My kerb outlet is cracked. Who replaces it?

The stormwater pipe from your house to the street is yours. To install or replace the outlet, the City of Unley asks you to use its works on public land form first.

Who looks after the creek through my backyard?

Council says creeks in Unley are typically privately owned. It points to the Brown Hill Creek website for who cares for urban creeks, so check there or with Council.

Plumbers in Unley: stormwater outlets, creeks and street trees

Plumbers in Unley Your pipe, Council's kerb.

In Unley, the stormwater pipe from your house to the street is your responsibility, and changing the outlet at the kerb means filling in Council's works on public land form. Street trees and their roots are protected too. Tell us about the problem at your Unley place and we'll match you with a licence-checked plumber who specialises in it.

Unley facts

Your stormwater pipe

The City of Unley manages stormwater in the streets and its underground pipes, which drain to the Patawalonga at Glenelg. The pipe from your house to the street belongs to you.

Creeks on private land

Council says nearly all of Unley's creeks are privately owned, with about 90% running through private property. Brown Hill, Keswick, Glen Osmond and Parklands creeks have a history of flooding.

Protected trees and roots

Council trees, street trees included, are protected under the Local Government Act 1999, roots and all. Any tree with a trunk one metre or more around is protected by state law too.

Houses, units and flats

At the 2021 Census, 52.0% of the suburb's occupied homes were separate houses, 20.2% semis or townhouses and 27.1% flats. 35.6% were rented.

From roof to road

Gutters, downpipes, yard pits and the pipe to the kerb are yours to maintain. To install or replace a stormwater outlet for your downpipes, Council points you to its works on public land form.

When Council itself relays a street drain, its contractors typically leave existing outlets in place, still discharging to the kerb. A stormwater specialist can trace a broken pipe or a blocked outlet.

Creeks and flood risk

Council's flood mapping identifies parts of Unley prone to stormwater and creek flooding. The Brown Hill Keswick Creek project, shared by five councils including Unley, is upgrading these creeks.

If a creek runs through your block, Council says it is typically privately owned, so ask Council what that means for you before changing drains near it.

Digging near street trees

Council says tree roots must be protected during works such as driveways, paths, verges and fences. A trench across the verge for a new stormwater or sewer line is exactly that kind of work, so ring Council first.

Roots already in the pipe? Pipe relining is worth a quote. For the sewer side, ask SA Water where its part ends: its rule wouldn't load for us.

What we would do

Before replacing a kerb outlet or digging across the verge, get Council's works on public land form sorted and ask about any street tree nearby. Check the flood maps if you're changing drainage near a creek. Then book the plumber, with the paperwork done.