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Melbourne Water is closed for non-emergency business activities from Saturday, 21 December 2024 to Sunday, 5 January 2025 inclusive. During this period we will continue receiving permit applications, and will have staff working to ensure priority applications are progressed.

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​Subdivision is the process of dividing a single parcel of land into two or more separate parcels or combining multiple parcels into one or more plans.

Applications for planning permits for the subdivision of land require Melbourne Water consent, as a referral authority (unless an exemption applies). The Planning and Environment Act 1987 (P&E Act) establishes the referral requirements relevant to the planning application process. Melbourne Water review applications and inform the responsible authority of its decision.

Application process

An application for a planning permit for subdivision must be made to the responsible authority in accordance with the Planning and Environment Regulations 2015 - Regulation 19. Responsible Authorities (e.g. Council) refer an application to subdivide land to relevant referral authorities, including Melbourne Water. These referrals are typically done via the Surveying and Planning through Electronic Applications and Referrals (SPEAR) platform. 

Responsible Authorities (e.g. Council) refer an application to subdivide land to relevant referral authorities, including Melbourne Water. These referrals are typically done via the Surveying and Planning through Electronic Applications and Referrals (SPEAR) platform.  We review applications and inform the Responsible Authority of our decision on a planning permit referral for subdivision referral via SPEAR.

Minimum requirements for assessment

When making a referral to a Referral Authority, the Responsible Authority (e.g. Council) is required to provide the prescribed information as per the Planning and Environment Regulations 2015 - Regulation 19.

Information we receive from the responsible authority will include:

  • Application form: A copy of the application referred to us by the responsible authority in the prescribed form. We would like to see the relevant reference numbers, and any previous Melbourne Water reference numbers (as applicable) to help us locate your project and understand how the application might interact with other projects
  • Address of the development
  • Application preamble  
  • Key site and proposal features
  • Application reference number: The reference number provided by the Responsible Authority created when the application was lodged.
  • Application receipt date: The date the responsible authority received the application to inform us of the statutory timeframes 
  • Description of why a permit is required: The permit triggers identified by the Responsible Authority. Not just the ones applicable to the referral
  • Reason for referral: A list of the clauses in the planning scheme that require the application to be referred to that referral authority 
  • Kind of referral: a copy of the applicable description in the planning scheme of the kind of application required to be referred to that referral authority
  • Referral authority role: Indicate whether Melbourne Water is a Determining or Recommending referral authority or whether the application is a non-statutory referral (advice only) 
  • Application Type: The type of application, (e.g., Planning Permit Application, Section 72 Amendment, plans to comply with a permit condition)
  • Referral Date: The date referred to Melbourne Water to inform us of the statutory timeframes
  • Contact Details: Contact details of the relevant officer within the responsible authority (e.g. council) if we need to get in touch about your application
  • Certificate of Title: Include a copy of any listed caveat, covenant, encumbrance or agreement (such as a Section 173 Agreement)
  • Ancillary documents: Any additional investigation reports as required to help justify that the proposed land use change is safe and implementable

Additional information requirements

In addition, further detail will assist Melbourne Water with assessing an application. Some or all of the additional may be required depending on the proposal and site context.

  • Reference numbers: Any previous Melbourne Water reference numbers and planning permit reference numbers as relevant
  • Approved planning permit (if applicable): If you have a copy of any approved planning permit relevant to this application, please include a copy to help us verify that your proposal is consistent with any prior approvals or requirements.
  • Subdivisional Concept Plan: That details the proposed land use change
  • Drainage plans: A stormwater management strategy, or appropriate drainage plans, outlining the flood management and drainage solution in consideration of both the interim and ultimate development/asset delivery scenarios (where applicable, see Additional notes for more information)
  • Planning assessment report: A report that outlines the planning triggers, exemptions and other relevant considerations of the planning assessment
  • Flood risk assessment: To help us evaluate potential flood risks which is essential to ensure the safety and feasibility of the development and how the proposal may affect the surrounding catchment. This information will ideally be included within the site’s Stormwater Management Strategy. Flood risk assessments will be applicable mainly in the instances where there is existing flooding or a potential risk of flooding due to proposed development impacts.
  • Feature survey plan: A feature survey plan is a technical plan that shows the sites existing conditions such as its size, shape, features and dimensions. The plan must include site levels shown to Australian Height Datum
  • Staging plan: That clearly outlines the staging and timing of proposed multi-lot subdivisions within the Development Services Scheme (DSS) area, the schedule for delivering any drainage assets in alignment with the subdivision development timeline (where relevant).  

If the planning application is located within a DSS area, the submitted drainage plans may require a Stormwater Management Strategy along with the road and drainage plans for the development. If the subject site includes the delivery of a Development Scheme asset, a concept design for the assets needs to inform the proposed Stormwater Management Strategy. For information related to the details required as a part of a stormwater management strategy or drainage plans, please refer to the Stormwater management strategy section of this document.

All applications must be submitted online via our website and ensure they are prepared in conjunction with the relevant section of the Developer Minimum Application Requirements Guideline (478.38 KB, PDF). 

Approval process

We will assess applications received from councils and respond with either our:

  • consent

  • consent with conditions

  • objection

We might request more information before we make a final response.

Duration

The process takes 28 calendar days to assess an application and respond.

Incomplete applications may be returned requesting further information or objected to if Melbourne Water determines it is unable to support the proposal.

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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