The new State Planning Policy 2.9 – Water, and its associated Planning for Water Guidelines, amalgamates multiple documents into one clear, streamlined policy.
The new policy combines six water-related planning policies, the Government Sewerage Policy (2019) and the Better Urban Water Management guidelines.
The new suite of documents improve clarity around the integration of water resource management with planning and development decision-making, and responds to climate change, protecting water resources for future generations.
The guidelines help Government agencies, regulators and industry to better respond to the anticipated impacts from population growth and climate change, as well as economic and land use changes, and ensure that water concerns are considered early in decision-making processes.
The new policy follows extensive consultation and promotes water-related matters being considered early in planning processes to protect water resources and water-dependent ecosystems. It ensures that necessary drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure is in place to support future development.
State Planning Policy 2.9 and associated guidelines are operational from 18 December 2025.
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