Melbourne Water’s planning and development service standards set out the timeframes applicants can expect us to work within to complete our response to their application.
Our service performance updates show how we’re tracking against the service standards (see More information below). The updates are designed to help inform planning and development applicants, developers, consultants, councils, government agencies and other authorities, and are part of our commitment to transparency and commitment to improved service delivery.
Melbourne Water works to either statutory or non-statutory timeframes to process and complete applications, depending on what the application is for.
We are committed to completing at least 90% of applications within the timeframes outlined in our service standards and we are implementing a range of service improvements to support that commitment.
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Latest service performance update
Our public commitment is that we will meet the timeframes outlined in our service standards at least 90% of the time from March 2025.
We are pleased to share that we have achieved our service standards commitment for the March period. During this month we:
- Processed 945 applications; 98% according to the timeframes outlined in our service standards;
- Achieved 100% compliance for 1 application category (Design approvals: Concept and functional reviews); and
- Successfully reduced overdue applications, with a focus on applications within our Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) and design approvals (Concept and functional review) categories.
- 97% of all applications processed in the month were approved or supported subject to conditions.
March 2025 performance
The table shows the service performance outcomes of the work we did in the past month to process and respond to planning and development applications.
Applications with statutory timeframes
We work to statutory timeframes for applications we receive as a referral authority under provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) and the Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic).
| Performance outcomes: March 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application type | Service standards* | Number of applications completed | Number of applications completed within service standards | Percentage of applications completed within service standards |
|
Planning permit for subdivision Joint planning permit and certification Certification |
28 |
551 |
546 |
99% |
| Planning permit for development | 28 | 216 | 212 | 98% |
* Maximum number of calendar days to complete applications
Applications with non-statutory timeframes
Non-statutory timeframes are established in consultation with the planning and development industry.
| Performance outcomes: March 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application type | Application complexity | Service standards* | Number of applications completed | Number of applications completed within service standards | Percentage of applications completed within service standards |
|
Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) |
Standard | 45 | 35 | 34 |
98% |
| Complex | 90 | 5 | 5 | ||
|
Engineering requirements: Non-works offers |
Standard |
28 |
62 |
61 |
97% |
| Engineering requirements: Works offers | Standard | 60 | 5 | 5 | |
| Complex | 120 | 4 | 3 | ||
| Design approvals: Concept and functional reviews | Standard | 28 | 6 | 6 |
100% |
| Complex | 90 | 2 | 2 | ||
|
Statement of Compliance |
7 |
59 |
58 |
98% |
|
* Maximum number of calendar days to complete applications
1 Performance in February against service standards for Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS), Engineering Requirements and Design Approvals reflect the work Melbourne Water carried out to clear a large number of overdue applications. We are on track to meet standards for these types of application over 90% of the time from March.
2 Percentage result applies to Engineering requirements, both non-works offers and works offers.