Asset Protection Program

The City of West Torrens is the owner of all public roads and associated infrastructure within its area, such as:

• footpaths
• kerb and water tables
• kerb ramps
• side entry pits
• signs
• spoon drains
• verges (including vegetation/trees).

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Examples of typical damage include, but are not limited to:

• Cracked or broken footpaths and vehicle crossing panels.
• Chipped or broken kerb panels.
• Scraped or scoured bitumen seal.
• Damaged or removed street trees.
• Wheel marks and holes in the nature strip.
• Broken pits or cracked lids.
• Cutting channels made by various utility and service providers on instruction from the owner/builder during the development of the site (e.g. electrical, water, gas contractors, etc).

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Damage to Council infrastructure can commonly be caused by:

• Using heavy machinery to cross from the road to the development site, which can easily damage kerbs and footpaths.
• Reinstating trenching works with the incorrect materials and not to standard. This can lead to sinking and tripping hazards after a period of time post-reinstatement.
• Old/redundant cross-over inverts not re-instated back to kerb.
• Rectification works not undertaken to standard and, as a result, the works fail.

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When building a new development, it's important to remember that public infrastructure must be protected against any potential damage. Good site management practices can minimise or eliminate damage to Council-owned assets creating a safer area for people working within the development site and users of public infrastructure.

There are actions that can be taken to minimise damage to Council infrastructure. Some of these include:

• Using existing entry and exit points when accessing site.
• Parking parallel to kerb to off-load materials.
• Installing a ramp at the kerb edge when an existing crossing place can’t be utilised. This will minimise contact with kerbing infrastructure.
• Using wooden slats that can be laid when traversing footpaths and removed when not in use.

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We strongly encourage the use of preventative techniques to minimise damage to Council infrastructure. When damage occurs, the damaged area must be made safe and maintained in a safe condition until final reinstatement. Council will generally accept that final reinstatement will occur near the completion of development. 

Examples of how to make an area safe can be found in the accompanying photographs.

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As the developer of the property, you need to be aware of the following:

• Public infrastructure damaged during development activity must be reinstated to pre-development condition in accordance with Council standards. Council has power under the Local Government Act to recover costs to reinstate assets that have been damaged.
• Trenches created for underground service and stormwater connections must be reinstated.
• Council's Verge Management Policy stipulates that redundant vehicular crossing places (driveway and invert) must be removed and replaced with kerb and gutter that matches the existing structure, unless otherwise agreed by Council.
• All pedestrian walkways, footpaths, roadways and the area adjacent to or nearby the building site must be kept free of materials for pedestrian and traffic safety.
• The footpath and verge area must always be kept clear of obstructions including vehicles, building supplies or materials and debris. If keeping the area clear is not feasible, a hoarding permit is required.
• All building work and activities must be undertaken in a manner that will not pollute the environment or cause an environmental nuisance. Activities should not have an adverse effect on neighbouring properties (i.e. dust, noise, waste and odour).
• All building materials must be contained on site and must not be positioned where it is likely to enter the stormwater system during inclement weather.
• Drag out, such as mud, gravel, sand and concrete, onto the road must not occur as this material is likely to enter the stormwater system, which could lead to blockages and pollution.

Public infrastructure damaged during development activity must be reinstated as per Council standards. Should you have any questions, please contact our Engineering Department – 8416 6333 or email info@wtcc.sa.gov.au.

Nature strip

The area should be left free of loose rubbish, foreign material, stones, construction rubble etc and should be levelled. The area alongside the footpath should be backfilled to match existing material.

Grass - area to be levelled with sandy loam to promote growth over the disturbed area.

Compacted rubble - top up infill with rubble and compact as required.

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Developments granted from August 2024 onwards:

• All rectification works must be completed within six (6) weeks of handover of the site.
• For damages that pose a safety issue, reinstatement must occur within four (4) weeks.
• If works are not completed within the specified timeframe, Council will undertake the necessary works on your behalf and issue an invoice for the associated costs. Council has the authority, under the Local Government Act 1999, to recover costs for roadworks or to require roadworks to be undertaken.

Developments granted before August 2024:

• Rectification works must be completed within fourteen (14) weeks from the date of notification, which will be sent via email or letter. Please, allow 14 weeks to find a contractor and complete reinstatement of damage. Please notify the Council in writing regarding your rectification plans and timelines.
• For damages that pose a safety issue, reinstatement must occur within four (4) weeks.
• If works are not completed within the specified timeframe, Council will undertake the necessary works on your behalf and issue an invoice for the associated costs. Council has the authority, under the Local Government Act 1999, to recover costs for roadworks or to require roadworks to be undertaken.

 Who is responsible for reinstatement works that have been left by a utility provider? 

The utility provider (e.g., SA Water, APA, SA Power Networks, NBN) engaged to conduct works is responsible for restoring the land to a condition similar to its condition before the activity began.

Restoration should begin within 10 business days after work is completed. For a more accurate timeframe, contact the relevant utility provider directly.

Major utility providers:

A utility provider removed a section of the Council-owned asset to access infrastructure but hasn’t reinstated it or has left the work site in poor condition. Who is responsible for following up?

Council officers often review land access notifications and engage directly with utility providers for works that may significantly affect our infrastructure. This includes conducting regular site visits. However, due to the volume of new infrastructure installations within West Torrens, it can be challenging to monitor every work site.

If you notice issues with works conducted by utility providers, you can help by:

• Contacting the provider directly (if known) and reporting the issue. You can also obtain updated information regarding the works.
• Contacting the council (if provider unknown) and providing us with the work location, how long the issue has been present, a photograph and any other information. We can then assist with background investigations to identify the party responsible.

Reinstatement by a utility provider is failing (e.g., trench sinking). Who is responsible for rectification?

The utility provider responsible for conducting the works is also accountable for rectifying any reinstatement that does not meet council standards.

Council officers regularly engage with providers to ensure adherence to these standards. If you notice a failure in reinstatement, you can report it to us or directly to the utility provider responsible.