Shared pathway

To build a bicycle or pedestrian path on our land, near our assets or within a floodplain you will need our formal approval.

​A shared pathway is a pedestrian or bicycle track that crosses public open spaces or Melbourne Water-owned land, or is beside a waterway, constructed lake, or wetland.

Applications will be assessed against our policy principles and guidelines. This guideline explains how to apply, what our process is and what the application considerations are.

Any works undertaken without Melbourne Water approval will be considered illegal under the Water Act.

Application process

Approvals from other authorities

We may need evidence of approvals from other authorities or private owners who may be affected by your works before we provide approval.

Check that you comply with other laws that may affect your development, such as other planning overlays.

Check construction requirements

Our Shared pathways guidelines include the technical requirements for shared pathways and the documents needed at each approval stage.

Prepare your documentation

Your application must be supported by documentation that outlines your plans. We require plans, design drawings and supplementary documentation.

Plans

• A set of plans showing the alignment of the shared user pathway.
• The plans should address the requirements in our shared pathways guidelines.

The plans should clearly identify the criteria outlined in the Shared pathways guidelines.

Design drawings

In preparing your design drawing you must consider the criteria outlined in the Shared pathways guidelines.

Construction phase

Prior to construction you need to submit the information outlined in the Shared pathways guidelines for review. 

Supplementary documentation

• Photographs, if available, along the proposed route of the pathway and of any of the above constraints.
• An engineer’s report confirming the structural integrity of the installation over or near our assets.
• Relevant environment and heritage reports, including when vegetation removal is required.
• During the review and clearance process the applicant may be required to submit additional information to ensure requirements are met.
• Offsets should meet our utility guidelines requirements, this includes but not limited to the pathway itself, bollards, signage, lighting, sensor pads.

Once built, paths are the responsibility of the shared user path manager. We will not manage or maintain them.

Approval process

You will need to complete the relevant checklist and submit specific documents at each stage of the process.

Stage 1 - Initial consultation

Your application must include a cover letter with a description of the proposed works with the following supporting documents as outlined in stage 1 checklist form (page 19 in the Shared pathways guidelines): 

• conceptual plans with Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) Melbourne Water underground assets
• path offsets from waterway or our underground assets
• top of bank (waterway)
• photos
• bridge locations
• land ownership
• licensed surveyors plans
• desktop environmental reports

Stage 2 - Design approval

Your application must include a cover letter and a description of the proposed works with the following supporting documents as outlined in stage 2 checklist form (page 20 in the Shared pathways guidelines):

• detailed design plans
• path offsets and design
• licensed surveyor’s plans
• environmental reports
• flora and fauna reports
• heritage approvals
• bridge/crossings design
• hydraulic assessment report
• path safety management package (include independent safety assessment report)
• revegetation plans
• rock beaching plans
• independent engineer’s certification in meeting path standards

Before starting work you will pay the inspection fee and where Melbourne Water land is being affected, enter into a formal Pathways Agreement (Header and Annexure Agreement).

Stage 3 – Inspection process

Inspections are required to ensure that our conditions are met, waterways are protected, public safety ensured, property is protected and works and building complies with standards.

We need to inspect your job at 3 stages:

• pre-works before starting
• practical completion
• final inspection.

You need a pre-inspection for the proposed work on:

• a private floating or fixed jetty, pontoon or mooring on Melbourne’s waterways
• bridge, culvert, or waterway crossing
• a connection to stormwater system
• a shared pathway
• other types of works (all other MW assets and owned land).

Prior to the inspection, you will be required to pay all relevant fees and meet conditions.

Any works undertaken without Melbourne Water approval are illegal under the Water Act.

Duration

We advise that from conception to final approval may take 3-6 months depending on the length 
and number of assets within the proposal. 

Fees (non-refundable)

Fees differ depending on the proposed work. We will advise you of the amount once we assess your application. 

Please note this application fee is non-refundable.

Fees and security for construction, works and connections.

Guidelines

Our guidelines include the technical requirements for shared pathways and the documents needed at each approval stage:

Important information

Your application may experience a delay if there are any issues. Delays in the application process may happen if:

• The information and documentation are incomplete or missing.

• We need to further investigate the complexity of the development.

We assess applications on a case-by-case basis and will notify you of the following outcomes once we have completed the review.

1. The application approved. Project can move forward. 

2. The application approved. Conditions need to be met before the project can move forward. 

3. The application declined. We will notify you of the reasons the project cannot move forward. (reasons given). 

4. Application needs to be assessed further, and we need more information.

Contact us

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