Outdoor Drainage: Preparing Your Yard for Brisbane Storm Season
Brisbane's summer storms drop 50mm in 20 minutes. If your yard drainage was designed for a milder era, you're already behind.
Assessing Your Falls
Every hard surface — driveways, patios, paths — should fall away from the house at 1:100 minimum. A garden hose test after dark with a torch shows exactly where water pools.
Ag Line vs Channel Drain
Ag line (perforated pipe in gravel) handles slow subsurface seepage. Channel drains handle surface torrents. Most Brisbane yards need both.
Downpipe Discharge
Downpipes must connect to stormwater, not spill onto lawn. BCC requires either a legal point of discharge to street kerb or an infiltration pit.
Sump Pumps for Low Blocks
Homes below street level need a sump with a battery-backup pump. We install these regularly in Yeronga, Rocklea and East Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stormwater plumbing licensed work?
Yes — any work connecting to the council stormwater network requires a licensed plumber and a Form 4.