DWER Regulatory documents

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has implemented a Policy Framework initiative to classify all documents across our business areas into a clear and structured document hierarchy and governance model.

Last updated: 14 September 2023

The Policy Framework page provides further information on how the department and our stakeholders should apply our documents based on where they sit in the framework's hierarchy.

The following tables list our industry regulation, native vegetation regulation and water regulation policy, guideline, and procedure documents, based on where they fit into the hierarchy.

Industry Regulation	Native Vegetation Clearing	Water
Our regulatory approach	Our regulatory approach	Our regulatory approach
Compliance and Enforcement Policy	Compliance and Enforcement Policy	Compliance and Enforcement Policy
		Policy: Managing unlicensed groundwater use
		Policy: Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in Western Australia
		Policy: Giving an undertaking to grant a water licence or permit
		Policy: Use of operating strategies in the water licensing process
		Policy on accessing the Leederville and Yarragadee Aquifers in Perth
		Policy: Water entitlement transactions for Western Australia
		Policy: Management of unused licensed water entitlements
		Policy: Timely submission of required further information
		Operational policy 5.12: Hydrogeological reporting associated with a groundwater well licence
		Policy: Water conservation / efficiency plans
		Operational policy 5.10: Managing breaches of the RIWI Act on watercourses in WA
		Policy: Measuring the taking of water
		Policy: Use of mine dewatering surplus
		Operational policy 5.01: Managing water reserved for use by drinking water service providers
		Statewide policy no. 3: Policy statement on water sharing
		Policy: Section 5C licence tenure
		Policy: Protecting public drinking water source areas
		Operational policy 13: Recreation within public drinking water source areas on Crown land
		Land use compatibility in public drinking water source areas
		Statewide policy no. 5: Environmental water provisions policy for Western Australia
		Operational policy: Identifying and establishing waterways foreshore areas
		Statewide policy no. 7: Houseboats
		Policy framework for inland drainage

Industry Regulation	Native Vegetation Clearing	Water
Fact sheet: Regulatory services	Fact sheet: Regulatory Services	Fact sheet: Regulatory Services
Guideline: Prosecutions	Guideline: Prosecutions	Guideline: Prosecutions
Guideline: Regulatory principles	Guide 1: A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation	Guideline for groundwater monitoring in the onshore petroleum and geothermal industry
Guidance statement: Publication of Annual Audit Compliance Reports	Guide 2: A guide to the assessment of applications to clear native vegetation	Guideline for the approval of non-drinking water systems in Western Australia urban developments
Fact sheet: Calculation of fee refund – withdrawn applications	Guide 3: A guide to burning under the native vegetation clearing provisions	Guidelines for water meter installation
Guidance statement: Setting conditions	Guide 4: A guide to the exemption for clearing native vegetation for maintenance in existing transport corridors	Western Australian water in mining guideline
Guideline: Industry Regulation guide to licensing	A guide to grazing of native vegetation	Proposed guidelines for treating acid drain water in the Avon catchment, Western Australia: adapting acid mine drainage treatment systems for saline acidic drains
Guideline: Continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) code	Guide 6: A guide to native vegetation clearing processes under the assessment bilateral agreement	Supplementary information for permit applications to interfere with bed or banks of watercourses
Guidance statement: Licence duration	A guide to preparing revegetation plans for clearing permits	Community bores
Guidance statement: Environmental standards	Clearing of native vegetation – offsets procedure	Regulatory Standard 001: Stamp duty requirements for water licensing
Guideline: Decision making	Fact sheet: Native vegetation clearing frequently asked questions	Guideline: Water and environmental considerations for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) operations in Western Australia
Guideline: Risk assessments	Fact sheet: How to apply for a permit to clear	Stormwater management manual for Western Australia
Guideline: Port Authority bulk handling trials	Fact sheet 1: Native vegetation clearing legislation in Western Australia	Decision process for stormwater management in Western Australia
Guideline: Managing asbestos in construction and demolition waste recycling facilities	Fact sheet 2: Clearing offences and penalties	Water resource considerations when controlling groundwater levels in Western Australia
Guideline: Odour emissions	Fact sheet 4: Complying with your permit to clear native vegetation	Guidelines for district water management strategies
Western Australian guidelines for biosolids management	Fact sheet 5: Mining and petroleum activities	Water sensitive urban design brochure series
Landfill waste classifications and waste definitions 1996	Fact sheet 7: Clearing previously cleared land, grazing on and management of pastoral leases and pastoral lands board requirements	Better urban water management guidance note series
Fact sheet: Industry Regulation fees	Fact sheet 8: Clearing in controlled catchments	Water quality information sheet series
Guideline: Environmental siting	Fact sheet 9: Clearing limited to five hectare a year (limited clearing exemptions)	Water quality protection note series
Fact sheet: Cattle feedlot	Fact sheet 11: Environmental offsets for native vegetation clearing permits	Interim: Developing a local water management strategy
Fact sheet: Intensive piggery	Fact sheet 12: Information for purpose permit holders	Urban water management plans: Guidelines for preparing plans and for complying with subdivision conditions
Fact sheet: Mineral sands mining	Fact sheet 13: Information for maintaining existing transport corridors	River restoration manual
Fact sheet: Coal mining	Fact sheet 14: Clearing under State Agreements	Waste management of kennel operations within the Jandakot underground water pollution control area
Fact sheet: Animal feed manufacturing	Fact sheet 15: Forestry on private property	Environmental management guidelines for vineyards
Fact sheet: Asphalt manufacturing	Fact sheet 16: Risk-based assessment of clearing permit applications	Building creek crossings
Fact sheet: Beverage manufacturing	Fact sheet 17: Vegetation Conservation Notices	Crossing creeks – stream crossings on farms
Fact sheet: Bitumen manufacturing	Fact sheet 18: Have you been hired to clear native vegetation?	Guideline: Spring exemptions
Fact sheet: Regulation of natural shale gas from shale and tight rocks	Fact sheet 20: Clearing for fire protection (Building Protection Zones)
Fact sheet: Amendments to the EP Regulations – clean fill and uncontaminated fill	Fact sheet 21: Monitoring vegetation change using remote sensing
Fact sheet: Assessing whether material is waste	Fact sheet 22: Assessment of Aboriginal heritage values for native vegetation clearing applications
Fact sheet: Alcoa of Australia Limited – Wagerup Alumina Refinery	Fact sheet 23: Native title and native vegetation clearing applications
Guideline: Regulating container deposit scheme sites	Fact sheet 24: Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Guideline: Industry Regulation licence reviews	Fact sheet 25: Native vegetation clearing processes under the assessment bilateral agreement
Guideline: Better practice organics recycling	Guideline: Native vegetation clearing referrals
Guideline: Annual audit compliance reports	Guideline: Clearing permit application fee refunds, waivers and reductions
	Guideline: Applications for a permit to clear native vegetation relating to carbon farming projects

