A checklist of the issues that stop a Christchurch CAT being processed - and what to do instead.

Most rejections come down to a handful of avoidable issues. Here they are, with the fix.

1. Wrong vertical datum

The big one. CCC: "If the old datum is used, we won't be able to process your CAT sheet" (CCC, As-built survey and data requirements). Fix: capture and report all heights in NZVD2016; never submit Christchurch Drainage Datum levels (see Article 3).

2. Wrong horizontal projection

Geospatial data must be Mt Pleasant 2000 (NZGD2000) (CCC, IDS Part 12). Fix: set your survey software/output to that circuit, and check with LINZ's Concord converter if unsure.

3. Using the wrong template (or an old version)

IDS Part 12 warns that picking the wrong template causes rework, and the SAG says to "always use the latest CAT version" (version number is in cell E2). Fix: confirm the template with your CCC project manager before field data collection, and re-download the latest version each new job.

4. Not using the project benchmarks

The SAG: "Do not source benchmarks from elsewhere as each project is in terms of specific project benchmarks." Fix: use the project benchmarks shown on the construction drawings; if destroyed, ask the CCC project manager which to use.

5. Relying on GNSS for inverts and chamber levels

The SAG states the survey-accurate tolerances "cannot be reached using GPS devices." Fix: use conventional levelling/total-station methods for inverts and manhole levels; reserve GNSS for where its accuracy is adequate.

6. Missing or misused mandatory fields

The CAT uses controlled pick lists (the green cells), required vertex ordering (downstream → upstream), "At Pit"/"To Pit" fields for inverts, and "LEAVE BLANK" cells that must stay blank (CCC, Survey As-built Guideline). Fix: follow the SAG's worked examples for points, lines and outlines; only use pick-list values; keep unique asset IDs (UIDs) consistent with the drawings.

7. No redline drawings or survey report

The SAG lists four deliverables: the CAT, red-line marked-up drawings, a survey as-built report, and (for stations) the Stations Asset Pickup Sheet. Every redline page "shall be signed and dated, even in case of 'no changes.'" Fix: submit the full set, not just the spreadsheet.

8. Sending it the wrong way (and assuming it's done)

Reticulation/parks go via the portal; stations/land-drainage go by email (Article 4). The portal validates automatically; email submissions are reviewed by people, so problems can surface late. Fix: use the correct route, run the portal validation step before final submission, and allow review time in your programme.

On the portal's validation feedback: CCC's portal page describes uploading a CAT "for validation or submission," and the linked SOPs cover the process. The exact distinction CCC draws between blocking errors and non-blocking warnings sits inside those SOP PDFs, which we could not retrieve to quote verbatim. Treat the validation pass as a gate to clear before final submission, and follow the steps in CCC's SOP for your template.

Sources & links