Guidelines

The following guidelines can be used to help with your proposed development.

We’ve introduced a Developer Minimum Application Requirements Guideline (478.38 KB, PDF). This outlines the information and documents we typically require for a range of common development applications, and will be updated periodically.

General guidelines

General guidelines

Guidelines for Development in Flood Affected Areas

Guidance on development application requirements PDF|478.38 KB

Guidance on development application requirements (accessible version) DOCX|512.31 KB

Jetties approval summary brochure PDF|172.36 KB

Guidelines for Development within the Koo Wee Rup and Longwarry Flood Protection District PDF|6.08 MB

See our webpage at Planning for sea level rise guidelines.

Minimal Referral Requirements Checklist DOCX|94.77 KB

Reimbursement assessment template XLS|91 KB

Retarding Basin Design Assessment Guideline PDF|415.54 KB

Security and Retention for Developer Instigated Works PDF|48.82 KB

Shallow lake systems design guidelines PDF|538.37 KB

Site layout and landscaping guidelines PDF|270.36 KB

Stormwater Management Strategy Template Guidance PDF|450.85 KB

Waterway corridors - Greenfield development guidelines PDF|2.71 MB

Works guidelines

Works guidelines

Build over guidelines PDF|213.43 KB

Constructing waterway crossings guidelines PDF|4.07 MB

Jetties approval guidelines PDF|1.33 MB

Planting near sewers, drains and water mains guideline DOCX|1.93 MB

Shared pathways guidelines PDF|2.05 MB

Utility installation guidelines PDF|191.24 KB

Construction guidelines

Construction guidelines

Box culvert with concrete wingwall and cutoff medium creek crossing guidelines PDF|103.13 KB

Resetting sediment ponds - Best practice guide PDF|7.73 MB

Service crossing open trench medium creek crossing - guidelines PDF|224.64 KB

Single span bridge crossing guidelines PDF|130.62 KB

Specification -21.A.038 - Sands and crushed rocks PDF|77.28 KB

Specification-21.A.038-Sands-and-crushed-rock PDF|77.28 KB

Temporary erosion and weed control matting - specification for constructed Melbourne Water assets PDF|500.69 KB

Topsoil specification for landscaping of constructed Melbourne Water assets PDF|351.48 KB

Waterway design manual

Waterway design manual

Constructed waterway design manual - full document PDF|19.61 MB

Download specific sections:

Constructed waterway design manual - introduction PDF|1.05 MB

Constructed waterway design manual - Part A: Vision, outcomes and criteria PDF|1.09 MB

Constructed waterway design manual - Part B: Design approach and fundamentals PDF|3.55 MB

Constructed waterway design manual - Part C: Design acceptance process and deemed to comply PDF|1.93 MB

Constructed waterway design manual - Part D: Technical design elements PDF|10.27 MB

Constructed waterway design manual - Part E: Design tools and resources PDF|3.11 MB

Wetland design manual

Wetland design manual

Wetland design manual - Part A1 Introduction PDF|343.49 KB

Wetland design manual - Part A1 Vision, core and aspirational outcomes PDF|430.59 KB

Wetland design manual - Part A2 Deemed to comply design criteria PDF|4.83 MB

Wetland design manual - Part A3 Design considerations for wetlands PDF|497.96 KB

Wetland design manual - Part B Design acceptance process PDF|743.51 KB

Wetland design manual - Part C Technical design, construction and establishment approach PDF|1.38 MB

Wetland design manual - Part D Design tools, resources and glossary PDF|580.05 KB

Wetland design manual - Supporting document: Form and function PDF|2.09 MB

Wetland design manual - Supporting document: Planning, funding and management PDF|408.83 KB

Wetland design manual FAQs – design, construction and establishment of wetlands PDF|54.11 KB

Biofiltration system guidelines

Biofiltration systems in Development Services Schemes - Guideline PDF|3.79 MB

WSUD guidelines

WSUD guidelines

Read more about the new WSUD audit guidelines and toolkit on the MUSIC Auditor website.

South Eastern councils WSUD guidelines PDF|1.6 MB

Stormwater harvesting guidelines PDF|358.2 KB

Stormwater harvesting technical guidelines PDF|1.67 MB

Stormwater quality offset scheme PDF|271.82 KB

WSUD life cycle costing PDF|844.25 KB

WSUD Maintenance - Asset manager guidelines PDF|2.47 MB

WSUD Maintenance - Inspection and maintenance activity guidelines PDF|466.28 KB

MUSIC guidelines 2024

Melbourne Water has released an updated version of the MUSIC (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) Modelling guideline.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on modelling approaches and input parameters for MUSIC models that are submitted to Melbourne Water.

The update was developed by peer review, scientific research, and stakeholder engagement across Melbourne’s stormwater industry. It addresses industry feedback, information gaps, and incorporates recent advancements in both science and industry.

Notable changes include:

revised rainfall data. New templates better represent rainfall patterns, including the creation of an additional template band.
clearer guidance on sediment ponds. This will minimise the risk of designing inappropriate treatment systems.
new guidance on high flow bypasses, overflows, wetlands with multiple inlets.
Clarifying Melbourne Water’s position that proprietary stormwater treatment devices may not replace nature-based systems in Development Services Schemes.

The new guideline, rainfall templates, and associated maps are available below.

Please note, after June 30, 2024 Melbourne Water will not accept models developed using the 2018 templates or guidance. Clearwater and Stormwater Victoria will hosting an information session covering the new guideline and changes.