Industry Regulation	Native Vegetation Clearing	Water
Procedure: Prescribed premises works approvals and licences	Procedure: Native vegetation clearing permits	Procedure: Water licences and permits
Guideline: Annual Audit Compliance Reports
Procedure: Industry Regulation licence reviews

Industry Regulation	Native Vegetation Clearing	Water
IR-F09 Application form – works approvals, licences, amendments, and registrations	NV-F01 Application for new permit or referral to clear native vegetation	Form 1 – Application to commence, construct, enlarge, deepen or alter a well
IR-F10 Application form – transfer of works approval or licence; notify of new occupier of registered premises	NV-F04 Application to amend a clearing permit	Form 2 – Information to be provided on completion of a non-artesian well
IR-F11 Application form – surrender of a works approval or licence	NV-F05 Notification of change of land ownership – transfer of area permit	Form 2A – Information to be provided on completion of an artesian well
P5 - Application for a licence fee refund	NV-F06 Application to surrender a clearing permit	Form 3G – Application for a 5C licence to take groundwater
IR-F14 Annual Audit Compliance Form template	NV-F07 Applications for a clearing permit to be assessed under the EPBC Act	Form 3P – Application for a section 11/17/21A permit to interfere with bed and banks
IR-F27 Category checklist – landfills (cat. 63 to 66)		Form 3S – Application for a 5C licence to take surface water
Odour emissions reporting template: Summary of detailed analysis tools		Form 4A – Application to enter into an agreement to take water under an existing licence for a limited time
Odour emissions reporting template: Screening analysis		Form 4T – Application for Transfer of Water Entitlement OR Transfer of Water Licence
Odour emissions reporting template: Operational odour analysis		Form 5I – Application for notation, removal or variation of security interest
Odour emissions reporting template: Odour source information summary		Form 6 – Notification licensee no longer eligible to hold a licence
		Form 7 – Statutory declaration
		Form 8 – Information to be provided on installation of a water meter
		Water quality information sheet 34: Application form for recreation proposals within public drinking water source protection areas on Crown land

Industry Regulation	Native Vegetation Clearing	Water
		The following water policies and guidelines are administered by other government departments, the Western Australian Planning Commission or the Environmental Protection Authority: Environmental factor guideline: Inland waters Guidance statement 33 - Environmental guidance for planning and development Environmental impact assessment procedures manual State planning policy 2.2 Gnangara groundwater protection State planning policy 2.3 Jandakot groundwater protection State planning policy 2.6 State coastal planning State planning policy 2.7 Public drinking water source State planning policy 2.9 Water resources State planning policy 2.10 Swan–Canning River system Better urban water management Government sewerage policy

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DWER Regulatory documents

Policy documents

Guideline documents

Procedure documents

Procedure documents - application forms and templates

Key policies and guidelines administered by other agencies and organisations

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DWER Regulatory documents

Policy documents

Guideline documents

Procedure documents

Procedure documents - application forms and templates

Key policies and guidelines administered by other agencies and organisations

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Acknowledgement of Country