An Order for Obligations of Managers of Land or Infrastructure (OMLI) can set requirements for:  

  • councils  
  • public sector bodies  
  • infrastructure managers (or similar duty holders).  

The requirements relate to how the land or infrastructure needs to be:  

  • planned  
  • managed  
  • operated  
  • controlled.  

These obligations supplement and operate alongside with the general environmental duty (GED) and other obligations in the Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act).  

OMLIs can play a role in environmental protection by addressing responsibilities outside of the direct focus of the GED. For example, risk arising from third parties using the land, rather than the direct activities of the manager.  

An OMLI can explain compliance expectations requiring a land and infrastructure manager to take certain actions to reduce risk. OMLI may require a land and infrastructure manager to:  

  • take a specific action  
  • consider a specific matter  
  • comply with a specific document, code, standard or rule.  

Urban stormwater and on-site wastewater management

In May 2024, following a public consultation process conducted by us and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the Governor-in-Council made the Obligations of managers of land or infrastructure (urban stormwater management and on-site wastewater management) (OMLI).

The OMLI requires:

  1. Councils to develop and publish stormwater management plans and on-site wastewater management (OWM) plans.
  2. Water corporations to respond to councils’ OWM plans about their preferred sewage management solutions.

For specific requirements that council plans and water corporation responses must include, visit Victorian Government Gazette. 

More information

Reviewed 9 May 2024