What is Blue Factor?
Blue Factor can help assess how much stormwater runoff and pollutants are created from a development and what treatment measures are needed to manage and treat stormwater effectively.
Blue Factor is the successor to the well known STORM Tool.
Like STORM, Blue Factor is intended for use with small-scale developments of less than 1 hectare including:
1. Small-scale residential developments
2. Simple and small-scale residential developments
Water sensitive urban design
Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is an approach to planning and urban design that recognises and accounts for the important role of water within the planning process. When doing WSUD we will:
Protect waterways and waterbodies
Make space for waterways and overland flow paths
Maintain a hydrologic balance
Reuse rainwater and stormwater
Integrate water management with landscape features
When to use Blue Factor?
Blue Factor is usually used to demonstrate compliance with planning requirements for WSUD and stormwater management. It is intended for use with residential and simple commercial, small scale developments that are less than 1 hectare and do not include a public road.
WSUD is mandatory for all new residential subdivisions in Victoria under Clause 56.07 of the Victorian Planning Provisions. If you are sub-dividing or developing it is likely you will need to meet these requirements. It is also required for a broad range of developments within some municipalities under local planning schemes including the City of Moonee Valley, City of Port Phillip, City of Melbourne and City of Yarra.
Other types of development must also comply with relevant requirements under the General Environmental Duty (GED), the State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria)and may also have to meet similar requirements.