Smarter Stormwater Infrastructure: Reducing Costs & OH&S Risks for Councils and Developers

As Australia’s housing estates expand, the challenge of maintaining stormwater infrastructure within tight budgets and minimising OH&S risks becomes increasingly pressing for councils. Simultaneously, developers often face the costly issue of replacing damaged pit lids during construction phases.

So, how are Australian councils and developers overcoming these challenges to build safer, more cost-effective and long-lasting stormwater infrastructure?

The challenge with traditional concrete pit lids

In new estates, pit lids are installed early in development – long before homeowners move in. Heavy machinery, ongoing construction traffic, and site works often damage the traditional concrete lids, which are prone to cracking, leaving councils with maintenance costs to bear and developers with unexpected replacement expenses.

Choosing the right access covers and drainage grates is critical – not just for installation but for long-term maintenance and asset assurance. Contractors need solutions that install easily and hold up during construction, while councils need infrastructure that lasts, reduces maintenance, and improves safety.

Despite these challenges, many councils still rely on concrete pit lids, which have several drawbacks:

• Heavy and hazardous: Concrete pit lids are heavy and require at least two people to lift them, increasing the risk of back injuries and finger crushing incidents. According to the Council Maintenance Workers, working with heavy lids is the highest OH&S risk category – with 41% of all compensation claims being for manual handling injuries.
• Easily damaged: Concrete lids often crack or break when heavy machinery or vehicles pass over them.
• High maintenance costs: Every time a lid breaks, someone foots the bill for repairs, often this means councils or developers having to chase contractors or builders for reimbursement.

When a concrete pit lid is broken, it stops doing its job of protecting the pit and the public until it is replaced, yet many councils replace it with another concrete lid – only for the cycle to repeat. Beyond the financial burden, broken lids present serious safety hazards, including trip and fall risks.

Did you know? The annual cost of pit lid breakages in Victoria is estimated to be $30.9 million (MWOA survey).

Smart stormwater pit cover solutions for council asset security

In recent years, Australian councils have increasingly adopted composite access covers, recognising their advantages over traditional concrete and steel covers. As this shift gains momentum, councils and contractors alike now have access to a smarter alternative that is designed to withstand the demands of both construction and long-term use.

Despite misconceptions that composite pit lids are more expensive than concrete, the reality is quite the opposite. Unlike concrete, they are easier to install, more durable, and won’t crack under pressure. When factoring in labour, maintenance, and replacements, composite pit lids offer a far more cost-effective whole-of-life solution for councils and developers. In fact, Terra Firma’s composite pit lids offer:

• Lightweight design: A one-man lift, they improve workplace safety and make routine inspections and pit cleaning easier and faster
• Lower whole-of-life costs: Long-lasting, durable products that need fewer replacements and reduced maintenance.
• Full compliance: meet Australian Standard AS3996:2019 and key council and regulatory requirements, including IDM and EDCM Terra Firma pit lids can be retrofitted into existing stormwater infrastructure or installed in new developments.
• Superior structural integrity: Terra Firma pit lids retain their structural integrity even when damaged. Unlike concrete they won’t break apart and fall into the pit, causing rubble buildup and pedestrian safety risks. The lids also have a self-locking mechanism, ensuring back-flow from heavy rains won’t dislodge the lid.
• Easy installation: Composite lids are lighter and easier to position, reducing labour time and simplifying installation

Case study: How Unley City Council cut stormwater maintenance costs and improved safety

Unley City Council faced issues with their stormwater infrastructure, with heavy concrete access covers making drain cleaning inefficient and hazardous. Their maintenance crews needed two workers just to lift the lids, disrupting routine street sweeping and adding extra labour costs. After switching to Terra Firma composite pit lids, Unley saw:

• Lower maintenance costs
• More efficient operations
• Reduced OH&S risks
• Value for money

You can read more about the case study here.

Accessing durable residential stormwater infrastructure with Terra Firma

Moving away from traditional concrete pit lids isn’t just about cost savings, it’s about protecting infrastructure assets and investing in long-term resilience.

For councils, this means owning stormwater infrastructure that won’t crack, deteriorate or require frequent replacement. For contractors and builders, it ensures access covers remain intact throughout construction, eliminating costly replacements before handover.

Terra Firma has been at the forefront of this transformation, providing trusted composite pit lid and drainage grates solutions that combine strength, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Our composite pit lids are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and built to withstand heavy loads without breaking—making them the ideal choice for modern stormwater infrastructure.

Fully compliant with Australian Standards AS3996:2019 and key council and regulatory requirements, Terra Firma’s solutions have been adopted by councils and developers nationwide to improve safety, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance infrastructure longevity. Available in a wide range of standard sizes, Terra Firma pit lids and access covers can also be customised to meet different configurations or size requirements.

As a complete stormwater solution provider, Terra Firma also supplies grate and lid packages, offering a one-stop-shop for councils and contractors.

Our stormwater pit lids can be packaged with our Terra Firma B2,  SM2, V-grates and Bikesafe grates, for simple, complete and cost effective procurement.

Build lighter, faster, stronger, more durable, safer and smarter with Terra Firma. Discover our composite stormwater pit lid range and explore real-world success stories in our case studies.