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Kia ora,

 

Thank you for reaching out to the Far North District Council.

 

Your request has been forwarded to our Legal Team to action and response.
Should you need to follow up on this matter, please use reference number
RFS-4247020. 

 

If your matter is urgent, you can contact our Contact Centre at 0800 920
029, which operates 24 hours a day.

 

Nga mihi,
Te Harangi 

Ask Us Customer Services Team

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Ask Us Team
District Services
Far North District Council  |  24-hour Contact Centre 0800 920 029
DDI 09 401 5200  |  [1][Far North District Council request email]
  [2]Website  |   [3]Facebook   |  [4]LinkedIn   |  [5]Careers

 

 

From: [FOI #30674 email]

Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 8:23 PM

To: [Far North District Council request email]

Subject: Official Information request - Septic to Mains Wastewater
Conversion Oversight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAUTION: This email originated from outside Far North District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

Dear Far North District Council,

I am writing pursuant to the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 to formally request information relating to how the Far
North District Council monitors, audits, and ensures the integrity of its
service delivery regarding the conversion of residential septic tank
systems to reticulated (mains) wastewater infrastructure.

This is a matter of public interest, and I would be grateful if you could
provide a response to the following:

1) What specific procedures and mechanisms does the Council have in place
to audit and inspect the process of connecting properties from on-site
septic systems to mains wastewater?

2) Are inspections or compliance checks carried out before, during, and/or
after the conversion?

3) Who is responsible for carrying out these audits, and how is their
performance monitored?

4) What internal systems are in place to ensure that conversions to mains
wastewater are completed in a timely, safe, and efficient manner?

5) Does the Council maintain a formal register or database of properties
that have been converted, including dates and outcomes?

6) In areas where mains wastewater infrastructure is available, how does
the Council identify properties that have not yet converted from septic
systems?

7) What enforcement actions (if any) are taken against non-compliant
property owners?

8) Are there any follow-up mechanisms or penalties in place for those who
delay or refuse to convert?

9) Are any funding schemes, subsidies, or financial assistance options
available to support homeowners with the cost of connecting to mains
wastewater services?

10) What steps has the Council taken to inform and educate the public on
their responsibilities and available support in this regard?

Yours faithfully,

B Smith

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The Requester

By Email Only: [1][FOI #30674 email]

 

 

Tēnā koe,

 

Official information request: RFS 4247020

 

Thank you for your official information request to the Far North District
Council (‘Council’), received on 9^th April 2025. Your request has been
considered in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the ‘LGOIMA’).

 

Please find your request and queries, together with Council’s responses,
set out below. Please note Council’s response is based on the presumption
that your request relates to a general connection by a member of the
public;

 

“Dear Far North District Council,

 

I am writing pursuant to the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 to formally request information relating to how the Far
North District Council monitors, audits, and ensures the integrity of its
service delivery regarding the conversion of residential septic tank
systems to reticulated (mains) wastewater infrastructure. This is a matter
of public interest, and I would be grateful if you could provide a
response to the following:

 

1) What specific procedures and mechanisms does the Council have in place
to audit and inspect the process of connecting properties from on-site
septic systems to mains wastewater?  

There are two situations where a property may be connected to Council
wastewater infrastructure (if the property is contained within a
reticulated area):

·                Connection of a newly built home

·                Connection of an existing home

Both connections require:

o Written approval from Council to complete a connection, (this is
made by way of an Application to Council); and
o A Building Consent to be issued by Council.

C

For information regarding Council’s application process please refer to
the following link: [2]Connect to our water network | Far North District
Council.

No person other than a licenced drainlayer or Council’s own contractors
shall, without Council’s approval, make any connection to or otherwise
interfere with any part of Council’s wastewater drainage system. Council’s
own contractors are required to either;

o carry out the physical connection of private assets to Council
assets; or
o inspect the connection works carried out by a landowners licenced
drainlayer.

That is, Council Contractors are required to either complete a connection
or inspect any connections to Council wastewater infrastructure.

 

2) Are inspections or compliance checks carried out before, during, and/or
after the conversion? 

A connection is evaluated through the Building Consent process and any
private infrastructure required to be installed (by a landowner on private
land) is inspected by a Council building inspector in accordance with
terms of a Building Consent issued.

 

Both Council’s Contractors and the landowner’s Contractors are required to
comply with Council’s Engineering Standards and Wastewater Drainage Bylaw.

