Our Sewer Relining and Maintenance Hole Rehabilitation Program is currently underway across various Brisbane and Ipswich suburbs. 

Damaged sewer pipes and maintenance holes allow stormwater to enter the sewer network, which puts a strain on our system. It is important we maintain the integrity of our network’s sewer pipes and maintenance structures.

The Nudgee Road Sewer Upgrade will use a trenchless methodology to inspect, clean and reline the existing sewer pipe near Nudgee Road, eliminating the need to dig up and replace the pipes. The project will also rehabilitate a number of maintenance holes along the pipe alignment.

These upgrade works will future proof our networks reliability and ensure safe long-term service delivery to the community for the next 50 years.

On this page:
What's happening?

Sewer rehabilitation works will commence from early-May 2021. These works will be completed in stages and we expect to be finished by late-September 2021, subject to weather and site conditions. We will keep you updated as the works progress. 

Work hours

The works will mostly take place at night, between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday. The work has been scheduled after hours to comply with approved traffic permits and due to low sewage flow conditions at night.

Please note: Crews will endeavor to complete high noise activities as early as possible each night (subject to weather and site conditions).

We’ll keep you updated as the works progress.

What can I expect?

While every effort is made to minimise impacts to the community, you may experience:

  • Property access to access the sewer pipe for inspection, cleaning and relining.Our authorised subcontractor, Downer Pipetech, will knock on your door and request permission to enter your property to inspect the maintenance hole prior to starting work. They will carry identification and an authorised person card issued by Urban Utilities.
  • Crews, trucks and equipment near footpaths and roads. Safety barriers will be in place to keep everyone safe. Various trucks carrying special-purpose equipment will be used for cleaning and relining some tankering might be required to re-direct flow away from the work site.
  • Noise and dust from construction and machinery. We’ll minimise this where we can. Crews will endeavor to complete high noise activities as early as possible each night (subject to weather and site conditions).
  • Some intermittent odour when maintenance hole lids are removed for tankering, or during ventilation.
  • Changed traffic conditions including some lane and footpath closures. Traffic controllers will be on site to look after pedestrians and road users.
  • Safety lighting to assist with night works, when required.
  • Vegetation removal including removal of selected trees under Council permit, may be required in some locations to access our wastewater network. Any trees removed as part of these works will be replaced in approved areas after the upgrade is complete.
  • Sewer services this work will not affect your service. Sewage may need to be re-directed away from the work site using tanker trucks or by-pass piping. We will notify impacted customers prior to any of these activities taking place.
  • Restoration we will restore all work areas as close to the original condition as possible, once the work is complete.

Please note that Urban Utilities and its authorised persons (including our contractors) are able to access private property to perform works on our assets under section 36 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. Urban Utilities will not access your property until at least 14 days have elapsed from giving this notice or we have been given permission to do so in lieu of this notice.  

Works location

Works will take place at sewer maintenance holes near Nudgee Road, Northgate, located in:

  • commercial property
  • local and state-controlled roads
  • parklands, bushlands and creeks.

Nearby residents and business will be kept informed of upcoming works and any property access requirements in advance of works starting.

If access is required to a maintenance hole located in private property, an authorised Urban Utilities representative will contact the property owners and occupiers in advance.

Our commitment

The project team will minimise the construction impacts to the extent possible, including managing noise and dust at the source, utilising traffic control and reviewing work methods as required. 

We will keep directly impacted neighbours informed by providing regular construction updates during the project.

 

Thank you for your patience while we complete this important work.  

 

Urban Utilities is committed to excellence in water and sewerage services that enhance the liveability of our communities.  

As part of this commitment, our sewer relining and maintenance hole rehabilitation program is underway to improve network reliability in Brisbane and Ipswich. Sewer pipes and maintenance holes are identified for relining and rehabilitation through an ongoing Sewer Inspection Program.

The program uses, laser profiling and CCTV cameras to capture and monitor visual data and determine the networks condition. These inspections, have identified approximately 26km of sewer pipes for upgrades, forming part of the Sewer Relining and Maintenance Hole Rehabilitation Program. 

Sewer relining

Sewer relining is a trenchless technique, used to repair aging and damaged sewer pipes. This technique avoids the need to dig up and repair or replace sewer pipes, minimising construction and service impacts to the community. 

Maintenance hole rehabilitation

The repair of aged or damaged maintenance holes. Rehabilitation will include cleaning and removing surface debris and coating the walls with a new protective coating.

Bypass pumping and tankering

At times, bypass pumping or tankering will be used to divert sewage flows from an upstream maintenance hole via a temporary above ground pipe to a maintenance hole further downstream. We will notify impacted customers prior to any of these activities taking place.

