The suburb and the City
The suburb takes its name from the ship Rockingham, which ran aground on its beach in 1830; a townsite was surveyed here in 1847. The City of Rockingham is much larger, with 37 km of coastline and around 160,000 people. Census figures below are for the suburb.
What's different in Rockingham
A real mix of homes
At the 2021 Census, 65.5% of the suburb's occupied homes were separate houses, 20.1% townhouses, terraces or semis and 14.1% flats or apartments.
Lots of renters
36.8% of occupied homes were rented. In a rental, Water Corporation puts the cost of leaks and repairs on the owner unless the agreement says otherwise.
Empty homes
13.9% of the suburb's private dwellings were unoccupied on Census night.
Infill sewer in parts of the City
Water Corporation is laying sewer mains in specific areas of the City under the State Government's Infill Sewer Program. Once a main is in your street, the property must connect within the time Water Corporation sets.
Connecting, then decommissioning
After connection, the old septic system must be decommissioned within 60 days of the property changing hands or its use changing. It must also be done before building closer than 1.2m to the tank or 1.8m to a leach drain or soakwell. Planning to build within 1.8m of a decommissioned system? It has to be dug out, not just filled.
From then on, Water Corporation's line applies: the property connection is the owner's to clear, up to the junction with its sewer main.
New or replacement on-site systems
Where sewer isn't available, an on-site system such as a septic tank or aerobic treatment unit is needed, and the City's Health Services must approve it before installation. When it's in, the plumber books a final inspection; if it passes, the City issues a Permit to Use. Greywater and on-site systems must sit wholly inside your boundary, never on the verge. Our septic systems page has more.
If the house sits empty
Know where the mains tap is: near the meter, usually by the verge, closed by turning clockwise. Water Corporation reads meters every 2 months, so a leak in an empty house may first show up on the bill.
Other Rockingham jobs: blocked drains, leak detection, hot water and an emergency plumber. Nearby: Port Kennedy and Secret Harbour.
What we would do
If a sewer main has reached your street, plan the connection and the septic decommissioning as one job, and keep the paperwork for when you sell. If you leave the house empty for a while, close the mains tap before you go. Whatever the job, we will find a plumber who specialises in it, and your contact details go to that plumber alone.