Culverting or Piping of Open Drains within Road Reserve

Introduction

If there is an open drain that runs in front of your property and you want it culverted or piped, this page will tell you how to go about getting this done.

Council policy

Culverting of Open Drains in Urban Areas (adopted October 1998):

The Council will consider requests for the culverting of open drains (or upgrading existing culverts) and partially funding the work in urban areas within road reserve only where the work is not part of Councils scheduled forward construction improvement program, subject to the conditions and other details of this policy.
Responsibility for administering the policy shall rest with the Council Officer with the delegated management or appropriate significant activities, or as directed by or through the Chief Executive Officer.

Why do we have this policy?

This policy has been developed to achieve the following objectives:

To contribute to the culverting of open drains where there is some benefit to the adjoining landowner; and
To contribute to the culverting of open drains where there is some benefit to Council through the protection of communities from potential pollution risks that may cause harm to public health or where there is a high maintenance cost.

Conditions

In recognition of the benefits (improvements to property frontage) of the adjoining landowner making any request, the landowner shall contribute to the costs of culverting the drain:

The level of contributions from adjoining property owner shall be 100% for access drives.
Where the rest of the frontage is requested to be culverted (excluding any access drive), the adjoining property owner shall contribute by paying the equivalent cost of the culverts up to a maximum size of 300mm diameter (12 inches).
The delegated Council Officer shall determine the extent and standard of the work prior to purchase and installation of pipes and other materials. Only pipes that meet the standards required for public roads shall be used.

In recognition of the benefits to Council, the Council shall contribute to the cost of culverting the drain:

The Council shall pay the difference between the actual size of the culvert determined to be necessary for the drain and the maximum contribution payable by the adjoining property owner. (Covers situations where the size of the culvert required is greater than 300mm diameter.)
The Council shall pay for the design, setting out, placement, covering, levelling and initial reinstatement of lawn which will be carried out by the Contractor. The owner will be given some lawn seed and possibly some soil to maintain the area.
The policy only applies if there are sufficient funds already approved in Council's budget for the current year, or if Council decides to release funds from Special Fund Reserve.

Criteria and policy limits

The policy caters for the following:

Requests from residential property owners in urban areas who cannot be expected to have the same level of resources as business, organisations or groups.
Requests where the extent of work is limited to typical frontage situations (approximately 20 metres).

For cases which do not meet the above criteria, Council shall determine the level of contributions on a case-by-case basis.

Process

Requests from property owners shall be in writing and applied for using Council's Road Works Consent form.
Council's engineering staff shall inspect the site and determine the extent of work, the size and standard of culvert required and confirm any other issues (e.g. Resource Consents) that may be necessary to action, to successfully complete the work.
Council's engineering staff shall confirm with the Manager responsible for the appropriate significant activities, that sufficient funds are available for the work to proceed.
Council's engineering staff shall detail in writing to the property owner, the requirements and costs of the work and the anticipated start date for the commencement of the work or alternatively advise that due to insufficient funding the work cannot proceed at this stage.
The property owner shall also be requested (if the project proceeds) to fund their share as determined by this policy no later than two (2) weeks prior to the work commencing.
If for any reason that work does not take place on the anticipated start date, the Project Controller shall notify the property owner of an alternative start date or refund the property owner's contribution.
Council's engineering staff shall arrange for details of the completed work to be updated in Council's Assets Register.

Example:

Drain 20m long requires 600mm dia pipe

Total cost of pipe: 600mm dia x 20m @ $105 per m = $2,100

Property owner will pay: 300mm dia x 20m @ $44 per m = $880.
Council will pay difference in price: $2,100 - $880 = $1,220 plus design, installation & reinstatement.