Asset protection permits
It is a requirement of Council’s Environmental and Civic Assets Local Law 2006 that an Asset Protection Permit be obtained to ensure infrastructure assets within the road reserve are protected or repaired if damaged.
The responsibility of protecting Council assets rests with the owner of the property.
Most building works require machinery and building materials to be moved to and from the property. Council has found from experience this can damage Council assets around the building site including:
- footpaths
- nature strips
- kerb
- channels
- trees
- signs, and
- stormwater drainage and the road pavement.
Where building works are detected without Council having been notified or before an Asset Protection Permit has been issued, an Infringement Notice will be issued to the owner for failing to comply with Council's Environmental and Civic Assets Local Law 2006. In this case, Council will assume that all public assets were satisfactory before building works started and that any damage was caused by building works associated with your property.
Asset Protection Permit process
Step 1: Initial inspection
A letter including an Asset Protection Permit application form and site inspection form will be sent to the owner of the property.
The site inspection form is to record pre-existing damage to Council assets at the building site and surrounding area. The site inspection form must be returned to Council with the application form before any building works start.
A Council Asset Protection Officer will verify this initial inspection and record any existing damage. This is your protection against paying for existing damage. Any differences in the two reports may result in a site meeting to confirm the report.
Step 2: Pay inspection fee
The inspection fee must be paid before works start.
Pay online
Pay the fee online through Council's eServices website.
Pay at a Council Citizens Service Centre:
Step 3: Sign and forward Asset Protection Permit application form
When payment has been made, forward the signed copy of the Asset Protection Permit application form to:
Moreland City Council
Roads Unit
Locked Bag 10
Moreland Vic.3058
The permit will then be forwarded to you once Council has processed your application and you have paid the fee.
Step 4: Final inspection
When your work is completed, contact Council to arrange a final inspection of Council assets at your property. Council will then inform you in writing of the outcome of this inspection.
If there is no additional damage to Council assets, you will be issued with a Letter of Clearance.
If damage has occurred to Council assets and it is deemed the damage is associated with your building activity, the extent of damage will be detailed and you will be notified in writing. Council will ask that you either arrange for the repairs independently or agree to Council contractors carrying out the repairs. If you choose Council contractors to do the work, an invoice will be sent for the repair costs. This needs to be paid before Council issues a letter of clearance or starts repair works.
The responsibility of protecting Council assets rests with the owner of the property. Therefore any damage within the building works area will need to be repaired by the owner, unless it can be shown that the damage was the result of another contractor not associated with the building works.
Deferred or cancelled works
Where building works are not scheduled to begin immediately, advise Council as soon as possible as to the likely start date.
Council should also be notified of cancellation of works. Under our local laws, it is an offence to:
- leave a bulk rubbish container on a road without a permit
- leave any rubbish or material around the building site that obstructs the use of the road, endangers any residents or creates a potential health hazard
- break open any footpath, road or vehicle crossing without the required permits
- connect any stormwater plumbing into Council drains without Council approval
- build a vehicle crossing without a permit, and
- store building materials on the road reserve without a permit.
As the property owner, you will be held liable for the full cost of replacing damaged assets caused by yourself or your builder or contractor.
Further information
For more information or inquiries about asset protection contact Council.
