Onsite Wastewater Management Plan

What is an Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP)?

An OWMP identifies and outlines strategies for managing the potential risks to public health and the environment posed by onsite wastewater management systems (such as septic tanks) in areas without access to mains sewerage.

Councils within Victoria are required to review and update their Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP) every 5 years under state legislation (the EP Act 2017).

What makes up the plan?

The draft plan consists of two components: the Onsite Wastewater Management (OWM) Operational Plan 2025-2030, and the Technical Document.

Key inclusions of the plan:

  • Risk Assessment Approach - all unsewered properties within the shire are assigned a risk rating to inform how wastewater will be managed on site. Council will use risk data to prioritise inspections, compliance and education. It will also used this data to inform proposals for future onsite wastewater management strategies.
  • An Action Plan for the forward planning period (2025-2030) – including activities such as digitising septic tank permit records, annual process reporting with water corporations, training staff in risk assessment and compliance, compliance audits, cumulative risk assessment (CRA) studies for high-risk catchments, community education and support for system owners, and review of the OWMP every 5 years.

Council's current OWMP was adopted at the December 2025 Council Meeting.

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