Planning & Building

As a Referral Authority, GMW assesses the impact any land use and development applications may have on surface and ground water quality, as well as GMW’s assets and infrastructure. GMW receives referrals for a wide variety of application types, including (but not limited to) those for: a new dwelling, alterations and/or additions to an existing dwelling, subdivisions, shed/outbuilding, extractive industries, and agriculture.

GMW is able to provide advice to landowners and applicants in relation to proposals prior to formal application to the Council/Responsible Authority. Any request for advice from GMW prior to submission of a planning permit application or outside of the planning process must be submitted via a PS010 application. Please see the current GMW Price List for the relevant application fee.

Important notes:

• For technical assessment/complex matters, GMW may require an hourly rate (as specified in GMW’s Price List) to be paid to allow Property Services to progress an enquiry. The applicant will be contacted, and consent will be obtained for this to occur.
• GMW are only able to provide advice in relation to proposals which require a planning permit (as confirmed with the relevant Council) and will be referred to GMW for assessment. 
• If a Waterway Determination is required to be carried out to enable Property Services to provide a response to an enquiry, the applicant must also apply to GMW’s Diversions Operations for a Waterway Determination through the submission of a Form 96. Please see the current GMW Price List for the relevant application fee.

VicSmart is a simple and fast planning permit process for straightforward applications. Clause 71.06 of the relevant Planning Scheme sets out the Operation of VicSmart Applications and Process. Should a VicSmart application require referral to GMW under Clause 66 of the relevant Planning Scheme, written consent must be obtained from GMW before an application is lodged with Council. The written consent must not be older than three months. If an applicant does not obtain this consent or GMW objects, the application cannot be a VicSmart application, and the applicant must apply through the regular permit application process.

Any request for an assessment of a VicSmart application by GMW must be submitted via a PS007 application. As part of your application, you must submit a VicPlan report for each relevant allotment. If you require assistance, please see instructions on DEECA’s Using VicPlan information page. Please see the current GMW Price List for the relevant application fee.

More information about the review process and checklists to help your application are available on the VicSmart permits website

• To gain information from Property Services in relation to GMW requirements relating to building near a GMW asset and/or easement (e.g. required setbacks), please submit your enquiry via a PS010 application.
• For information in relation to an easement on title of which GMW (or a predecessor) is a beneficiary of, please submit your enquiry via a PS010 application.
• If you wish to undertake works on GMW owned or managed land, please submit your enquiry via a PS008 application.  
• If you want information on the installation of utility services (i.e. drainage infrastructure) or similar on GMW owned or managed land, please submit your enquiry via a PS010 application.
• For information on private works over any GMW assets (such as channels, drains and pipelines), please submit your enquiry to GMW’s Land and Licencing team via a Form 130.

Please see the current GMW Price List for the relevant application fee.

• When considering a land use and/or development application, GMW consider a variety of legislative documents, guidelines and standards, to ensure that GMW infrastructure, and the flow and quality of surface and groundwater are not impacted detrimentally. These include (but are not limited to):
  • Guidelines for onsite wastewater management | Environment Protection Authority Victoria
  • Guidelines for effluent dispersal and recycling systems | Environment Protection Authority Victoria
  • Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1546.1:2008, On-site domestic wastewater treatment units, Part 1: Septic tanks, AS/NZS 1546.2:2008, On-site domestic wastewater treatment units, Part 2: Waterless composting toilets, AS 1546.3:2017, On-site domestic wastewater treatment units, Part 3: Secondary treatment systems, AS 1546.4:2016, On-site domestic wastewater treatment units, Part 4: Domestic greywater treatment systems, AS/NZS 1547:2012, On-site domestic wastewater management)
  • Guidelines for the Protection of Water Quality (North East Planning Referrals Committee) 2001 – Updated May 2016.
  • Planning permit applications in special water supply catchment areas (DEECA, February 2024)
  • Relevant Planning Scheme
  • Water Act 1989
  • Planning and Environment Act 1987
  • Subdivision Act 1988
  • Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
  • Safe Water Drinking Act 2003
  • Environment Protection Act 2017 & General Environmental Duty (GED)
  • EPA Obligations of Managers of Land or Infrastructure (OMLI)
  • Victorian Government Land Transaction Policy (2022)