Please refer to Council’s Engineering standards by using following the
link:  [3]Engineering standards | Far North District Council and
Wastewater Drainage Bylaw: [4]Document number: (insert objective document
file reference number)

 

Completion, or inspection, of the physical connection to Council’s
wastewater infrastructure is then carried out by a Council Contractor.
Council’s Contractor is required to comply with its ‘contract for
services’ when carrying out works on behalf of Council.

 

3) Who is responsible for carrying out these audits, and how is their
performance monitored? 

Within the ‘contract for services’, Council may carry out auditing of the
works completed by its contractors. Where a Council Contractor has
performed works, performance is monitored monthly.

Council Contractors are subject to a “level of service” requirement within
their contract, and (as above) must also comply with all relevant
engineering standards and bylaws. In the event that Council approved
Contractors carry out defective works, then Council will require the
Contractor to rectify any defects.

 

4) What internal systems are in place to ensure that conversions to mains
wastewater are completed in a timely, safe, and efficient manner?

All connections to Council’s wastewater infrastructure require Council’s
written consent to do so, and a Building Consent issued under the Building
Act 2004. As a Council Contractor must either install a connection or
inspect a connection made by a licenced drainlayer, Council can be assured
that the works are being completed to Council’s requirements.

In relation to works completed under a Building Consent, section 52 of the
Building Act 2004 states that work must commence 12 months after the issue
of the Building Consent otherwise the consent will lapse. Plans are
processed at Building Consent stage to ensure compliance with the New
Zealand Building Code. Once Building Consent is issued, inspections take
place to ensure the work complies with the plans approved under a Building
Consent.

 

5) Does the Council maintain a formal register or database of properties
that have been converted, including dates and outcomes?

Whilst there is no specific ‘formal register’ or database as you have
described, Council does hold information of properties which are
connected, please refer to the information provided in query 6 below.
Council’s assets are also registered and mapped within its GIS mapping
system.

 

6) In areas where mains wastewater infrastructure is available, how does
the Council identify properties that have not yet converted from septic
systems?

Council can utilise the information contained within a property’s ‘rates
classifications’ which describe the rate types for a property: e.g. A
property classified as having an ‘availability rate’ indicates property
not currently connected, and a property classified as having a ‘connected
rate’ classification indicates the property is currently rated and
connected for the service.

7) What enforcement actions (if any) are taken against non-compliant
property owners?

Enforcement is only applicable in situations where a landowner has an
obligation to connect to Council’s wastewater infrastructure.

Where a connection is available, the New Zealand Building Code (Schedule 1
Clause G13.3.3) requires such development to connect to Council wastewater
infrastructure. You can view the Building Code by using the following
link: [5]Building Regulations 1992 (SR 1992/150) (as at 23 December 2023)
Schedule 1 The building code – New Zealand Legislation

In this respect, the Building Compliance Team can investigate and issue a
Notice to Fix under the Building Act 2004 if non-compliance is identified
- for example connecting to mains sewer without a Building Consent. A
delay in connecting to mains sewer would not be considered a breach of the
Building Act 2004.

 

Regarding existing homes, connection to Council wastewater infrastructure
is not mandatory (if a property lies within an area of benefit), and
therefore no enforcement would be carried out by Council.

 

8) Are there any follow-up mechanisms or penalties in place for those who
delay or refuse to convert? 

As above and where enforcement is relevant, if Council issues a Notice to
Fix which is not complied with, Council has the ability to issue an
infringement for such non-compliance. The Building Act 2004 is a mechanism
by which Council can undertake enforcement where necessary.

 

9) Are any funding schemes, subsidies, or financial assistance options
available to support homeowners with the cost of connecting to mains
wastewater services?

Council staff are not aware of any financial subsidy schemes to assist
with costs to connect to Council wastewater infrastructure.

 

10) What steps has the Council taken to inform and educate the public on
their responsibilities and available support in this regard?”

Landowners applying for a Building Consent are made aware of the
requirements to connect to Council’s wastewater infrastructure (and of
their responsibilities), if the same is available, through the Building
Consent process.

 

Thank you for your enquiry.  Please let us know if you have any further
queries in relation to your request.

 

Nāku noa, nā

 

   
 
 
 
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika  |  Far
North District Council
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References

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