 

 

 

Urban Utilities and our sub-contractors will carry out the following communication activities to ensure timely notification of works and associated activities. What you can expect:

  • Project factsheet distributed to local residents and business prior to the commencement of works, providing you with information on the location of works, what’s happening and what you can expect.
  • Door knocking activities to speak with directly impacted residents. Should access to sewer maintenance holes located in private property be required, the project team will contact property owners in advance.
  • If you are not home, you will receive a postcard in your mailbox notifying that we were unable to access your property. We will ask if you could please contact our contractor to arrange a suitable time to complete sewer inspection, cleaning and relining.
  • Regular updates will be distributed to notify residents of construction activities and project updates. Keep a look out in your letterbox for these updates.
  •  Project update for works around the Cannery Creek area.
  • Consultation with customers when maintenance hole access is required to complete a Home Plan that will provide details of the work, impacts and restoration.
  • We appreciate feedback on how we went, we will invite residents and businesses to complete a short survey following the completion of works.

Please note that Queensland Urban Utilities and its authorized persons (including our contractors) are able to access private property to perform works on our assets under section 36 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

 

Project overview

What are the benefits of sewer relining and maintenance hole rehabilitation?

Maintaining the integrity of our network’s sewer pipes and maintenance structures is important to managing sewage flows, including infiltration and inflow, especially during periods of heavy rain fall, helping us to protect the health of the community and the environment. Sewer relining is also a trenchless technique, used to repair aging and damaged sewer pipes. This technique avoids the need to dig up and repair or replace sewer pipes, minimising construction and service impacts to the community.  These upgrade works will future proof our networks reliability and ensure safe long-term service delivery to the community for the next 50 years.

What is sewage?

Sewage is the wastewater that goes down the kitchen, laundry and bathroom sink and what you flush down the toilet. Stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration also enters our wastewater network.

What is infiltration?

Infiltration refers to groundwater entering underground wastewater network via cracks and faulty joints.

What is inflow?

Inflow refers to stormwater entering the wastewater network via defective or illegal plumbing.

Construction activity

How are the works carried out?

Works will take place over several visits, during an approximate four - eight week period. These visits will be of short duration and we’ll keep you updated as the work progresses.

The site visits will include:

  • Pre-cleaning activities and investigation
  • Sewer relining and maintenance hole rehabilitation works, and
  • Post sewer relining and maintenance hole rehabilitation surveys.

Residents and business will be informed of upcoming works and any property access requirements two weeks in advance of works starting.

Works will not commence prior to, or later than, the notified working hours to manage the expectations of the community.

I have been notified of works in my area, do I need to do anything?

If you have a sewer maintenance hole on your property, we might need to enter your property to access the sewer pipe for complete associated works. Our contractor will contact you if private property access is required.

Can I use my water during the works?

Yes, this work will not affect your service. Due to a small risk of back pressure occurring in household toilets, we recommend closing toilet lids and placing a heavy object on top, during these works. We also recommend that customers limit the use of showers, washing machines and pool back washing equipment while work is underway. Sewage may need to be re-directed away from the work site using tanker trucks or by-pass piping. We will notify impacted customers prior to any of these activities taking place.

What time will works start and finish?

You will be notified when you can expect works to start and finish in your area. However, most of the work will take place during the day, between 6:30am and 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday. In some situations, we may need to carry out works at night between 7pm and 5am.

I have a maintenance hole located on my property, will access be required?

An authorised person, will knock on your door 14 days prior to works and request permission to enter your property to inspect the maintenance hole. They will carry identification and an authorised person card issued by Urban Utilities.

Sewer overflows

What causes sewer pipe blockages and overflows?

Sewer pipes are only designed to remove sewage, toilet tissue and wastewater from kitchen, bathroom and laundry drains. Blockages and overflows are typically caused by:

  • fats or solids being washed down household pipes.  
  • wet wipes and other hygiene or sanitary products being flushed down toilets.
  • tree roots entering and growing inside pipes.
  • stormwater entering and overloading the sewerage network. 

Find out what you can do around your house to help prevent blockages and overflows.

What’s Urban Utilities doing to manage overflows?

We have a range of programs to help reduce wet weather overflows by:

  • Prioritising network upgrades in low-lying areas where wet weather overflows occur most often.
  • Providing ongoing maintenance, including CCTV inspections and regular cleaning, to identify cracks and clear blocked sewer pipes.
  • Utilising innovative technologies and remote-controlled robots to access and inspect the sewer system.
  • Conducting smoke testing to find where stormwater is entering the sewerage system and contributing to overflows.

Please note, Urban Utilities and its authorised persons (including our contractors) are able to access private property to perform works on our assets under section 36 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.  Urban Utilities will not access your property until at least 14 days have elapsed from giving this notice or we have been given permission to do so in lieu of this notice.