63 The failure of the applicants SEPP 1 objection means that the proposal cannot progress. However, for completeness, I will make some brief comments on the issues surrounding the wastewater systems and the question of needing to assess for contamination in the area where the former fuel tank was located.
Waste Water
64 In regards to this issue, I asked the parties if the presence of a septic tank and on-site sewerage management system meant that the land was in effect sewered. The reason for this question was because under clause 3.1 of the Baulkham Hills DCP- Rural, the following is stated:
3.1(b) Council will not approve the subdivision of unsewered land unless it is demonstrated that an acceptable on-site disposal system can be implemented for each proposed lot. In this respect, development must comply with the requirements of Part D Section 4 - On-Site Sewage Management Systems.
3.1(c) Council will not grant consent to the subdivision of any lot unless it can be demonstrated that the existing lot has a dwelling-house capability including the capability of satisfactorily disposing of effluent on that lot. In this respect, development must comply with the requirements of Part D Section 4 - On-Site Sewage Management Systems.
65 Therefore, if the land can be defined as being 'sewered' by virtue of the on-site sewage system then this would no longer remain an issue. The parties provided written submissions on this point.
66 Clause 1.1 of Baulkham Hills DCP - On-site Sewerage Management Systems, reads relevantly:
This section of the DCP applies to land where connection to the reticulated sewerage system of Sydney Water is not available.
67 Clause 2.1 of the Baulkham Hills DCP - On-site Sewerage Management, titled "Systems", relevantly reads:
An on-site sewage management system is any system to hold, process, re-use or otherwise dispose of sewage or sewage bi-products and includes but is not limited to the following:
Septic Tanks
68 Therefore, by deductive reasoning, 'un-sewered' land means the absence of any facilities to dispose of sewage. Definitions in clause 1.1 of the Baulkham Hills DCP does not define un-sewered land per se, but it does provide direction on how the Baulkham Hills DCP - On-site Sewerage Management Systems is to interpreted, i.e. that the land needs to be connected to the reticulated sewerage system of Sydney Water.