Property Planning Information
Melbourne Water is a referral authority and receives planning permit applications for subdivisions and other developments from local councils, as required. We work with applicants to ensure proposed developments meet current standards for drainage.
This is a consultative process to help applicants plan and develop properties, buildings and structures so they are:
- safe from flooding without compromising the safety of other properties
- do not adversely impact upon waterway environments.
Our role is to provide expert technical advice, manage risk, improve drainage infrastructure and improve the health of our waterways. It is not to prevent developments from going ahead.
This fact sheet details how to obtain property flood level information, and how to plan for proposed development on land that is affected by either a Special Building Overlay or a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay.
Obtaining flood level information
Agencies - Property Flood Level Information
Melbourne Water has authorised Anstat and LANDATA® to supply current property flood level information on its behalf, to help you determine if a property is likely to be affected by flooding.
| Anstat | LANDATA® (Department of Sustainability & Environment) |
You can order flood level information from Anstat's extensive menu. Servicing the property information industry since 1980, Anstat Property Information is one of Victoria's leading providers of property certificates and business and titles searches online. Anstat Property Information is part of the Anstat Group of companies, which is proudly Australian-owned, and a leading publisher of regulatory information across a broad range of industries. For assistance talk to our helpdesk on (03) 9278 1172 or email oscar@anstat.com.au. |
LANDATA® is the online service delivery arm of Land Registry, a part of the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Through the Land Channel, it provides searching services for occasional users on all title searching and associated information, and includes the Melbourne Water flood level service: Order flood level information from LANDATA® Certificates are returned via e-mail, fax or mail. LANDATA® also has a broker network for people who need to buy property certificates regularly. Your title broker will have access to the Melbourne Water flood level service through LANDATA®. For assistance please call (03) 8636 2456 or email landata.online@dse.vic.gov.au. |
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Retail Water Company - Property Information Statement
Property Information Statements available from Melbourne's retail water companies contain current property flood level information from Melbourne Water. These statements also provide relevant water, sewerage and drainage asset information useful to landowners, conveyancers, prospective purchasers and property development consultants.
Property Information Statements may be included within a Vendor Statement or Section 32 Certificate for any property for sale.
A Property Information Statement can be obtained by calling:
- City West Water (St Albans Road, Sunshine) 131 691
- Yarra Valley Water (Lucknow Street, Mitcham) 131 721
- South East Water (Corporate Drive, Moorabbin) 131 694
Overlays
Special Building Overlays are planning scheme controls that apply to land affected by overland flow paths created when a severe storm exceeds the capacity of underground drains under Melbourne Water's responsibility. These overlays require a planning permit for buildings and works.
Land Subject to Inundation Overlays are planning scheme controls that apply to land affected by flooding associated with waterways and open drainage systems. Such areas are commonly known as floodplains. These overlays require a planning permit for buildings and works.
Planning Permits enable Councils and Melbourne Water to ensure new developments are protected from flooding and do not cause any significant rise in flood levels, or flow velocities, which will adversely affect other properties.
There are exemptions from the need for a permit under the Special Building Overlay or Land Subject to Inundation Overlay. Details of exemptions can be obtained from local council Planning Services or online, by examining the relevant planning scheme overlay.
Planning scheme information can be found online with either the Department of Sustainability and Environment or with Land Victoria.
In many cases, only portions of properties are affected. The area affected by the overlays can be ascertained directly from the planning scheme. Plans can be obtained from the Department of Planning and Community Development's Mapping Unit, either by facsimile 9637 9498, telephone 9637 8602 or by email: lance.counsel@dpcd.vic.gov.au.
The retail water companies and other authorised agencies can provide information relating to the flood level of individual properties, which can help determine if these are inside or outside the overlays. By supplying this information to a licensed Land Surveyor and asking for a land level survey plan, a more accurate extent of flooding can be determined.
A licensed Building Surveyor should be contacted to see if proposed buildings outside the overlay need a building permit.
Contacting Melbourne Water about development
If a property is potentially affected by flooding, you are encouraged to contact Melbourne Water to discuss your proposal prior to submitting an application to the local council.
Melbourne Water's Land Development Team (telephone: 9235 2517) can assist by:
- Advising if a land survey is required to enable the proposal to be assessed
- Reviewing plans, and suggesting changes where applicable. If this is done early in the process, it may avoid costly redesigning.
Melbourne Water's website provides Guidelines for Development in Flood Prone Areas (PDF 643kb) and Guidelines for Development within the Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection District (PDF 2.02mb). Development proposals should also consider best practice stormwater quality measures. For further information, please visit the Land Development section of the Melbourne Water website.
For development proposals requiring direct connection to Melbourne Water's drainage system or building over/near a Melbourne Water asset, advice can be sought from Melbourne Water's Asset Services Team (telephone: 9235 1414).
Submitting plans to Melbourne Water
Development proposals submitted to Melbourne Water should be accompanied by plans drawn to scale that show:
- The boundaries and dimensions of the site.
- Relevant ground levels to Australian Height Datum, taken by or under the direction or supervision of a licensed Land Surveyor. The Australian Height Datum is used throughout Australia and provides a measure of height above mean sea level.
- The layout, size and use of the existing site and the proposed buildings and works, including vehicle parking areas.
- Floor levels of any existing and proposed buildings to Australian Height Datum.
- Cross sectional details of any basement entry ramps and other basement entries to Australian Height Datum, showing the apex of any ramp or floor levels of entry areas.
- Elevation plans of the ground floor
Further information regarding Melbourne Water's drainage and floodplain management role is available from melbournewater.com.au/wsud or by contacting the Land Development Team on 9235 2517.