Sewerage fees and charges

Owners of properties with a connection to a Council sewerage system are required to pay sewerage charges and fees. Sewerage charge and fee income is required to pay for operating expenses, infrastructure maintenance, renewal and new infrastructure expenses, principle and interest on loans. General rates income is not used for sewerage services.


Owners of properties with a connection to one of our sewerage systems are required to pay sewerage charges and fees. Sewerage charge and fee income is required to pay for:

  • operating expenses
  • infrastructure maintenance, renewal and new infrastructure expenses
  • principal and interest on loans

General rates income is not used for sewerage services.

Residential Sewerage Charge

The residential sewerage charge is a flat charge per year for all residential properties, strata title units and non-strata title units.  This flat charge is known as the base access charge.  The current base access charge adopted by Council is shown on our Water and Sewerage Charges page.

Non-Residential Sewerage Charge

There are two recurrent non-residential sewerage charges, an annual Sewer Access Charge billed at the same time as the annual rates notice and a quarterly Sewer Usage Charge. These charges are levied in accordance with the recommended pricing methodology of the NSW State Government.

The non-residential Sewer Access Charge is calculated by the formula:

  • Access charge = Base access charge X volume factor X sewer discharge factor (SDF)

The non-residential Sewer Usage Charge is calculated by the formula:

  • Usage charge = Water usage (kL) X sewer discharge factor (SDF) X usage charge rate (c/kL)

The current base access charge, SDF’s, volume factors and usage charge rate is adopted by Council each year. These rates can be viewed on our Water and Sewerage Charges page.

Developer Contributions

Section 64 Developer Contributions are one-off charges levied on developers to recover part of the capital cost incurred in providing infrastructure to a new development. The Developer Contribution is levied in accordance with the recommended pricing methodology of the NSW State Government. The Developer Contribution adopted by Council for a new dwelling is shown in our Fees and Charges.

Liquid Trade Waste Charges and Fees

Liquid trade waste (LTW) is any liquid waste produced and discharged to sewer from a business other than toilet, hand basin and shower/bath liquid wastes. Council levies charges and fees for LTW for the administration, monitoring, transporting, treating and disposal of LTW and to eliminate cross subsidies from residential and non LTW customers for LTW related costs. LTW charges and fees are levied in accordance with the recommended pricing methodology of the NSW State Government.

LTW charges and fees include:

  • Application Fee – to cover the cost of processing applications.
  • Annual Liquid Trade Waste Fee – to cover the cost of inspections and administration.
  • Re-Inspection Fee – to cover the cost of any re-inspections, if required
  • Usage Charges – to cover the costs associated with transporting and treating liquid trade waste from Category 2 dischargers

The current LTW charges and fees adopted by Council are shown on our Water and Sewerage Charges page.

Best-Practice Pricing and Regulation

Water prices are carefully regulated in NSW. Each year Council reviews its water pricing in accordance with NSW Government Best Practice Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Guidelines. A key aspect of the Guidelines is long term financial sustainability and price certainty for customers.

Where to find more detailed information

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