State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Drinking Water Catchment) 2011 (the SEPP) has three main aims:

  • To support healthy water catchments that deliver high quality water and permit development that supports that goal
  • To ensure that consent authorities only allow proposed developments that have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality
  • To support water quality objectives in the Sydney drinking water catchment.

The SEPP commenced on 1 March 2011. Detailed maps showing the location and boundaries of Sydney's drinking water catchment are available to download from this site or to view at SCA and council offices.

Neutral or beneficial effect on water quality

The SEPP requires all proposed development in the Sydney drinking water catchment to have a neutral or beneficial effect on water quality (NorBE).

For development proposals relating to Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, all consent authorities (councils) must now use the SCA’s NorBE Assessment Tool when making NorBE assessments. This will help provide a consistent and transparent approach to NorBE assessments across the catchment. The SCA has prepared the Neutral or Beneficial Effect on Water Quality Assessment Guideline 2011 to explain the requirements for development approval.

The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) works in partnership with councils in the catchment area and provides training to help councils deliver their responsibilities under the SEPP.

The SEPP also requires public authorities to consider the neutral or beneficial effect on water quality for all their proposed activities covered by Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. These activities carried out by public authorities include subdividing land and creating or demolishing structures. To assist public authorities consider NorBE for a proposed activity, the SCA has developed a Part 5 NorBE Assessment Template and a Part 5 NorBE Assessment Explanatory Note.

Current recommended practices and performance standards

The SEPP also requires that all land development and activities in the Sydney drinking water catchment incorporate the SCA’s current recommended practices and standards. These are best practice guidelines to protect water quality and cover many key areas of planning and development.