Stormwater map

UPDATE

This webpage is only for the local drainage areas in our City, where the Council is the local drainage authority. Use Melbourne Water's webpage for any queries about the regional drainage areas in our City.

Melbourne Water | Main Drainage Stormwater Map

Melbourne Water's other contact details can be found on its webpage.

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    Regional Drainage (Melbourne Water)

    • The bigger underground pipes and their inlet and outlet structures. Sometimes under roads and within properties in our neighbourhoods.
    • Associated with the stormwater (flood) map on Melbourne Water's website: Melbourne Water | Main Drainage Stormwater Map
    • Regional drains are located inside the mapped area on the Melbourne Water stormwater (flood) map.
    • When the capacity of the Melbourne Water regional drain is exceeded, stormwater flows overland. This flow is represented by the Melbourne Water mapped area.
    • In some locations the regional drains may be a constructed floodway channel.
    • Waterways are also part of Melbourne Water’s regional drainage responsibilities, but will be part of a separate, future update flood mapping by Melbourne Water.
    • Repairs and maintenance for regional drains is done by Melbourne Water.
    • Any inquiries about regional drains should go to Melbourne Water at: Melbourne Water | Main Drainage Stormwater Map

    Local drainage (Council)

    • Council manages the smaller drains in our neighbourhoods. These are the ones commonly found under roads.
    • Stormwater from the smaller council drains flows into the regional drains. The two systems are connected.
    • Within Melbourne Water's stormwater (flood) map, regional drainage dominates, and the stormwater overland flows are associated with the regional drains. Local drainage is less significant.

On 13 August 2025, the Council updated and redesignated its stormwater map under the Building Regulations 2018. This map is for the City's local drainage areas only, where Council is the drainage authority.  

The stormwater map for our local drainage areas is being included in the Merri-bek Planning Scheme. More about this is on our Amendment C196more webpage.  

 

Background

In Merri-bek we have regional and local drainage areas. Melbourne Water manages the (larger) regional area, and Council manages the (smaller) local areas. In the regional areas:

  • Stormwater comes from the local areas and flows downstream to the regional drainage areas. 
  • Melbourne Water manages the regional (main) drainage infrastructure. 
  • Mapping for the regional stormwater flow paths is in the Merri-bek Planning Scheme and is shown by the Special Building Overlay, Schedule 1 (SBO1). This map is are on the Victorian Government's Planning website. 
  • Melbourne Water is updating its regional (main) drainage map and is consulting with affected landowners in late 2025. Go to Melbourne Water's website for information about regional drainage maps in Merri-bek. 

This webpage is only for the Council's drainage areas. 

How do I see the stormwater map for local drainage areas? 

Click on the following button, then read the instructions before using the map.  

   Interactive Map   

How do I find out if my land is affected by a stormwater map?

To find out if a property is affected by stormwater overland flows during a 1% AEP rainfall event in a:

My land is affected by the stormwater  map for local drainage areas, now what?

The map is used for guiding the design of land development, and needs to be considered before giving a planning permit application to Council and before a licensed building surveyor can issue a building permit.

Initially, we will work with you by using a two-step process when you are preparing your development proposal: 

Step 1: Lodge a Flood Level Application for preliminary advice. 

  1. Register with Council Online Services. As a registered user, you don't need to re-enter your personal information and can keep track of requests and applications on any device.
  2. Apply for a flood level certificate. You need to sign in to Council Online Services to apply.
  3. As part of the online application process, the fee is paid online by Visa or MasterCard. The 2025-26 fee for a flood level certificate from Council is $56.20. 

Apply for a flood level certificate

Step 2: Once you have considered our preliminary advice and prepared a development proposal that effectively responds to this advice, lodge a Report and Consent application to Council. This application is for those developments that need a building permit, and may prompt you to make changes.

In the future, when Amendment C196more is in the Planning Scheme, we recommend talking to our planning team before lodging a planning permit application.

Contact us

If you have any other questions, please contact our Customer Contact Centre at 9240 1111 or info@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.