Victoria’s planning requirements for stormwater management

Stormwater is defined as the net increase in runoff from urban development.

Unmanaged stormwater runoff can cause flooding and impact property and public safety. Drainage pathways that lead directly to receiving waterways can also cause environmental damage due to:

  • increases in pollutant and sediment loads
  • runoff volumes
  • flow velocities.

Best practice stormwater management

The development types that are subject to Victoria’s best practice stormwater management requirements under the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPPs) include:

  • residential subdivisions
  • apartments
  • residential multi-dwellings (e.g. townhouses)
  • commercial subdivisions and developments
  • industrial subdivisions and developments
  • public use developments

Find further information on the changes made in October 2018 which broadened the range of development types required to manage stormwater. Read the Amendment VC154 - Stormwater Management Advisory Note 75 (PDF, 322.8 KB).

Read information on the recommendations made by the Improving Stormwater Management Advisory Committee and the planning reforms.

DELWP checklists and guidance to support stormwater planning requirements

We have developed the following guidance to support applicants and assessors meet their stormwater planning requirements.

Compliance references for applicants and assessors:

Example development scenarios:

Online Navigator Tool Resource Portal for stormwater planning requirements

DELWP and Clearwater have partnered to develop an Online Navigator Tool Resource Portal. This supports planning applicants and decision-makers to comply with Victoria’s stormwater management planning requirements for land development under the VPPs.

Meeting Victoria's stormwater planning requirements

This Tool provides step-by-step guidance and advice and provides users with the knowledge and resources they need to ensure their subdivision or buildings and works development meets Victoria’s stormwater planning requirements.

The Tool is a non-statutory guide. There are checklists and context specific guidance and resources to help you. This guide will help planning system users to identify stormwater management requirements set out in the VPPs.

Visit the Online Navigator Tool Resource Portal.

Other useful resources

Trees for Cooler and Greener Streetscapes

To help prioritise trees in our urban landscape, the Victorian Government has developed Trees for Cooler and Greener Streetscapes - Guidelines for Streetscape Planning and Design.

Green-blue infrastructure guidelines

DELWP has partnered with the City of Ballarat to develop Planning a Green-Blue City (PDF, 27.6 MB). A how-to guide for planning urban greening and enhanced stormwater management.

The guide will allow local governments to develop the necessary components of a green-blue infrastructure action plan that will inform and drive local government-led initiatives.

Rainwater tank operation and maintenance

Rainwater tanks are a great way of collecting water for use on your garden, in your laundry or for toilet flushing. But it’s important to keep the system in good condition for both safety and operational efficiency.

Read the information on how to operate and maintain a rainwater tank.

Environmentally sustainable development of buildings and subdivisions

Learn how the planning system is changing to improve the sustainability of buildings and subdivisions across Victoria.

An urban waterway with vegetation on both sides

Skeleton Creek retarding basin. Credit: Melbourne Water

Page last updated: 15/03/21