Policy DM 49: Artificial Modification of Watercourses

The Council will operate a general presumption against development, which results in the artificial modification of a watercourse, including culverting or canalisation operations. Exceptions to this will be strictly controlled and limited to the following: (a) Where the culverting of a short length (usually less than 10m) of a watercourse is necessary to provide access to a development site or part thereof; and (b) Where it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of DfI Rivers that a specific length of watercourse needs to be culverted for engineering reasons and there are no reasonable or practicable alternative courses of action.