FAQs

These are the most popular questions SEQ Code is asked, but if you can’t find an answer, please reach out to us.

  • The Queensland Government, under Chapter 4A of the SEQ Water (Distribution and Retail Restructuring) Act 2009, required the five water supply and sewerage service providers in South East Queensland to have the SEQ Code in place by 1 July 2013. Additionally, the service providers recognise the major benefits to the SEQ development industry in having one consolidated set of technical standards for water supply and sewerage across South East Queensland.

  • The SEQ Code includes an Accepted Products and Materials listing; Design Criteria; requirements for planning, design and construction of Water Supply assets, Sewerage assets, Sewage Pumping Stations, Vacuum Sewerage Systems and Pressure Sewerage Systems; and a Specification for preparing Asset Information.

  • The SEQ Code was developed cooperatively between the water service providers in South East Queensland – City of Gold Coast, Logan City Council, Queensland Urban Utilities, Redland City Council and Unitywater. Development of the SEQ Code commenced in 2011 and included consultation with the development industry, with the final SEQ Code adopted by each service provider and gazetted by the Minister for Energy and Water Supply.

  • The bulk of the SEQ Code is comprised of the WSAA National Codes, with amendments to suit SEQ requirements and preferences. The amendments are necessary because the National Codes include phrases such as “in accordance with the water agency’s requirements” throughout. The SEQ Code specifies the requirements of the SEQ “water agencies”. This is standard practice throughout Australia, with Sydney Water, Hunter Water and the Melbourne Retail Water Authorities having their own customised versions published by WSAA. In addition, the latest Water Supply Code of Australia and Sewerage Code of Australia do not contain any standard drawings.

  • The SEQ Code benefits the development and construction industry by increasing consistency in asset planning, design and construction standards across the SEQ region, thereby making it easier and more efficient for developers, engineers, consultants and service providers to deliver water supply and sewerage infrastructure.

    The new Code provides a “one stop shop”, replacing numerous documents and standards that previously existed to guide the design and construction of water supply and sewerage infrastructure across South East Queensland. It provides a common reference point for construction standards for the regulator; and better service and lower costs for our customers.

  • The SEQ Code came into effect on 1 July 2013. Any new assets delivered after this time must comply with the SEQ Code.

  • The SEQ Code is periodically reviewed and updated so that we can improve it based on feedback received and to ensure it continues to reflect current best practice. Several updates have been published since the first edition and there will be more updates in the future. It is recognised that it would be unreasonable from an economic and time delay perspective for assets that are already significantly progressed along the delivery process under one edition to be altered to make them comply with a newer edition. Therefore, there are always transitional arrangements in place.

  • Designs that were substantially commenced prior to a new edition coming into effect will not need to be amended to meet the new standards. They will be assessed and approved against the standards in place when the design was commenced. However, any design work commenced after publication of a new edition, and any design submitted for approval more than three months after publication of a new edition must comply with the new standards.

  • The SEQ Code prevails over existing provisions within the Councils’ planning schemes that previously determined water supply and sewerage services infrastructure outcomes in SEQ. This is legislated in Section 755D of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.

  • The SEQ Code can be downloaded in PDF format for free from the SEQ Code website, with the exception of the copyright protected WSAA National Codes, including any integrated SEQ Editions, which must be purchased from WSAA.

    The WSAA National Codes can be purchased via www.wsaa.asn.au

  • You can contact the relevant water service provider for advice regarding the infrastructure you are delivering. Contact details are provided on each service provider’s website, and links to these are provided on the SEQ Code website.

City of Gold Coast
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Urban Utilities