Full description of access terms

Access to land containing water or sewerage network equipment

Where underground water or sewerage network infrastructure traverse a property, for some but not all properties, a heavy machinery accessible service reservation (sometimes called a proposed easement, a service and access easement, a sewerage easement or a combined sewerage and drainage (stormwater) easement) is identified on the deposited plan or Land Title held by the ACT Land Titles Office.

Where utility network assets exist on a property without any identified service reservation, a pipe protection envelope of similar dimensions is deemed to apply. Where that service reservation or pipe protection envelope is not directly accessible from a public place, heavy machinery accessible maintenance “utility access route” is to be provided from the street or approved public place to the service reservation or pipe protection envelope (usually along one side boundary).

Where a sewerage network access shaft or chamber (manhole) is located within a service reservation or pipe protection envelope, a small machinery 24 hour emergency utility access route is also required from the street or other public land to that shaft or chamber.

The emergency and maintenance utility access routes can be combined or separate. In some instances the maintenance utility access route can, with consent from ActewAGL, be through a garage or similar approved structure (see notes below) provided adequate passageway and vertical clearance can be provided.

Learn more about the various acceptable dimensional controls.

The widths of some maintenance utility access routes vary according to the size of the block.

Additional requirements:

1. Special footing designs may be required for structures sited adjacent to underground utility sewers and stormwater mains. ActewAGL may require engineering drawings and certification from a chartered engineer to confirm that the footings will not exert any load onto the sewerage main and the structure will remain stable when the main is excavated for repair or replacement.
2. A private services zone may be necessary to allow sufficient space to be provided between the building and a pipe protection envelope (easement or service reservation) for the purpose of laying private in-ground services and to deposit soil from excavation works in the pipe protection envelope. Sanitary drains, plumbing, irrigation pipes, communication and electricity cables are not to be laid inside any pipe protection envelope, easement or service reservation.
3. Where access from an adjacent walkway, parkland or another acceptable alternative access route can be provided to the rear of the property, plant access along the side boundary may not be required (subject to agreement with ActewAGL).