The draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan 2025-2029 aims to identify the public health and environmental risks associated with onsite wastewater management systems, also known as septic tank systems. It sets out the monitoring and compliance strategies used to minimise those risks.

Under Victorian legislation, all Councils with onsite wastewater management systems (septic tank systems), in their municipality must develop and implement a management plan. There are more than 3,000 properties within the Council area who have an onsite wastewater systems used to collect, treat and dispose of the wastewater from their home within their property boundaries.

The success of the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan relies on Council, the community, industry and stakeholders to work together to shape effective and sustainable wastewater management solutions.

Your feedback will help us to improve our resources for those with septic tank systems, identify environmental, human health and amenity concerns to prioritise activities for the management of non-sewered systems.

You can share your feedback by:

  • Online Survey

    Complete the online survey by clicking on the link below.

  • Hard Copy Surveys

    Copies are located at The Phoenix Building
    25 Armstrong Street South, Ballarat.

    Contact hours are 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday - Closed on public holidays.

  • Talk to us

    Want to share your feedback on the draft Plan in person?

    Call (03) 5320 5500 or email environmentalhealth@ballarat.vic.gov.au to make a time to chat to a Council officer.

  • Post

    Print a hard copy of the survey (located under document library) and send it to:

    City of Ballarat
    Wadawurrung Country
    PO Box 655 Ballarat, VIC, 3353

The draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan explains how Council works with the community and other partners to reduce risks from septic systems. It supports appropriate system installation and management to help protect human health and the environment.

The Plan contains five strategies focusing on areas with higher risks, ensuring the Plan aligns with legal requirements. A copy of the draft Plan is included in the Document Library, or you can learn more about each strategy below.

Income derived from statutory fees and charges do not provide for full service cost recover and implementation of the plan. Future funding opportunities will be explored as grants become available to assist with implementation.

Maintain routine inspections in the SWSC, prioritising older systems and those near waterways to manage non-compliant systems.

Establish a database for properties in SWSC that have section 173 agreements on their property titles to facilitate the annual inspection and reporting requirement for their OWMS.

Inspect OWMS in the 9 identified historical clusters in or adjacent the DSD to ascertain contemporary data. The information will be used to explore viable options for failing systems and to inform future sewerage infrastructure planning.

Expand education outreach, particularly within Special Water Supply Catchments and Declared Sewer Districts focusing on maintenance responsibilities and how to respond to system failure.

Have Your Say

Share your feedback with us on the draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan.