request more information.

  • Costs associated with the Connections Process are separate and follow the Developer Works Process.

Reach out to us to understand any costs that may be involved.

Developer works process

The following steps outline the standard Developer Works Agreement Process.

There may be some flexibility with the standard steps depending on the type of development you are undertaking. We will work with the developer to outline what might change.

Step 1: Engage early and understand requirements

We want you to engage with us and Council as early as you can, so you can understand your infrastructure and planning requirements, and the costs involved.

The Developer Works Process is fully funded by the developer. To get an understanding of costs involved with your extension project please see 'Fees and charges' above for more information.

All Developer Works must be designed and constructed to our standards and requirements.

We must follow the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) standards, along with our own design and construction standards.

We follow the Land Tenure for Assets Policy to guide our infrastructure access, ensuring a smooth process for everyone.

Your developer may engage a consultant to produce the design at their own cost.

The location and depth of assets shown on plans provided to us are indicative only. We recommend undertaking asset location investigation on site prior to any design and construction work.

Please remember the design and construction of mains on private property need the written approval of the landowner(s) affected before we can approve the plan.

In some cases, a network extension may also benefit other nearby properties. Owners of these properties are not required to pay for the extension. However, they may apply to connect to the infrastructure at a later stage.

If other properties may benefit from the extension, we encourage you to speak with the landowners about contributing to the cost of the works.

Any developer responsible for the delivery of these works must hold a current prequalification with GWMWater. Click here for more information.

Step 2: Submit Developer Works Application and design plans

All works considered Developer Works will require an Application for developer works form to be completed by the developer responsible for the works and pay all the relevant costs.

Alongside all the required paperwork, the developer must produce a design to accompany the application Both the application and design plans can be sent to info@gwmwater.org.au.

A Plan Checking Fee will be invoiced once your designs and relevant documents have been submitted.

Once the fees have been paid, we will check the designs. Defective designs will require correction and resubmission by the developer.

We may identify additional work needed to grow the network; these additional works are referred to as Reimbursement Works since the cost of their construction is recoverable from us.

For designs that are accepted, we will send the developer a letter of principal acceptance and ask if the plans be marked ‘for construction’.

The developer must then provide us with construction issue plans. The construction issue plans are required to progress to the next step, Step 3: Entering into a Developer Agreement with GWMWater.

Step 3: Entering into a Developer Agreement with GWMWater

Based on the developer’s design plans, we will determine if a Developer Agreement or a Minor Works Developer Agreement is required to continue the application.

A Minor Works Developer Agreement outlines the requirements for simpler developments and applies where works involve:

  • No mechanical and electrical assets (including PRVs) (excluding pressure sewer units); and

  • Less than three (3) pressure sewer units (regardless of if these units are to be installed by the developer or at a later date by an owner); and

  • Where the sum of valves, hydrants, elbows, junctions, bends, changes in diameter, and changes in material is less than 10; and

  • Sewer junctions, manholes, maintenance shafts, bends, changes in diameter and changes in materials is less than 10; and

  • Excavations are shallower than 1.5m.

The Developer Agreement outlines the requirements and expectations of the developer we have, along with any costs associated with the project and any applicable Reimbursement Works.

We will send the Developer Agreement for signing.

Once a signed Developer Agreement is received, we will counter-sign and provide the developer with a copy along with a letter confirming design acceptance.

Step 4: Construction consent

Once design acceptance has been confirmed, the developer must provide us with a Notice of Intention to Commence Works, with a minimum of five (5) business days’ notice.

The notice must identify the contractor appointed for the works who must hold current prequalification with us.

No works constructing assets to be transferred or works on our existing assets, are to be carried out without written consent by us.

Step 5: Construction

During construction, we will conduct quality control and safety audits depending on the nature and scale of the works.

The developer must comply with all our requests for work inspections.

If defects are identified during construction, these will be raised with the contractor and developer in the first instance.

If the defects are not resolved, we will let the developer know of requirements for what it will take for us to accept the assets under the Developer Agreement.

Design changes will not be accepted without written approval by us.

Any changes to the design, including construction outside of approved tolerances require revised plan to be signed off by the developer’s design engineer, and submitted to us for approval.

The developer must ensure the works are completed to our standards.

Once construction is complete, the developer must provide as-constructed documentation certified by a licensed land surveyor and the construction contractor.

We will then let the developer of one of the following outcomes:

a) Requirements have not been met. In this case, we will let the developer know of requirements for further submission for assessment; or

b) Express intent to accept assets and as-constructed documentation

Step 6: Preliminary acceptance

Before Preliminary Acceptance is given, the developer must pay the following costs as per Developer Agreement.

  • GWMWater Review and Inspection Fee

  • Defects Security Fee (can be in the form of a security deposit)

  • Any other outstanding fee as determined and invoiced by GWMWater.

The GWMWater Review and Inspection Fee and Defects Security Fee are calculated based on the as-constructed costs of the works.

We will request the cost breakdown from the developer to determine the appropriate Review and Inspection and Defects Security fees.

Any applicable New Customer Contributions will also be invoiced at this stage.

Once costs have been paid, we will issue a Preliminary Asset Acceptance letter to the developer, marking the start of the Defects Liability Period.

Where applicable, service connections from the constructed Developer Works (such as a water mains extension), can be applied for once preliminary acceptance has been granted.

See Connecting services for additional information and associated costs.

Step 7: Defects liability period

During the nominated Defects Liability Period (as outlined in the Developer Agreement), the developer must undertake any necessary remedial action at their own cost.

This may relate to the Developer Works, Private Works, or any property damaged as a result of the development or the Developer Works.

This includes works required in response to a Defects Notice.

Step 8: Final acceptance and return of Defects Security

Provided that there are no outstanding defects or accounts given by the developer, we will issue Final Acceptance and, where applicable, the release of any remaining Defects Security.

Application