Maleny facts worth knowing
Almost all houses
At the 2021 Census, 91.4% of occupied homes in the suburb of Maleny were separate houses. 55.4% were owned outright, nearly double the Queensland figure of 29.1%.
A plateau with slopes
Sunshine Coast Council's planning scheme puts Maleny on the Maleny Plateau, part of the Blackall Range, with moderate to steep slopes in the north.
Obi Obi Creek floods
Obi Obi Creek, which flows to Lake Baroon, crosses the local plan area and is subject to periodic flooding.
Town land and rural land
The plan's sewer statement covers urban zoned land, which is connected or able to be connected to reticulated water and sewerage. Two large rural residential areas lie south and north-east of the town centre.
Sewer, septic or not sure?
Inside the town's urban zone, the planning scheme expects a sewer connection, or the ability to make one. Out on a rural residential block, find out before you call anyone. Sunshine Coast Council's property search returns the plumbing records and drainage or hydraulic plans it holds, with the property boundary shown.
If the home has an on-site sewerage facility, Council's plumbing permit is needed before it is installed or altered, and the system needs servicing anywhere from quarterly to yearly. A plumber who knows septic systems can tell you which kind you have.
Tanks and town water
If your Maleny home has a rainwater tank that tops up from town water, Unitywater suggests making sure it isn't topping up automatically all the time: a faulty solenoid can do it, and the water shows up on your bill. It also suggests checking the hot water system for leaks.
You can turn off the stop tap at the meter for a while to stop water being wasted, but Unitywater warns to make sure that won't damage appliances such as the hot water system first. Our rainwater tanks page covers pumps and switching.
What you may do yourself
The QBCC's guide lists unregulated jobs a homeowner can do without a licence, such as replacing a shower head or a tap washer, or a drop valve or float valve washer in a toilet cistern. The work still has to meet the minimum standards. Anything beyond that list, such as hot water work, is for a licensed plumber.
What we would do
On a rural block outside Maleny's town zone, get Council's plumbing records before you need a plumber. Knowing whether the home is sewered or has a treatment plant, and where the tank, pump and pipes run, saves the first visit being spent on a search. Then keep the system's service history with the records.