Most commercial or industrial developments require connection approval from Unitywater, to ensure our networks can maintain reliable and efficient service to your property and our existing customers. Even if you already have a water meter or sewer connection, you may still need to make a connection application.
Before applying to connect
The connection approvals process for commercial and industrial projects can be complex and involved, as we need to ensure that any new developments don’t put the health of our communities or our service standards at risk.
A Registered Certifier helps you navigate each of these phases and get your project to market quicker.
For connection applications they assist with:
- Preparing and submitting your Connection Application
- Identifying allowable yield for the site
- Finding any existing approvals on the site or on adjacent sites
- Determining whether the existing water and sewer network can accommodate your development, or if additional infrastructure is required
- Assessing firefighting requirements
- Identifying sub-metering requirements
- Providing design advice on Unitywater-approved allowable servicing solutions.
If network works are required, they also help with:
- Preparing and submitting your Network Works Application
- Conducting an on-site pre-start meeting on our behalf
- Ensuring your contractor understands Unitywater’s requirements
- Flagging and fixing any issues that could delay your approval
- Completing final inspections
- Conducting final testing of construction works
- Arranging live connections
- Managing handover of network infrastructure to Unitywater.
Our Accreditation Register helps you find the right Registered Certifier to assist with your application.
We recommend our Registered Certifiers to submit a Pre-Lodgement Application via the Development Portal before starting the application. This service saves you time by providing upfront advice that helps you understand what’s involved in applying to connect, and what supporting information is required to lodge a successful application.
What to submit with your Connection Application
You will need:
- the land owner’s consent
- consent from owners of any nearby property affected by the proposed work, e.g. if access is required
- the Lot and Plan Number of your property
- a street plan that adequately locates the property
- construction plans showing gross floor area
- hydraulic plans – including details of water supply and sewerage connection, and sub-meters (if applicable)
- a document detailing the nature of your development.
You’ll also be asked to provide information regarding any high risk activities that may require backflow prevention devices, containment protection, pre-treatment devices or a trade waste meter.
All development applications are submitted via the Development Portal.
Development Portal
Apply for connections, disconnections or alterations to our network
Sign in or Register5 phases of connecting to our network
If your commercial or industrial development involves extensions or modifications to our mains infrastructure, there are five approval phases to work through before handing over the assets to Unitywater to maintain: Planning, Application, Construction, Connection and Final Acceptance.
If network extensions or modifications aren’t required, the Construction and Final Acceptance phases do not apply.
A Registered Certifier helps with each phase of the approvals process.
In this phase you will be planning your development, preparing plans and submitting documents to council and Unitywater for approval.
We recommend submitting a Pre-Lodgement Application via the Development Portal before starting a connection application.
This service saves you time by providing upfront advice that helps you understand what’s involved in applying to connect, and what supporting information is required to lodge a successful application.
What you need
- Pre-Lodgement advice from council, if received
- Approvals from council, if received
- Development plans/designs.
Sign in to the Development Portal
Do this by purchasing a title search and survey plan via Department of Natural Resources and Mines.
If this is not possible then you can send us a request for an approval for an encroachment.
The first step is to submit the documentation and plans for your Connection Application. If your development requires extensions or modifications to the existing mains, you also need to submit a subsequent Networks Works Application. All development applications are submitted via the Development Portal.
What you need:
- Approvals from council, if received
- Development plans/designs.
Sign in to the Development Portal
Do this by requesting a Detailed Infrastructure Plan from us online.
The building certifier assess your proposed building work against the Queensland Development Code MP 1.4 – Building over or near relevant infrastructure.
You must use the documents and checklist on our building and renovating page if you need to build over or near infrastructure.
This phase only applies to developments that involve you or your sub-contractors making extensions or modifications to our water or sewer mains.
The construction phase always starts with an onsite pre-start meeting between you or your consulting engineer, your contractor (or principal contractor and sub-contractor) and a Registered Certifier, who acts on Unitywater’s behalf.
A Major Connection Certifier and a Construction Certifier work together during this phase to prevent delays by ensuring all work is carried out to Unitywater’s satisfaction.
What you need:
- Approvals from council and Unitywater
- A contractor to complete the works.
All developments involve a live connection phase. In this phase you pay your Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN) and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Live connections to our network are carried out exclusively by our Private Works team. These industry specialists help guarantee the safety of our water supply by ensuring there is no risk of contamination during the connection process.
If your development did not involve network works, then the connection phase proceeds as below.
All developments involve a live connection phase. In this phase you pay your Infrastructure Charges Notice (ICN) and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Developments that involve upgrades or extensions to our mains (network works), go through an On Maintenance phase to ensure infrastructure is operating correctly. This proceeds as follows:
This phase involves the Final Acceptance of the network assets and their maintenance to Unitywater. It only applies if network works were required.
You initiate this by submitting an Off Maintenance Application to Unitywater when the On Maintenance period has ended.
Once the works have been inspected to the satisfaction of a Construction Certifier, we return your bond and your development is complete.
If defects are detected, they need to be rectified and re-inspected before Final Acceptance is finalised.
What you need:
- Inspection by a Construction Certifier
- Your certifier submits an Off Maintenance Application.
A surcharge will apply for credit card payments (Mastercard and Visa) in the Development Portal. Find out more.
