Strategy & scheme planning

We plan our water, wastewater and drainage schemes to meet land use/ zoning and development densities set in statutory planning documents. 

Our infrastructure and capital planning process aligns with: 

• local planning schemes and strategies
• regional and sub regional planning framework
• structure plans
• other statutory planning documents

Greenfields vs infill developments

In greenfields development areas (outer suburb areas where rural land is being urbanised), we plan new schemes and manage the delivery of new headworks assets through our capital program.

Our infrastructure and capital planning process aligns with:

• local planning strategies
• town and regional planning schemes
• structure plans
• other forms of planning

It follows the logic of frontal and orderly expansion of urban areas as per State Planning Policy No.3 – Urban Growth and Settlement. We prioritise capital projects based on this.

In infill areas (also known as brownfields or redevelopment areas), if a planning authority or local government seeks to increase density or rezone land for a different form of development, we need to model and understand the impacts to our schemes.

Urban redevelopment and increases in density can often take advantage of available capacity in the existing schemes. When available, we approve connection to our schemes. When a proposal has water or wastewater demands that exceed the available capacity of the network, the landowner may need to fund some local upgrades to support servicing of the proposed development.

The infrastructure network funding model describes how funding of infrastructure is allocated.

In instances where land ownership is split, gradual upgrades to the local water and sewerage reticulation network over a period of time may not be practical, efficient or fairly shared.A cost sharing arrangement (such as a development contribution plan) may be suitable for a local government to implement. 

On occasion, we may request a developer to upgrade its sewer reticulation assets to facilitate future servicing.

We may:

• require the developer to construct 300mm sewers as reticulation assets; and
• will reimburse the costs incurred at an approved rate per metre. 

To be eligible for reimbursement, a wastewater design incorporating 300mm sewers must be "accepted" by Water Corporation. 

The reimbursement amount will be paid at the time that the assets are "taken over". 

Contact us

To seek input on how water, wastewater and drainage matters may impact a statutory planning proposal, please email us at landplanning@watercorporation.com.au or by mail to:

Water Corporation
Development Services BU
PO Box 100
Leederville WA 6913