Plumber and gasfitter for Palmwoods, Hunchy and Eudlo
Palmwoods sits at the foot of the Blackall Range, about 15 km by road from Bli Bli. With about 6,400 residents at the 2021 census, it mixes older homes near the station, newer estates and steep acreage climbing toward Montville.
Seqwater’s Landers Shute Water Treatment Plant is in Montville, right beside the Landers Shoot boundary above Palmwoods. (The locality’s name is a corruption of Lander’s Chute; the plant keeps the older spelling.) It treats water from Baroon Pocket Dam, which holds 61,000 ML at full supply, can produce 140 ML a day, and is the main source of drinking water for the Sunshine Coast.
Palmwoods is in Unitywater’s southern supply area, which draws mainly on Baroon Pocket and Ewen Maddock dams. Further up the range, many homes rely on rainwater tanks instead.
Rain, runoff and creeks
Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages are about 1,700 mm of rain a year at Nambour and about 2,000 mm at Maleny, and Palmwoods sits on the slopes between the two. February is the wettest month at Nambour, averaging 259 mm.
The Bureau lists Palmwoods and Eudlo among the hinterland areas at risk of flash flooding. Paynter Creek runs through Palmwoods and Eudlo Creek through Eudlo. On a sloping block, heavy rain arrives fast:
Undersized or blocked gutters and downpipes overflow against the house
Runoff from the block above can overload stormwater pits and pipes
Tank overflows need piping away properly; council notes that overflow should be managed to prevent flooding and damage downstream
Gully traps that sit too low can let stormwater into the sewer
Steep blocks at Hunchy, Landers Shoot and Eudlo
Hunchy sits in the Blackall Range foothills and is mostly small farms. Landers Shoot runs along the range, where timber cutters once sent logs down the cliff face. Eudlo reaches up to Mossy Bank Mountain on a spur of the range. Plumbing on slopes like these has its own problems:
Pressure. A house well above its tank needs the right pump. A house well below the street main may need a pressure-limiting valve to protect taps and the hot water unit.
Long runs. Water, gas and drainage lines to sheds, studios and second dwellings are longer, and gas pipe has to be sized for the length.
Drain falls. Drains need enough fall to carry waste, and steep runs need the right design so solids aren’t left behind.
On-site sewage. Before a septic system or treatment plant goes in, a licensed site and soil evaluator assesses the block, and slope and soil decide what will work. Council issues the plumbing permit before installation.
Connecting a rainwater tank to the house
If you want a rainwater tank to supply the toilets, laundry or the whole house, Sunshine Coast Council requires approval before the tank is connected to internal plumbing. Where the property is also on Unitywater mains, a backflow prevention device must be fitted so tank water can’t flow back into the town supply.
Clayton can plumb in the tank, pump and mains switching, fit the backflow device and handle the ongoing backflow testing.
Old Palmwoods and the newer estates
The railway reached Palmwoods in 1891, and the town was named after its piccabeen palm groves. By the 1930s its 328 banana growers made it one of Queensland’s largest banana-growing areas. From 1915 to 1935 a tramway ran from Palmwoods to Buderim, and its remains are on the Queensland Heritage Register. Newer housing has since spread out on the south-west side of town.
At the 2021 census, Palmwoods had 6,357 people. About 90% of occupied homes were separate houses, and about a third were owned outright. That brings renovation work in the older houses alongside new home plumbing, extensions, granny flats and hot water in the newer ones.
Clayton was the perfect choice for our owner-builder project - we were really pleased with his work and advice, his patience and attention to detail.
Simon S · Google review
★★★★★
Can highly recommend Cassel's Plumbing & Gas after having a gas cooktop & oven repaired recently. Clayton was very professional and knowledgable and knew straight qway from my phone call what the problem was.
Palmwoods is in Unitywater’s southern supply area. That area is fed mainly from Baroon Pocket Dam through the Landers Shute plant at Montville, and from Ewen Maddock Dam. Water can also come from other parts of the grid.
Do I need approval to connect my rainwater tank to the house?
Yes. Sunshine Coast Council requires approval before a rainwater tank is connected to internal plumbing. If the property is also on town water, a backflow prevention device is needed.
Can I put a septic system on a steep block?
It depends on the block. A licensed site and soil evaluator checks the slope and soil first, the system is chosen to suit, and council issues a plumbing permit before it’s installed.
Do you cover Hunchy, Landers Shoot, Chevallum and Eudlo?
Yes. Palmwoods is about 15 km from Bli Bli, and Hunchy, Landers Shoot, Chevallum, Eudlo and Ilkley are all part of the regular service area.
