How a certifier can help
A Registered Certifier helps make the approvals process easier and faster by preparing, assessing and submitting your applications for Unitywater’s approval.
For connection applications they help with:
- Preparing and submitting your connection application
- Identifying whether the existing water and sewer network can accommodate your development, or if additional infrastructure is required
- Providing design advice on Unitywater-approved allowable servicing solutions
- Calculating Infrastructure Charges payable with development
- Assessing firefighting requirements
- Identifying sub-metering requirements
- Drafting Certificates of Completion for Unitywater’s approval.
If network works are required, they help with:
- Preparing and submitting your network works application
- Conducting pre-start meetings on our behalf
- Completing final inspections
- Conducting final testing of construction works
- Arranging live connections
- Managing handover of network infrastructure to Unitywater.
Our Accreditation Register helps you find the right Registered Certifier to assist with your application and prevent any approval delays.
To standardise the approvals process, from 1 July 2021 we’ll only be accepting connection applications prepared by a Registered Certifier. We’ll assess submitted Certification Packages and issue Decision Notices within 10 business days from receipt.
In the planning phase, you will be planning your development and preparing plans and documents to submit to council and Unitywater for approval.
We recommend that you request a Service Advice Notice (SAN) during this phase. The SAN is provided free by Unitywater and will help you submit a complete application and ensure your application is assessed in the shortest time possible.
Services Advice Notice F9289 (PDF 140KB)
Do this by purchasing a title search and survey plan via Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
If this is not possible then you can ask us for approval for an encroachment.
The first step is to submit the documentation and plans for your connection application. If your development requires extensions or modifications to the existing mains, you also need to submit a networks works application. These applications can be submitted together or separately, by your Registered Certifier.
What you need:
- A Unitywater SAN
- Approvals from council, if received
- Development plans/designs.
Do this by requesting a Detailed Infrastructure Plan from us online.
The building certifier assess your proposed building work against the Queensland Development Code MP 1.4 – Building over or near relevant infrastructure.
You must use the documents and checklist on our building and renovating page if you need to build over or near infrastructure.
This phase only applies to developments that involve you or your sub-contractors making extensions or modifications to our water or sewer mains.
The construction phase always starts with an onsite pre-start meeting between you or your consulting engineer, your contractor (or principal contractor and sub-contractor) and a Registered Certifier, who acts on Unitywater’s behalf.
A Major Connection Certifier and a Construction Certifier work together during this phase to prevent delays by ensuring all work is carried out to Unitywater’s satisfaction.
What you need:
- Approvals from council and Unitywater
- A contractor to complete the works.
All developments involve a live connection phase. In this phase you pay your Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN) and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Live connections to our network are carried out exclusively by our Private Works team. These industry specialists help guarantee the safety of our water supply by ensuring there is no risk of contamination during the connection process.
If your development did not involve network works, then the connection phase proceeds as below.
All developments involve a live connection phase. In this phase you pay your Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN) and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Developments that involve upgrades or extensions to our mains (network works), go through an On-maintenance phase to ensure infrastructure is operating correctly. This proceeds as follows:
This phase involves the Final Acceptance of the network assets and their maintenance to Unitywater. It only applies if network works were required.
You initiate this by submitting an Off-maintenance Request to Unitywater when the On-maintenance period has ended.
Once the works have been inspected to the satisfaction of a Construction Certifier, we return your bond and your development is complete.
If defects are detected, they need to be rectified and re-inspected before Final Acceptance is finalised.
What you need:
- Inspection by a Construction Certifier
- Your certifier submits an Off-Maintenance
Package.
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