• To enable GMW to undertake an assessment for a site which proposes onsite management of wastewater under the above documents, a Land Capability Assessment (LCA) may be required. The main purpose of an LCA is to evaluate whether the wastewater generated by the proposed development can be managed on-site without causing harm to the environment or public health. The LCA assesses the suitability of the land for on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, considering factors such as soil type, topography, and climate. It helps determine the appropriate treatment system and the area of land needed for sustainable wastewater management. Any LCA referred to GMW for assessment by Council must be in accordance with the Victorian Land Capability Assessment Framework.
• A Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) or Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP), in simple terms, is a strategy developed by Council in conjunction with relevant stakeholders such as GMW to manage on site domestic wastewater within the relevant municipality. OWMPs/DWMPs focus on ensuring public health and environmental risks associated with OWMS are effectively managed, and provides the framework for consistent regulatory decision-making. OWMPs/DWMPS builds community awareness of the risks associated with onsite wastewater and understanding their obligations under the General Environmental Duty (GED) stipulated in the EP Act. OWMPs set the framework and guidance for Council and other authorities such as GMW for the management of current and assessment of future onsite wastewater management systems.

For more information in relation to onsite wastewater management, please see the Onsite Wastewater Management Fact Sheet.

GMW have the power to request that a landowner enter into an agreement under Section 173 of the Planning and Environmental Act 1987 with GMW and Council, either through a planning permit condition on a referral response, or by agreement between parties. Section 173 Agreements are generally applied to prevent unsuitable or undesirable planning outcomes where regular planning provisions are insufficient for certain requirements. GMW encourages landowners/applicants to contact Council in the first instance for information on Legal Representative(s) in relation to Section 173 Agreements.  

The Minister for Planning is the responsible authority for planning permit applications for solar facilities that are 1 megawatt or greater.

The Secretary of the Department administering the Water Act, which is the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), is a recommending referral authority for permit applications for solar energy facilities proposed on sites within irrigation districts. The Secretary will provide referral advice to the Minister for Planning on referred permit applications in terms of irrigation infrastructure asset management and future planning.

Solar Energy Facilities Guideline, October 2022 

The Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guideline (2022) (Guideline) provides guidance on identifying suitable sites in irrigation districts and the importance of seeking assistance from DEECA early in the site selection phase of a project. The Guideline outlines information and decision criteria to ensure that solar energy facilities across Victoria are appropriately designed and located to support the achievement of Victoria’s renewable energy targets.

The Guideline states that ideally, a solar energy facility should be located to avoid land in a declared irrigation district that is serviced, or was serviced at 17 September 2019, by irrigation infrastructure managed by a rural water corporation, unless the infrastructure has been, or is planned to be, decommissioned.

The Guideline is supported by Clause 14.02-3S (Protection of declared irrigation districts) of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPPs).

The Guideline can be found at the  Victorian Government's Planning website.

The role of rural water corporations

The Guidelines identify the relevant irrigation districts and the Rural Water Corporations (RWC) that manage the irrigation districts. GMW is the manager of the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District. The role of the RWC is to provide site-specific information to DEECA on whether a proposed site is serviced by irrigation infrastructure that the RWC manages.

Pre-application service for proposed solar energy facilities in declared irrigation districts

A proponent is strongly encouraged to engage DEECA Water and Catchments Group early in the site selection phase of a project.

DEECA Water and Catchments Group will connect proponents with the relevant rural water corporation who can assist by providing initial site-specific information on whether a proposed site is within a declared irrigation district and serviced by irrigation infrastructure that the rural water corporation manages.

DEECA Water and Catchments Group can also assist proponents by providing advice (based on rural water corporation site-specific information) on appropriate siting considerations with respect to the Guideline and VPP Clause 14.02-3S Protection of declared irrigation districts.

Early engagement will contribute to appropriate site selection decisions which is essential to a project’s success.

To initiate this process the proponent should contact DELWP WCG at:  solar.water@deeca.vic.gov.au.

Proponent enquiries received by the RWC will be redirected to DELWP WCG.

For further information please refer to the DEECA website:  Solar energy facilities in irrigation districts

The Solar Energy Facilities Design and Development Guideline (2022) (Guideline) outlines that the development of a solar energy facility in a Special Water Supply Catchment Areas will be referred to the relevant water board or water supply authority, such as GMW.  Any request for advice from GMW prior to submission of a planning permit application or outside of the planning process must be submitted via a PS010 application. GMW are only able to provide advice in relation to proposals which require a planning permit and will be referred to GMW for assessment.