Stormwater Query

[Stiches]

Hi all, we built an large seperate garage back in 2004 and have found afetr requesting a LIM that it was never signed off for a CCC. To make a long story short the footings on the reataining wall that the gargae sits on were never signed off. We have had the original engineer re-vist the site and submit a report to council.
We have since had a building inspection that showed zero interest in the retaining wall but highlighted an issue with our stormwater.

We run the stormwater off the roof of the garage into a water tank. We live rurallyand the tank is used to water the garden, clean cars and to refresh our household water tank when needed. When the inspection was done heavy rain was falling, the water tank was full and the overflow was discharging into the paddock where the tank sits. The inspector has advised us that we now need a designed soak pit system to get the CCC.

Can I get some advice on this please. It seems absolutely idiotic that a discharge into a paddock, where road water is directed and rain falls should need a tank soak away. How far does this go? If the soak away fills and discharges do we need another soak away for that soak away?

[John the builder]

what did the consent plans say you were going to do??


was it a 1991 consent or a consent under 2004 building act? (the CCC is issued on a different statement)

there is no requirement to collect runoff as long as you dont cause nuisance or damage to other property (your nieghbour)

[Stiches]

Thanks John,

I am away this week, but will check on the consent when I get home late this week. Thanks for the input. The original drawings showed a connection to a water tank in our paddock which is what we have done.

what did the consent plans say you were going to do? Was it a 1991 consent or a consent under 2004 building act? (the CCC is issued on a different statement). There is no requirement to collect runoff as long as you don't cause nuisance or damage to other property (your neighbour)

[Stiches]

Hi John,

It was consented under the 1991 act but despite the fact it has stood and worked since 2004 with no adverse effects on either our or our neighbours property we are told by a council inspector that the "water tank overflow to be contained onsite by soakage or similar"

All seems a bit over the top to me. Not sure how we go about getting around this.

what did the consent plans say you were going to do??


was it a 1991 consent or a consent under 2004 building act? (the CCC is issued on a different statement)

there is no requirement to collect runoff as long as you dont cause nuisance or damage to other property (your nieghbour)

[John the builder]

is it contained on the site? if soi you dont need to contain it

one solution might be to turn your water tank into a retention tank This allows for the slow discharge through a small diameter pipe (25mm?) and you have more capacity when the rain comes as the tank has emptied since the last pour,

means you cant use although you could do a combination system.

If council are satisfied with this you could revert when the dust settles and you have the CCC.

Talk to a stormwater engineer in your area (or a civil eng with stormwater underrstanding )