Palmerston facts
Lakes that hold stormwater
The City of Palmerston says its man-made lakes work as stormwater retention and water treatment basins. Mitchell Creek is the area's primary catchment and feeds the Elizabeth River.
Mortgages and renters
At the 2021 Census, 45.0% of occupied homes in the City of Palmerston council area were rented and 42.8% owned with a mortgage; only 9.6% were owned outright. 14.5% were flats or apartments.
Wet season preparation
Before each wet season, Council runs a hard rubbish collection to help residents get ready for cyclone season, and it takes reports of stormwater problems.
Who may do plumbing in the NT
The Territory's plumbing law is the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Act 1983. Under its section 38, anyone doing plumbing or drainage, for pay or as a favour, needs the matching licence, and fitting, altering, fixing or hooking up a hot water or cold water service all counts as plumbing.
The Board created by that Act grants the licences and keeps a list of journeymen and advanced tradesmen. Get the number before any work begins and check it with the Board; our licence guide explains how.
The owner exception: every condition must fit
- You own the home and live on the land.
- The fitting is already part of an approved cold water installation.
- Its replacement is no lower in standard.
- The job leaves the installation's function and position substantially as they were.
- No electric heating element is involved.
After the job
Plumbing or drainage done as a standalone job has to be reported to the NT building Director within 7 days, with the practitioner's certificate confirming it conforms, under the NT Building Regulations. Drains get reported before they're backfilled. Whoever certifies the work must hold a current NT Advanced Tradesman Licence that covers plumbing and drainage alike.
Water network and hot water
For the mains, the meter or the sewer in the street, Power and Water is the one to ask. Its website was closed to our research, so where its pipes stop is unconfirmed here.
For hot water, keep storage at 60°C or more: the Australian Building Codes Board says Legionella growth drops significantly at that temperature. STCs can reduce the price of an eligible heat pump or solar heater if the model is on the register. Neighbouring Darwin has its own page, and the Northern Territory page covers the Territory.
What we would do
Book non-urgent drain and gutter work before the wet season, and use Council's hard rubbish run to clear out old fittings. Council's lakes act as stormwater basins, so keep paint and chemicals out of outside drains. For anything beyond the owner exception, ask for the licence number and who will report the job to the building Director inside the week.