Which council are you in?
The City of Joondalup has 22 suburbs, from Burns Beach and Joondalup south to Duncraig, Sorrento and Warwick. The City of Wanneroo takes in places such as Wanneroo itself, Clarkson, Butler, Alkimos, Yanchep and Two Rocks. Your rates notice shows which one is yours.
Some suburbs have their own page: Joondalup, Hillarys, Duncraig, Clarkson, Butler, Wanneroo and Yanchep.
Council-level facts for the north
Houses, mostly owner-occupied
At the 2021 Census, 88.6% of occupied homes in the City of Joondalup's area were separate houses and 16.2% were rented. In the City of Wanneroo's area it was 92.1% houses, 54.0% owned with a mortgage and 21.9% rented.
Septic tanks from the past
The City of Joondalup says parts of Mullaloo, Burns Beach, Sorrento, Marmion and Duncraig began on septic tanks. Most have moved to deep sewerage, but some tanks may still be in the ground.
Lots still off sewer
Deep sewerage is still unavailable for certain lots over 2,000 sqm in Kingsley, between Lake Goollelal and Wanneroo Road, and a small section of Joondalup.
One soakwell guide, two Cities
Both Cities say owners must keep runoff within their boundaries, with about one downpipe per 15 square metres of roof, no more than 12 metres apart, and soakwells set back at least their own width from buildings and boundaries.
Building near an old septic system
Regulations generally stop anyone building within 1.2m of a septic tank or aerobic treatment unit, or within 1.8m of effluent soak wells and leach drains, unless approved. If your block was once on septic, locate the old system before a pool, granny flat or retaining wall goes in.
Street trees and your pipes
In the City of Joondalup only the City or its licensed contractors may prune a street tree, and interfering with the soil or anything else on City land is an offence.
Water Corporation says roots creep into wastewater pipes through cracks and whole sections often need replacing. A drain specialist can deal with the pipe on your land; the tree is a matter for the City. See tree roots in drains.
Water Corporation's part
Water Corporation supplies water and sewerage across both Cities. Ask the plumber to stop at the sewer junction: past it, Water Corporation clears its own main and pays the plumber a set fee for finding the blockage. Our guide to who owns the sewer pipe has the detail, and the Perth pages for blocked drains, pipe relining, hot water and emergency plumbing cover the common jobs.
What we would do
Before digging, ask your City whether the lot was ever on septic, and get the Before You Dig Australia plans, which show sewer mains and junctions. Check that your soakwells suit the roof you have now, not the one the house was built with. Then send us the job and we will pass it to plumbers who do exactly that work. Only the one who takes it gets your contact details.