Nambour, as it affects plumbing
The largest rural town
Sunshine Coast Council's planning scheme calls Nambour the largest rural town on the Sunshine Coast. It is also the centre of Council's administration.
Older Queensland-style houses
Housing is mostly detached, with several retirement communities. The older residential parts hold pockets of character housing in the traditional Queensland style.
Creeks that flood
Petrie, Paynter, Whalleys and Tuckers Creek cross the area, and central parts, including the fringes of the town centre, are subject to periodic flooding.
Plenty of renters
At the 2021 Census, 66.3% of occupied homes in the suburb of Nambour were separate houses, and 38.0% were rented, against 33.1% across Queensland.
Two questions for an older house
Is it on a combined sanitary drain? Council says these private drains, shared by two or more properties to one Unitywater sewer connection, were mostly built in the 1930s and 40s. Their owners share the upkeep, the owner of the faulty section fixes it, and the work needs a plumbing permit.
Does the roof water go anywhere? Council says some properties built before 1976 were never connected to the stormwater system and still have pipes that empty onto the ground. If it pools against the house or runs onto a neighbour, a plumber can advise on connecting it.
Records before the first dig
Unitywater says house drainage plans come from the local council. Sunshine Coast Council's building, plumbing and development search is how you get plumbing records, drainage or hydraulic plans and inspection certificates for a property.
For an older Nambour home, the plan may be old or missing. Even so, it is worth asking for before a blocked drain turns into a search with a shovel.
After heavy rain
Unitywater says a stormwater pipe connected to the sewer is illegal and must be fixed by a licensed plumber. Blockages or damaged pipes in the road reserve are Council's to hear about; private downpipes that run into the kerb are a plumber's job. For a burst or overflow, see an emergency plumber.
What we would do
If you own an older Nambour house, ask Council's Plumbing Services whether it is on a combined sanitary drain, and order the plumbing records at the same time. Those two answers tell a drain specialist where the line runs and who else shares it, before any cost is split or any ground is opened.