AS 1547 · effluent disposal assessment
Land Capability Assessment
No sewer, no problem. The report your council needs before a septic system is designed — sized to your soil profile, your rainfall and your block.
When the block is not on sewer
If your building site is not connected to council sewer mains, you need a Land Capability Assessment — also called an Effluent Disposal Assessment — so the septic system is designed for the soil profile underneath it. Applying effluent to land takes care and expertise, and new builds are under closer scrutiny than they used to be. We consult with every local council to keep the design compliant.
We also assess existing systems regularly. If you suspect yours is failing, or you simply have questions about it, call us.
Modelled on 25 years of local weather
We use proprietary nutrient and water balance modelling built on interpolated weather data covering the past 25 years. That lets our geotechnical engineers write a site-specific report with recommendations that produce a cost-efficient, long-lasting system — without putting the environment at risk.
Systems we design for
Every approved Australian system, matched to the soil and the site rather than the catalogue.
- Absorption trenches
- Subsurface irrigation
- Composting toilets
- Wetlands
- Evapotranspiration beds
- Low pressure effluent (LPED)
- Mound systems
Common questions
How much does a Land Capability Assessment cost?
$1,100 +GST as a local job from any of our three laboratories. Booked at the same time as your site classification it saves a second mobilisation, so the pair is cheaper than ordering them separately.
Do I actually need one?
If the block has no connection to council sewer, yes — councils require it before approving an on-site wastewater system. It is a separate report from your soil test, though we usually do both in the one visit.
My existing septic system seems to be failing — can you help?
Yes. We regularly assess existing systems, identify why one is underperforming and recommend what will fix it. Call us and describe what you are seeing.
Which type of system will I end up with?
That is what the assessment determines. Soil permeability, block size, slope, setbacks and rainfall all narrow the options — the report recommends the system that suits your site and will keep working long-term.
Discuss your project
Speak to one of our geotechnical engineers — no call centre, no sales script.
Contact details