By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
Northern NSW sewer blockage. Camera located tree roots entering on the council side of the connection past the owner’s property boundary. Cleared on the day, written report provided so the owner can submit for council reimbursement.
What the customer called us for
Owner-occupier in Northern NSW with a sewer backing up. Toilet unusable.
What we found when we got there
Cleared the immediate blockage with the hydrojet so the house became usable again. Camera inspection then showed tree-root ingress at a council-side connection point, past the property boundary. The owner-side pipework was intact.
Why we did it this way
When a camera plus locator shows the fault is sitting past the property boundary, the pipe is council-owned infrastructure, not the owner’s. The owner should not keep paying to clear a line they do not own. Our job is to clear the symptom, then give them the documentation they need to escalate.
What we did on site
- Hydrojetted the sewer line to restore flow for the household.
- Followed up with the CCTV camera to find the actual fault.
- Located the camera head from the surface using the pipe locator.
- Confirmed the location of the fault was past the property boundary.
- Produced a written report with the camera footage, the surface locate, and the boundary measurement so the owner can submit for council action and reimbursement.
The result
Sewer flowing again. Owner has the paperwork to escalate to the council for a permanent repair on council-side infrastructure.
If you have the same issue
If your sewer has blocked more than once at roughly the same point, the fault may well sit past your boundary on council pipework. Always ask the plumber to camera the line and locate the head. If it reads past the boundary, you have a reimbursement case. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
How often does council actually reimburse?
Varies by council. Not every time, but often enough that it is worth the paperwork. The reports we provide usually include the surface-locate measurement which councils respond to much more readily than a plain plumber invoice.
What is the owner-vs-council boundary rule in NSW?
Generally the owner is responsible for the pipework from the house out to the property boundary. From the boundary to the main is council infrastructure. There are exceptions by jurisdiction, but the boundary is the standard default.
Does the camera report count as evidence?
Yes. Written report plus video footage plus a surface-locate measurement is the standard evidence pack that councils accept.
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