Plan of consolidation

The information below outlines the consolidation process and the documentation we need. We can’t start the consolidation process until the Titles Office has issued a new title.

Plan of Consolidation Process

1. Please submit a copy of the consolidated Certificate of Title and Registered Plan via email to our Property Connections team.
2. We will assess the information submitted and may notify you that we require the removal of one or more water/wastewater services before closing any billing account(s).
   
   NOTE: generally only one water and one sewer service is permitted to the consolidated lot. There may be associated costs for capping off redundant service(s). Works may be required by our contractor or your own privately sourced contractor(s), we will advise you of this in our response.
3. If capping of redundant services is required, we will confirm when works have been satisfactorily paid and completed and required plans received from contractor(s). This is when we can consolidate your accounts.

NOTE: If there are any amounts owing on your existing accounts, these accounts remain valid until all amounts have been paid in full.

If the consolidated title contains more than one occupancy, we can under the Water Act 1989 continue to charge water and/or wastewater availability charges for each separate occupancy.

Contiguous rating of adjacent property that is used for one purpose

We (under the Water Act 1989) charge a water and wastewater availability charge (connected or not connected) for each property title or separate occupancy.

Contiguous rating is when the adjacent properties have the same ownership and are used for the same purpose, so for tariff purposes (only), Gippsland Water treats them as one property.

We will contiguously rate if the following is applicable to adjacent or consolidated property:

• Have same ownership

• Are being used for a common purpose

• Have free access and movement between

• Have only one water and one sewer connection (in total)

• Have some level of development to establish a common purpose/use

We do not contiguously rate vacant blocks of land or vacant empty buildings. 

There must be some level of redevelopment that establishes a common use (eg. fences or walls removed).

Contiguous rating request

1. For a review of your accounts please submit copy of titles, site plans and photos of your adjoining property that show permanent modifications and/or how the property is used for one purpose; please send via email to our Property Connections team.
2. We will assess the information submitted and may notify you that we require the removal of one or more water/wastewater services before closing any billing account(s).
   
   NOTE: generally only one water and one sewer service is permitted to enable one account. There may be associated costs for capping off redundant service(s). Works may be required by Gippsland Water’s contractor or your own privately sourced contractor(s), we will advise you of this in our response.
3. If capping of redundant services is required, we will confirm when works have been satisfactorily paid and completed and all required plans received from contractor(s). This is when we can combine your accounts.

NOTE: If there are any amounts owing on your existing accounts, these accounts remain valid until all amounts have been paid in full.

It is our policy to review the contiguous rating of a property every three years. Should you ever wish to sell one or both of your titles, the contiguous rating may be cancelled and the property information statement provided will note that separate accounts will be re-established.