Declared Special Water Supply Catchment Areas

Tabulated Information

Many catchments supplying water for domestic, irrigation or other purposes within Victoria are protected under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. These catchments have significant values as a source of water supply, both for domestic and for stock and domestic use. This information assists planners and those managing land disturbance or development activities to readily determine the suitability of proposed activities within these catchment areas. Once a catchment is Declared, approvals for activities conducted under other statutes and statutory planning schemes must be referred to the responsible land management authority (water authority, CMA or DELWP) for approval.

Declared Special Water Supply Catchment Areas

There are 134 Declared Special Water Supply Catchment Areas with in Victoria.

The relationship of water quality and quantity with different levels of catchment planning is the basis for catchment planning and management under the provisions of the Catchment and Land Protection Act, 1994, (formerly the Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act, 1958).

Under this Act, Water Supply Catchments Areas officially recognise designated catchments for water supply purposes. This process highlights to the community, land managers and planners, the importance of the catchment for water supply purposes.

Declaration is recommended by the Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) recommendation to the Minister. Following Ministerial approval, notification is made in the Government Gazette.


Special Area Plans

Special Area Plans set out a plan to deal with specific land management issues in a Special Area. No Special Area Plans have been developed. The contents of a Special Area Plan are set out in Section 30 of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Amendments to planning schemes may be recommended to give effect to a Special Area Plan.


Land Use Determinations (Repealed and no longer in operation)

Forty-six Land Use Determinations were developed under the Soil Conservation and Land Utilization Act 1958. Transitional provisions in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 were repealed in 2006, ceasing the operation of Land Use Determinations. The determinations continue to be a source of historical information about the catchments.