Planning sewer or drainage work in Brighton? Ezy-Plumb knows the local approval process inside out.
Who Actually Manages the Sewer in Brighton?
Brighton falls under the South East Water service area. It owns and maintains the sewerage network right up to the connection point at your property boundary.
Everything from that connection point into your home is your responsibility as the property owner. That distinction matters a lot when work is involved.
Before any alteration or new connection to the water supply, sewerage, or recycled water network, all single residential dwellings in the South East Water area must obtain South East Water’s approval , known as a consent to connect. This applies whether you are adding a new bathroom, extending your home, knocking down and rebuilding, or connecting a property that was previously on a septic system. You apply through South East Water’s online portal, PropertyConnect, and your licensed plumber will need the consent number before they can legally begin the below-ground work.
It is worth knowing that only South East Water and its authorised contractors can work on or enter South East Water’s assets.
What the VBA Requires for Below-Ground Drainage
South East Water’s consent is just one part of the picture. The VBA also has specific requirements for any below-ground sanitary drainage work, and these sit on top of the water authority’s process.
Prior to starting any below-ground sanitary drainage work, or the connection of a water service to a water authority asset, plumbers must first have the consent of the water authority, which will prescribe conditions of consent. For work involving below-ground property sanitary drains, the water authority will also allocate a consent number, known as a PIC number, as part of their consent.
Under the Building Act 1993 , once the work is done, plumbers who perform below-ground sanitary drainage work have an obligation to offer the drain to the authority for inspection. This is not optional. Your plumber must book that inspection, and it must happen before the drain is covered over.
The compliance certificate issued after a successful inspection is your proof that the drainage work meets the requirements of the Plumbing Code of Australia . Hold onto it. You will need it if you ever sell the property or make an insurance claim related to the drainage system.
Where South East Water and the VBA Overlap
South East Water and the VBA are two separate bodies with two separate jobs. One does not cover the other, and you need both on side before your below-ground drainage work can be considered done and compliant.
South East Water’s role is to protect the integrity of the public sewerage network. Their consent to connect sets the conditions under which your plumber can tie into that network, and the PIC number they issue is what allows work to legally proceed. The VBA’s role is to ensure the work itself meets the technical standards set out in the Plumbing Code of Australia. The drain inspection the VBA requires is separate from anything South East Water oversees, and it must happen before the drain is buried.
Think of it this way: South East Water controls access to the network, and the VBA controls the quality of the work connecting to it.
Bayside City Council Still Plays a Role
While South East Water and the VBA are the two primary approval bodies for sewer connection work, Bayside City Council is still part of the picture for many Brighton homeowners, particularly when work involves excavation near the street or footpath.
Bayside requires separate permits for specific works connected to council infrastructure. These include:
- A Stormwater Tapping Permit for any connection into Bayside’s stormwater drainage system or kerb and channel.
- A Road Opening Permit any time you need to excavate a road, nature strip, or footpath, whether it is for sewer work, water connections, or anything else.
- A Vehicle Crossing Permit for any works to an existing or new vehicle crossing from the road over the footpath.
Not sure which permits your project needs? Talk to Ezy-Plumb before you start.
The Right Order Matters
One of the most common mistakes Brighton homeowners make is starting work before all the approvals are in place. The correct sequence for most sewer connection or drainage projects looks like this: get your planning permit first if one is required, then your building permit, then South East Water’s consent to connect, then the VBA’s consent number from the water authority, and finally book your drain inspection before covering any below-ground work.
Skipping steps does not just slow things down. It can result in work that has to be exposed, inspected, and potentially redone at your own expense.
Brighton’s Older Homes Add Another Layer
Brighton has a lot of older homes, and the drainage systems underneath them tell that story. Clay pipes, outdated boundary traps, and connections that have seen better days are more common than most people expect. If an existing drain is a mortar-jointed clay drain, it must be replaced as part of certain works. This is something a lot of homeowners do not anticipate when they budget for a renovation, and it is exactly the kind of thing a good licensed plumber will flag upfront rather than halfway through the job.
Getting a CCTV drain inspection before you start any significant work is one of the smartest things you can do. It tells you exactly what condition your existing drainage is in and whether any surprises are waiting underground.
Ezy-Plumb: Brighton’s licensed plumbing and gasfitting team. VBA licensed, locally experienced, and ready to handle your next job. Visit ezyplumb.com.au to book.
FAQs
Q: Who manages the sewer in Brighton?
Ans: South East Water owns the network to your boundary, and everything beyond that is your responsibility.
Q: When do I need South East Water and VBA approvals?
Ans: Any new connection or below-ground work needs both SEW consent and a VBA PIC before starting.
Q: Do I need council permits too?
Ans: Yes, if you touch streets, footpaths, or stormwater drains, you’ll need the relevant Bayside Council permits.
Q: Why is the order of approvals important?
Ans: Starting without approvals can stop your project and cost more, so follow the sequence: planning, building, SEW, VBA, then inspection.
