Quick tip:

For informaion on underground assets,

please call Dial Before You Dig on Utility installation
1100 Near Melbourne Water
Assets Guide

Workplace Safety
If utilities are being installed under/near natural or artificial waterways,
contractors will be required to address the following issues:

• Method of waterway/stream diversion

• Evacuation procedures for people and machinery in the event of

heavy rainfall or flooding

• Compliance with Victorian Workcover Authority requirements.

Application Submissions
All utility installation applications should include the following
information:

• Property address and location

• Proposed works and specifications

• Alignment/location of works

• Dimensions and clearances Who do I contact?

This brochure is a general guide. Not all
• Method of installation structures have been listed in this brochure.
Please contact Melbourne Water - Asset
Services for further information regarding
• Survey plans of the property structure requirements, build-over agreements
and conditions. Applications can be posted to:
• Workplace safety requirements if applicable Postal address:
Asset Services
Melbourne Water Corporation
Utility installation submissions will attract a standard PO Box 4342 Melbourne Victoria 3001
application fee. ISBN 978-921603-48-8 (print)
ISBN 978-921603-47-1 (web)
Please note: This does not preclude the need to obtain other relevant Email address:
assetservices@melbournewater.com.au
approvals and operation of other legislations, eg: SBO, LSIO.
Web Site:
www.melbournewater.com.au
Contacts and Queries General Melbourne Water Enquiries 131722
This brochure is a general guide for utility installation only. Asset Services Enquiries 9679 6614
Melbourne Water approval must be acquired before any Version 2: June 2009
excavation or installation occurs.
 Underground Assets Waterways and Constructed Channels
Open Cut - Involves excavating soil to form a trench, enabling new Boring - Involves a small tunnel being drilled through soil

Melbourne Water infrastructure to be laid/ repaired/ removed, and is then backfilled.

General Melbourne Water requirements are:
enabling new infrastructure to be laid. General Melbourne Water
requirements are:

must give approval • A 1.0 metre minimum vertical clearance between the utility
and asset
• For all waterways boring is the preferred method*

• Engineering calculations must be supplied to confirm no soil up

before any installation • Concrete cut-offs must be constructed

• Soil compaction to 95% - 98%

thrust/down thrust occurs.

• No settlement is to occur following installation - air pockets are to

of utilites or • Ground surface to be returned to original condition as per

Melbourne Water requirements
be avoided.

• Must have a minimum vertical clearance of 2.0 metres, measured

excavation occurs. Passing over pipes

from the hard invert level of the bed of the waterway/channel.

• Manholes/parallel utilities require a horizontal clearance of 5-10

• Any utility must be self-supporting in the event maintenance is metres from the bed and bank area for future channel/waterway
undertaken on the Melbourne Water asset works or maintenance.
Utility Installation • Minimum vertical clearance of 0.6 metres above asset • No joints are permitted under the channel/waterway or within 5.0
This brochure is a general guide when considering utility installations metres from the bed and bank area.
• No joints to be located within 2.0 metres of the asset (must be
aligned across or parallel to a Melbourne Water asset. Melbourne
outside the joint free area refer to diagram). • Developer/Contractor must investigate and ensure legal
Water assets include:
Passing under pipes requirements are met regarding significant flora, fauna and
• Sewage pipes archaeological sites of significance.
• Must be cased in concrete or similar protective material
• Stormwater/drainage pipes • Disturbance to waterways/land/vegetation will be kept to a
• Must have a minimum clearance of 1.0m for open cut and 2.0m minimum and the affected areas replanted/reinstated upon
• Water mains
for boring installation methods completion of the works.
• Natural and artificial channels
• No joints to be located within 2.0 metres of the asset (must be *If boring is not possible the following submissions are required to
Before any installation or excavation occurs Melbourne Water outside the joint free area refer to diagram) support any altered proposals:
approval is required. This enables consent to be given for the
proposed works while protecting Melbourne Water’s continuous rights • Geotechnical Survey
of access. • Environmental Report
Detailed plans and a formal application must be submitted to
Melbourne Water for investigation. Joint Free and
self supporting area
Joint Free and
Clearance Requirements Utility Pipe Artificial/Natural Streams
self supporting area
All clearances are measured from the exterior surfaces of pipe/channel Artificial/Natural Streams 5-10m
Utility Pipe
walls, not centrelines or inner wall surfaces. Vertical clearances for 0.6m
5-10m
2m 2m
natural streams are measured from the base of the hard invert level. 5m
2m
0.6m
2m Parallel Utility
Clearance requirements are set considering method of installation, soil 5m
Parallel Utility Pipe 5m
Hard Invert Level 2m
conditions, asset type, size and age. 1.5m 5m
Utility Pipe Hard Invert Level 2m
Utility

Please Note 1.5m

Concrete Casing Utility
1-2m Bed and Bank area
Separate clearance guidelines are followed for property development
1-2m Concrete Casing Bed and Bank area
structures and tree planting near Melbourne Water assets.
Utility Pipe
Utility Pipe