Christchurch City Council authorised drainlayers are approved for working on Council owned and maintained assets including future assets which are given to Council ownership.
In 2003, the Council introduced the Authorised Drainlayers Scheme. Only drainlayers who are authorised under this scheme are permitted to undertake drainage work for Council, involving:
- Construction of connections to public drains for new private drains.
- Construction of public drains in roads (including subdivision drainage pipe work that is to be vested in Council ownership).
- Renewal of public drains.
- Diversion of public drains around proposed building works.
- Repair of private drains in roads.
All work carried out should conform to the standards set out in the Council's Construction Standard Specifications and all materials used should be acceptable to Council.
The Register of Authorised Drainlayers has been established to ensure that the drainlayers carrying out such work are aware of the standards and procedures required.
Each drainage work site is required to have a CCC authorised drainlayer working permanently on site who controls the work. Authorised drainlayers need to be suitably experienced individual workers who have relevant experience and skills.
To become authorised by Christchurch City Council, drainlayers need to provide evidence to Council that they have:
- Experience in laying drainage pipes in accordance with industry best practice, and are familiar with Council standards and specifications.
- Completed confined spaces and traffic management training.
- Health and safety systems in place.
- Quality assurance systems in place.
- Public liability insurance cover.
- The resources to carry out the work quickly and efficiently.
- Agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions set out for the scheme.
How to become an authorised drainlayer
- Read the specifications [PDF 90KB]
- Complete the application form [PDF 30KB]
- Send the application form plus the $100 non-refundable application fee per applicant (not per company) and all required documentation to:
Asset Engineer (Reticulation)
City Environment, Asset Management Team
Christchurch City Council
PO Box 73014
Christchurch
- Send a copy of your up-to-date confined spaces training certificate to Ashleigh Jackson at CCC (email: Ashleigh.Jackson@ccc.govt.nz or mail to PO Box 73014, Attn: Ashleigh Jackson) so that a 'Permit for Access to Council Services Confined Spaces (Categories 1, 2 and 3)' can be issued. This permit is required before you enter any CCC confined space.
- If during the assessment of an application we conclude that there is insufficient evidence that the applicant has the necessary experience and resources to carry out authorised work in accordance with Council regulations and standards, an on-site technical assessment will be required before approval can be given.
- Approval will be given in writing only and is only awarded to the individual and not to commercial entities. It is not transferable and can be withdrawn by the City Council upon non-compliance with the rules and regulations as outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
Please note that the Council requires a minimum of six weeks processing time. Enquiries about the scheme can be made by phoning Council on (03) 941 8830 .
Important notice
1. 48 hours notice required before starting work onsite
Due to the increase in drainlaying work being carried out in the city, our contract supervisors and engineers have encountered issues with drainlayers not notifying Council of upcoming work and therefore drainlaying work being carried out without giving CCC the opportunity to carry out random audit inspections.
Please be advised that the CCC Authorised Drainlayer is to notify Council, except in the case of an emergency repair, at least 2 working days prior to commencing authorised work onsite, to enable audit inspections to be undertaken by the Council as the work proceeds.
This applies to all drainlaying work issued by Council. Authorised contractors who carry out work for the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team (SCIRT) will have to follow SCIRT guidelines.
Please refer to section 4.5 of the terms & conditions of being a CCC Authorised Drainlayer:
http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/AuthorisedDrainlayerSpecifications-docs.pdf.
Please notify Council on:
• Phone: 941 8922
• Email: drainlayers@ccc.govt.nz
Please provide the following details when you call, leave a voicemail or send an email:
• Company name
• Name of CCC authorised drainlayer who will be carrying out the work onsite
• Contact phone number
• Address where work will take place
• Description of work
• Proposed date of work
2. CCC Authorised Drainlayer vs. Registered Drainlayer
It has come to our attention that confusion seems to exist among drainage contractors regarding the difference between a Christchurch City Council authorised drainlayer and a registered drainlayer under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act.
There is the misconception that a registered drainlayer (registration under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act) is automatically given approval as a Christchurch City Council authorised drainlayer. This is not the case.
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 defines a drain as 'a pipe or series of pipes constructed or laid for the conveyance of foulwater, stormwater or industrial liquid waste', but 'does not include a pipe or series of pipes that is vested in or under the control of or maintained by a local authority'.
Hence a registered drainlayer is registered for laying privately-owned drains (i.e. on private property), whereas a Christchurch City Council authorised drainlayer is approved for working on Council-owned and maintained assets including future assets which are to be vested in Council ownership.
3. Drainlayers’ information bulletin
Drainlayers information bulletin 1 (19 March 2007) [PDF 97.7KB]
