Kingston facts that change the job
Council pipes in your yard
Kingborough Council says its stormwater pipes can run through private properties, where they join owners' own pipes. If one crosses your land without an easement on the title, an implied easement exists around it.
Whitewater Creek
This key Kingston waterway flows through Whitewater Estate and Spring Farm, past the Kingston Wetlands to Browns River. It was badly damaged in the 2018 flood, and Council has studied its flood risk.
Shallow pipes, thirsty roots
Public stormwater pipes often have less than one metre of soil over them. Council says roots usually spread to about one and a half times the length of a tree's branches.
More townhouses than the state
At the 2021 Census, 10.0% of Kingston's occupied homes were townhouses or semis, against 6.1% across Tasmania. 89.1% were separate houses and 28.9% were rented.
Roots: who clears what
Council clears roots blocking its public pipes. If the roots come from a tree on private land, it may require the owner to remove that tree, at the owner's cost.
Roots in your own pipes are yours to deal with: Council doesn't clear private lines, so a licensed plumber does it at your cost. Council also says a private blockage must never be pushed through into the public system. It advises against planting anything taller than 1 metre over stormwater pipes or easements. See tree roots in drains.
Get the plans before anyone digs
Council can supply a plan of known public stormwater pipes on your block, and a plan of your private system if the installing plumber lodged one. Private plans go only to the owner, a licensed plumber with the owner's written authority, or a solicitor at settlement. For sewer and water pipe locations, ask TasWater.
Building over a public stormwater pipe is generally refused; usually only temporary structures that can be moved are allowed.
Wet ground, wastewater and permits
Council isn't responsible for groundwater, and suggests a licensed plumber if you think groundwater is the problem. A leak on your side of TasWater's connection point is also yours to repair.
Upgrading or replacing a home wastewater system needs a Plumbing permit, and the trenches or soakage areas that go with it may need a planning permit too, for example within 30m of a wetland or watercourse. Replacing a hot water heater in Tasmania means fitting a tempering valve, unless it's one unit in a bank of heaters. See hot water in Hobart.
What we would do
Ask Council for its plan of public pipes on your block before a plumber digs or a landscaper plants. If roots are in a Council pipe crossing your yard, Council clears them, but the tree may still be yours to remove. For a blockage in your own line, make sure the drain specialist pulls the roots out rather than flushing them into Council's pipe.