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Our regulatory role

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) plays a key role in regulating how Victoria’s water resources and waterways are managed.

We set the policy, legislative and regulatory framework that governs water use, waterway management and water infrastructure. We also oversee and support water authorities and catchment management authorities (collectively, Water Authorities), to carry out their regulatory functions under the Water Act 1989 and related legislation.

Water authorities as regulators

Water authorities are the primary regulators for many water-related activities across Victoria. They are responsible for administering licences and approvals, monitoring compliance, and taking enforcement action where required.

Together DEECA and Water Authorities work together to ensure that:

  • taking of water occurs only when and where it is authorised
  • use of water is safe and efficient
  • water infrastructure is maintained and operated reliably and safely
  • activities affecting waterways are managed to protect environmental, cultural, social and economic values.

What we regulate

Victoria’s water regulatory system covers a wide range of activities that can impact water resources and waterways.

This includes offences and non-compliance related to:

  • taking water without authorisation or in excess of entitlements
  • using water unlawfully
  • constructing or modifying works without approval
  • interference with water infrastructure
  • building or undertaking works in or near waterways and floodplains
  • non-compliance with licence or permit conditions.

Regulation helps protect the integrity of Victoria’s entitlement framework, ensure fair access to water, and safeguard environmental values.

Our regulatory approach

DEECA’s regulatory approach is set out in the Water and Catchments Regulatory Framework (2026), which provides a consistent, risk-based model for how regulatory functions are delivered across Victoria’s water sector.

The Framework brings together regulatory activities across water authorities and catchment management authorities into a clear, structured cycle of:

  • defining regulatory outcomes
  • identifying and prioritising risks
  • designing and implementing regulatory responses
  • monitoring, evaluating and improving performance.

This approach supports greater consistency across the sector while allowing flexibility to respond to different operating environments and local risks. It also ensures regulatory effort is focused where it will have the greatest impact on protecting water resources and waterways.

Our regulatory principles

The following regulatory principles define how we regulate. They set clear expectations for our conduct and decision-making and align with Australian and international best practice regulatory approaches.

The regulatory approach is driven by clear outcomes which are articulated, measured and evaluated to show progress and make improvements.

Effort is focused on addressing the most significant risks in order to maximise the outcomes achieved. These risks may be static (e.g. compliance with standard licence conditions) or dynamic (e.g. reduced water availability during droughts).

Knowledge and evidence such as information from the community or water metering data is effectively and efficiently gathered. It is then used to determine which risks to focus on and how to design and implement regulatory interventions.

Decision-making considers factors such as whether non-compliance was intentional or repeated, and its impacts. This means that the approach will shift depending on the circumstances from providing information and advice about how to comply with the law through to imposing fines, suspending or cancelling licences and permits or prosecuting for serious offending.

Collaboration with the Victorian community, Traditional Owners, stakeholders and with other regulators is pivotal, providing opportunities to shape the approach to achieving regulatory outcomes.

There is a need to be as transparent as possible about the regulatory policies, priorities, action and outcomes. Being transparent works to hold DEECA and Water Authorities accountable to the Victorian community and encourages regulated parties to comply with the law. Public release of information about regulatory activities however does not undermine the ability to prosecute or impose sanctions.

Regulatory activities must be undertaken in a manner that prioritises the safety of staff and the community. Staff will operate within their training, capability and authorisations, and will not engage in situations that present elevated personal safety or security risks. Such matters will be escalated to appropriate staff, agencies or specialist responses.

Working with us

Water and our waterways are a shared responsibility. DEECA, water authorities, and the community all play a role in protecting Victoria’s water resources.

We expect individuals and businesses to understand their obligations, manage risks, and comply with the rules that apply to water use, works and activities in and around waterways.

We support this by providing clear guidance and working with regulated entities to build capability and improve compliance over time. Where risks are not managed or obligations are not met, regulatory action may be taken.

If you suspect unauthorised water use, unlawful works, or other activities that may be harming water resources or waterways, you should report it to your relevant water authority.

Water Authorities are responsible for investigating potential breaches of the Water Act 1989 and taking appropriate compliance and enforcement action.

You can find your local Water Authority and their contact details using the find your water corporation tool.

If you receive a warning, direction to remediate, or a sanction from your Water Authority and would like to discuss the decision, contact your water corporation or catchment management authority directly. Check your water corporations for any address in Victoria using our find your water corporation interactive map.

DEECA and Water Authorities do not provide legal advice. If you wish to seek a review or appeal of a decision, you should obtain independent legal advice.

Water Authority staff are accountable for their actions and decisions during investigations. They are required to act ethically, make informed decisions, and demonstrate professionalism and accountability.

If you believe staff have not acted fairly or reasonably, you can:

Page last updated: 05/08/26