Pool removal opens up your backyard, but it also opens up an opportunity many homeowners in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie overlook: the perfect moment to install a large-capacity rainwater tank. The timing aligns well. Equipment is already on site, the ground is already being disturbed, and you can design the final landscaped surface with tank placement in mind from the start. This guide walks through the practical and regulatory steps for combining pool removal with rainwater tank installation in the Hunter region. For broader ideas on what to do with the reclaimed space, see our guide to backyard design ideas after pool removal.
Quick answer (BLUF)
Installing a rainwater tank after pool removal is a practical upgrade that’s worth planning before demolition day. Coordinating the earthworks means the tank pad or below-ground tank installation can be integrated into the backfill phase, saving a separate excavation. In the Hunter, above-ground tanks up to a certain capacity are exempt development under SEPP.
Why pool removal and rainwater tank installation work well together
The excavation is already open. Pool removal involves significant earthworks, the pool void is backfilled with clean fill and compacted in layers. If you want an in-ground or slimline underground tank, the contractor can leave a section of the excavation appropriately sized and the tank installation can happen before final backfill. This avoids digging again later.
Machinery is already on site. Positioning a large poly tank (3,000-30,000+ litres) or a concrete rainwater tank often requires a crane or telehandler. If your pool removal is using excavation equipment anyway, tank placement can sometimes be coordinated into the same mobilisation.
The surface is fresh. After pool removal, the final surface, whether turf, pavers or garden beds, is being laid from scratch. You can run overflow pipes, first-flush diverters, and inlet plumbing through the ground before the surface goes in, rather than retrofitting them later.
Tank sizing for a Hunter-region household
Hunter Water supplies approximately 40,000+ properties in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. The area receives an average rainfall of around 1,100-1,200mm per year (Bureau of Meteorology data for Newcastle), making rainwater collection viable year-round, though the wetter months of late autumn through winter tend to fill tanks more reliably.
For a standard 3-4 bedroom house, a tank in the range of 5,000-15,000 litres is typically recommended for toilet flushing, laundry and garden irrigation. If you want to connect your tank to indoor plumbing, a pump and pressure system is required.
The area where your pool was located often makes a natural catchment downstream: garden areas that previously ran pool overflow can be regraded to direct roof runoff toward the tank inlet.
NSW and local council requirements
Under the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) and its predecessor instruments, above-ground water tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres or less are generally exempt development in most residential zones, meaning no DA or CDC is required. Tanks up to 10,000 L must be:
- Set back at least 450mm from any boundary
- Not installed in a primary street setback area
- Below a height of 3m
For larger tanks or underground installations, you will need to check with Newcastle City Council or Lake Macquarie City Council. Hunter Water also has requirements for tanks connected to the reticulated supply system, backflow prevention valves are mandatory where rainwater plumbing connects to mains.
Maitland City Council has its own DCP provisions for water sensitive urban design, tanks may be encouraged or required as part of development conditions on certain sites.
Subsurface / buried tanks
Slimline underground tanks (often polypropylene or fibreglass) are a popular option when above-ground space is at a premium. If your backyard is small and the pool void is being refilled, the contractor can install a below-ground tank in a separate portion of the yard while the pool backfill proceeds elsewhere. This is best planned before pool removal begins, retrofitting a buried tank means re-excavating compacted fill, which adds cost and disturbs the site again.
Note: underground tanks must be engineered for compressive load if they are under a driveable surface. Tanks under garden beds or lawn are generally available in standard specifications.
Cost to add tank installation to a pool removal project
Adding rainwater tank installation to a pool removal project typically adds:
- Above-ground slimline poly tank (5,000-10,000 L): $1,200 to $3,500 installed (tank, stand, pump, plumbing to downpipe)
- Underground tank (5,000-10,000 L): $3,000 to $7,000 depending on excavation and plumbing complexity
- Plumber connection to toilet/laundry: $800 to $2,000 additional (licensed plumber required for indoor connections under NSW Plumbing Code)
These are not pool removal costs, they are separate quotes from a plumber or tank supplier. However, coordinating timing with your pool removal contractor can reduce overall mobilisation costs.
Practical planning tips
- Decide on tank location and type before demolition starts, changes after the fact cost money
- Mark out tank position and access routes on a site plan before earthworks begin
- Check your roof catchment area, the total square metres of contributing roof directly affects tank sizing
- Ensure overflow from the tank is directed to a soakage pit, garden bed or stormwater connection (not onto a neighbour’s property)
- Consider a first-flush diverter, they improve water quality by diverting the first, most contaminated runoff away from the tank
FAQs
Can pool water be pumped directly into a rainwater tank?
No. Pool water contains chlorine, salt (if salt chlorinated) and other chemicals that would contaminate a potable or garden-use rainwater tank. Pool water must be discharged to the sewer or stormwater per council requirements, not transferred to a storage tank.
Will Hunter Water charge me less if I install a rainwater tank?
Hunter Water’s residential pricing is volume-based. A rainwater tank can reduce your metered consumption, particularly for outdoor use, which may reduce your bill. The extent depends on how the tank is connected and how much rainfall you receive. Hunter Water has rebate programs for rainwater tanks connected to toilet flushing that have historically offered cash rebates to eligible residents; check their current rebate portal.
How long does a rainwater tank last in the Hunter’s climate?
Good-quality poly tanks typically last 20-30 years in the Hunter’s climate. UV stabilisation is important given Newcastle’s sun exposure. Stainless steel tanks last longer but cost more. Fibreglass underground tanks are very durable but are more expensive to install.