Stormwater Management Strategy review

A Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) demonstrates that stormwater management is integrated into the early stages of land development to meet or exceed regulatory requirements and best practice standards.

The SWMS aims to achieve effective drainage management by controlling surface and stormwater runoff, implementing stormwater quality treatments to reduce pollutants, and ensuring flood and erosion protection to safeguard property and infrastructure. Furthermore, the strategy seeks to protect and enhance waterways, promoting ecological health and prevent environmental degradation. By addressing these critical elements, the SWMS facilitates the sustainable design and resilience of developments while aligning with Melbourne Water’s guidelines and the Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR) framework.

Melbourne Water may require a SWMS to be submitted with a planning application. In some situations, Melbourne Water may require that a SWMS is submitted to its satisfaction.

Melbourne Water may provide engineering comments for consideration on a SWMS ahead of the lodgement of a planning application.

The SWMS must clearly describe:

What the drainage solution is for the site (conveyance, retardation, flood protection, outfall, and stormwater quality treatment).
How this solution will be implemented through the development (i.e., interim works, ultimate works, responsible parties, required approvals, etc.).

The SWMS must provide sufficient details to ensure that the strategy's implementation is within the control of the development.

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.

Changes proposed to a Development Services Scheme (DSS) or its assets

Apply for review of a proposed Change to a DSS or its assets

A dedicated pathway for requests to review changes to a DSS or its assets is available via the DevConnect ‘Apply Online’ portal. This request may be processed separately to a SWMS review. This offers a more structured and efficient process for assessing proposals, provides transparency on Melbourne Water’s requirements and streamlines our internal procedures, to ensure timely allocations and response times.

An Industry Guidance Note is available to assist you in determining whether a proposed change requires an amendment to the DSS and identify the most appropriate application pathway.

Various options are available for a review of both a ‘Change to DSS’ and a subdivisional SWMS simultaneously, offering greater flexibility in how proposals are submitted.

Please refer to the FAQs above to help guide you to the appropriate application type at the top of this page.

For further information and for minimum submission requirements, please refer to both the Guidance Note – Changes to a DSS or its assets (184.43 KB, PDF) and the Development Application Requirements Guideline (478.38 KB, PDF) documents.

Documents required - Stormwater Management Strategy Review

A Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) submitted to Melbourne Water is to appropriately address and include:

a catchment plan: The outline of the broader area from which stormwater is directed to the subject site
a staging plan: For multi lot subdivisions, to indicate the phases of development and how it lines up to the delivery of drainage assets
information on the proposed drainage solution: that describes what the drainage solution is and how it will be implemented through the development
drainage outfall details: that demonstrates that you can discharge stormwater appropriately from your site
conveyance details: The proposed alignment for any 20%/10% AEP drainage infrastructure and any associated overland flow paths directions for the 1% AEP flood event
details of any interim outfalls: Interim drainage outfall arrangements and treatment details where the development is out of sequence
modelling information: Hydrologic modelling (RORB) and MUSIC modelling as applicable

If Development Services Scheme (DSS) assets are located within the subject site, the following information will also be required with the submission:

Concept Design for Proposed Assets: A concept design for any proposed Melbourne Water or DSS assets, developed to a level that can be assessed against the requirements of the Precinct Structure Plan and DSS intent/requirements.
Additional Modelling information: Relevant modelling to support the concept design such as RORB, MUSIC, HECRAS/TUFLOW modelling as applicable.
Supporting documents: Depending on the complexity of the site, we may request relevant investigations and studies to support your proposal. This may include but is not limited to: Preliminary Flora and Fauna investigation findings, Preliminary Cultural & Heritage values statement findings.

Further guidance on SWMS preparation for Greenfield areas can be found through: SWMS Template Guidance Document (672.86 KB, DOCX).

All applications must be submitted online via our website and ensure they are prepared in accordancewith the relevant section of the Developer Application Requirements Guideline.

Please note: applications involving changes to the DSS, or to associated land configurations and budgets within a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), submitted via the ‘Stormwater Management Strategy Review’ application type, require additional information as outlined in the Guideline.

Approval process

Stormwater Management Strategies (SWMS) linked to an active planning permit are assessed through our statutory permit process and are submitted to us via the Responsible Authority (e.g. Council).

We encourage pre-permit SWMS submissions for our engineering comments through the ‘apply online’ link within thiswebpage. Any SWMS that sit outside of the Statutory process can also be submitted through this web page. We will review the information and provide engineering feedback or request further information if needed.

Refer to the FAQ document mentioned above for further guidance on choosing the appropriate approval pathway.

Duration

You'll receive our response within 45 days for a standard Stormwater Management Strategy (SWMS) assessment and up to 90 days for a complex SWMS.

See our planning and development service standards for criteria we use to determine whether an assessment is complex. Incomplete applications may be delayed or returned requesting additional information.

Fees

There are no fees for this service.

Contact us

If you need any help to complete this application, contact us on 131 722.

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