RAINWATER TANKS

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (5 June 2007).

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning): Since 2003 the number of new homes constructed in South Australia has been between 8,500 and 8,700 dwellings per year. The new provisions for the installation of rainwater tanks apply to development applications lodged from 1 July 2006. Those development applications needed to be processed and approvals given before construction could commence. The normal construction period for a residential dwelling is 12-16 weeks. Therefore the earliest completion date for these houses would be approximately November to December 2006.

Where building owners arrange with the builder to install the rainwater tank themselves, the obligation then falls upon the building owners to install the tank.

To avoid the potential for any misunderstanding, the development regulations were amended on 29 November 2007 to clarify that the intent of regulation 83A is that the water supply from all sources of water identified in the development approval (i.e. mains water, rainwater and third pipe schemes) must be connected before occupation of the house.