Before you purchase or develop property, or apply to your council for a planning or building permit, there are things you need to do to make sure your development meets Melbourne Water’s requirements, including meeting current standards for drainage and stormwater management, asset and waterway protection, and development in drainage schemes.
It’s also important to find out early whether you’re near or over any of our assets - such as mains or waterways or easements and understand our requirements.
Pre-development advice checklist
Get our pre-development advice early and avoid unnecessary costs and delays.
Melbourne Water has prepared a Pre-Planning Services in Greenfield Development Areas FAQ document to give you clarity on the application pathways required before lodging a Greenfield (DSS) planning application with the Responsible Authority (i.e. Council.) It explains when to seek early advice, the steps to obtain Melbourne Water’s support for a Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS), how to request changes to a Development Services Scheme (DSS), and what to do next if you receive a planning permit objection from Melbourne Water.
Before you contact us for advice, you'll need:
- site location
- development type (subdivision, building or structure or works)
Afterwards, you'll know:
- what drainage scheme you're in (if any)
- our associated scheme contribution costs to develop
- if you're in a flood overlay
- if you're near or over any of our assets
Apply for Pre-development advice
Drainage schemes
Drainage schemes or Development Services Schemes (DSS), guide the standards you need to meet for flood protection, stormwater quality and waterway health. Find your scheme or download a PDF copy of it.
Find out if you’re in a drainage scheme
Download a PDF of your drainage scheme
Contribution costs
We recover costs from developers to fund drainage scheme works and stormwater quality offsets. These are called ‘contributions’. Work out what contributions may apply.
Calculate your drainage contribution
Calculate your stormwater quality offset contribution
Flooding
Find out if your land is subject to flooding, and whether you need our consent to get a planning permit from your council, or if you just want to know your flood level information.
Work or build near our assets or easements
Installing utilities? Building a carport, jetty, shared pathway? Need to connect to the stormwater system? If you’re working near our assets – such as drains, sewers and easements or waterways, you’ll need our consent.
Check if assets are near your development and locate assets
Apply to work or build near our assets
Contact us
If you need any help, contact us on 131 722.
Email [email protected]
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