Five steps from brief to council sign-off.
Two to four weeks for a typical residential project, fixed fee, Melbourne Water referrals managed end-to-end. Each step is the same on every job, so you know what is happening and when.
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks, brief to final report
- Pricing
- Fixed-fee quote, agreed upfront
- Deliverables
- SWMP report and treatment sizing
- Coverage
- Melbourne and regional Victoria
The five steps in detail.
- 01
Initial consultation
We start with a conversation. You share the site address, the development type, and the council. We discuss council requirements, any known drainage issues, the timeline, available geotechnical reports, existing utilities, and neighbouring sites — enough to understand the project upfront before we quote.
- 02
Site analysis
A detailed site analysis: planning overlays, drainage scheme membership, geotechnical reports, EPA Publication 1739.1 targets, and whether the site triggers Melbourne Water referral under Clause 66.04. We confirm site-specific constraints — easements, high water table, Legal Point of Discharge — then discuss initial OSD and treatment options based on client preference before modelling begins.
- 03
STORM/BlueFactor
We choose the right tool for the project: STORM or BlueFactor for water-quality compliance, or OSD requirements where the council requires on-site detention sizing. We iterate the model until compliance targets are met and the treatment measures are sized appropriately for the actual development.
- 04
Compliance table
We prepare the final SWMP report with site analysis, treatment rationale, modelling results, and a compliance table that responds to the relevant council requirements. Outputs are report based. We size treatments appropriately for the development so your project engineer can build the design; civil design services can also be provided if required.
- 05
Council submission support
If the council raises a request for further information, we respond. We answer technical queries and update the report where the council needs a change. Most reports go through without further referral; where they do not, we are part of the response.
Common questions.
Why do you charge fixed fees?
Fixed fees align our interests with the project. We are paid to deliver a council-ready report, not to log hours. You know what you will pay before we start, and the price does not change if a step takes longer than expected.
How long does a Stormwater Management Plan take?
Two to four weeks from confirmed brief to a final SWMP report on a typical residential project. Larger subdivisions, projects requiring Melbourne Water referral under Clause 66.04, and sites with complex overlays take longer; we agree the timeline upfront.
What council requirements do you cover?
Victorian stormwater work — Clause 56.07-4 (residential subdivisions), Clause 53.18 (non-subdivision development), EPA Publication 1739.1 (best-practice pollutant load reduction), Melbourne Water drainage schemes, and the local clauses each Victorian council applies on top.
Can you help if my council has unusual requirements?
Yes. Each Victorian council has slightly different overlays and reporting expectations. We start every project by reading the council scheme and the relevant local policies before we model. Where a council has unusual conditions we flag them in the initial scoping call so the fee and timeline reflect the actual work.
Do you work across regional Victoria?
Yes. We deliver Stormwater Management Plans for development sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Interstate work sits outside our scope.
Can you modify an existing SWMP?
Yes. If a design changes during construction, or if a previous SWMP needs updating to reflect a permit amendment, we can review the existing report, re-model where required, and re-issue an updated SWMP. Send the existing report and the proposed change with your enquiry.