HERO WSUD

 

WSUD Reports

Water Sensitive Urban Design for planning and development approval

 

Certified Energy can review your available plans and confirm whether your project is likely to need a WSUD report, stormwater response or related water management documentation.

You can send early plans or partial documents.

Upload Plans


Send us your available project information and we’ll confirm what WSUD support is needed.
You do not need to understand the full Water Sensitive Urban Design or stormwater approval pathway before contacting us. Send the available plans, site information, council notes or development details, and our team will review what may be needed for your project.
If your project may require a WSUD report, stormwater management response, drainage assessment or related water management documentation, we can help clarify the most practical next step.

Usually helpful to include:

  • Project address or suburb
  • Architectural plans or site plans
  • Landscape or civil drawings, if available
  • Council correspondence or planning notes
  • Any stormwater, drainage or water management information already available

Before you submit:

  • You can send partial information
  • We’ll confirm whether there is enough detail to begin
  • We’ll respond with the next practical step

Send your project documents

Upload your available plans or send the details you have. We’ll review the information and help clarify whether a WSUD report, stormwater response or related water management assessment may be needed.

Project information

You can send what you have.

You do not need a perfectly complete documentation package before enquiring. For many projects, available plans, site details, council notes and basic information about the development can help us understand whether a WSUD or stormwater assessment can begin.

If more information is needed, we’ll let you know clearly rather than leaving you to guess what the assessment requires.

Helpful information to include

  • Project address or suburb
  • Architectural plans or site plans
  • Landscape plans, if available
  • Civil or drainage drawings, if available
  • Council correspondence or planning notes
  • Any stormwater, drainage or water management information already available
  • Any DA, planning or consultant information relevant to the site

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Who this is for

WSUD support for different project types

WSUD, stormwater and site water management requirements can apply to a range of residential, mixed-use, commercial and development projects. If you are unsure whether your project needs a WSUD report, you can still send through the available information for review.

Residential

Homes, dual occupancies and townhouse projects

For new dwellings, alterations, additions, dual occupancies, townhouses and smaller residential developments where stormwater or site water management needs to be addressed.

Multi-residential

Apartments and mixed-use developments

For residential flat buildings, apartment projects, shop-top housing and mixed-use developments where WSUD may form part of the planning or approval pathway.

Commercial and development

Commercial, industrial and subdivision sites

For commercial buildings, industrial projects, subdivisions and larger development sites where drainage, detention, runoff or council stormwater requirements may need review.

Stormwater and planning

How WSUD relates to stormwater and approval pathways

Water Sensitive Urban Design is closely connected to the way a site manages stormwater, runoff, water quality and the movement of water through the development.

Depending on the project and council requirements, WSUD may need to be considered alongside drainage design, detention, infiltration, landscape planning or other site water management documentation.

WSUD may involve

  • Stormwater runoff and site water movement
  • Water quality treatment requirements
  • Detention or retention considerations
  • Infiltration and permeable surface opportunities
  • Landscape and drainage coordination
  • Council stormwater or planning requirements
  • Supporting documentation for development approval

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Early project review

Why early WSUD review can help

WSUD and stormwater requirements can affect more than one part of a project. Early review can help the design team understand the likely pathway before the layout, landscape or drainage strategy becomes too fixed.

01

Reduce uncertainty

Clarify whether your project is likely to need a WSUD report, stormwater response, drainage assessment or related water management documentation.

02

Support coordination

Understand how site water management may interact with architecture, landscape design, civil documentation and planning requirements.

03

Avoid late pressure

Identify potential water management considerations before the project is too far progressed or before important site planning decisions become difficult to adjust.

04

Clarify approval needs

Help the project team understand what documentation may be needed to support council review, planning assessment or development approval.

Not sure where to begin?

Not sure whether your project needs a WSUD report?

That is common. Different councils, sites and development types can trigger different stormwater or water management requirements.

Some projects may need a WSUD report. Others may need a stormwater management response, civil drainage information, detention details or another form of supporting documentation.

You do not need to know the exact requirement before contacting us. Send through your available documents and we can help review the likely pathway.

Send your project documents for review

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Not sure what your project needs?

You can still send us the available information. We’ll review your project details and confirm whether BASIX, NatHERS or another residential energy assessment is required. Send your project documents for review.

 

Frequently asked questions

WSUD report FAQs

What is WSUD?

WSUD stands for Water Sensitive Urban Design. It is an approach to site and urban design that considers how water moves through a development, including stormwater runoff, drainage behaviour, water quality and environmentally responsive site planning.

When is a WSUD report required?

A WSUD report may be required when a council or planning authority needs to understand how a project manages stormwater, runoff, detention, infiltration, water quality or related site water impacts. Requirements can vary depending on the site, council area and development type.

Is WSUD the same as a stormwater report?

Not always. WSUD and stormwater reporting are closely related, but they are not always identical. A stormwater report may focus more directly on drainage and runoff management, while WSUD may also consider water quality, landscape integration and broader site water response.

Can I send incomplete plans?

Yes. Early plans are often suitable for an initial review. You can send concept drawings, architectural plans, site plans, landscape information, council correspondence or any supporting documents you currently have.

Do residential projects need WSUD?

Some residential projects may need to address WSUD or stormwater management, particularly where council requirements, site conditions or development scale trigger water management considerations. It is best to review the project documents before assuming the pathway.

What documents should I provide?

Useful documents may include architectural plans, site plans, landscape plans, civil or drainage drawings, council correspondence, DA documentation, planning notes and any previous stormwater or water management information.

Can Certified Energy help clarify what is required?

Yes. Certified Energy can review your available project information and help identify whether a WSUD report, stormwater assessment, drainage documentation or related planning support may be required.

 

Ready to begin?

Send your WSUD project documents for review

If your project may need a WSUD report, stormwater response or water management assessment, you can send through the documents you currently have. We’ll review the information and confirm the next practical step.

Send your available project documents

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