The State Water Plan will be supported by a series of regional water plans. The planning areas will generally align with Regional Development Commissions, with variation where appropriate to manage specific water resource, stakeholder or servicing considerations.

Regional water plans will consolidate available water information and current activities in a local context. They will identify activities that need to be undertaken to meet the objectives and outcomes in the Water Policy Framework established in the State Water Plan. Regional water plans will be both informative and action oriented.

The plans are not statutory in nature and they will not make final decisions with respect to any specific water allocation or approval for the development of a new water source. Existing approval processes will continue to apply to these decisions, although they are expected to align with the direction of a Regional Water Plan.

The preparation of regional water plans will be prioritised on the basis of current water usage, resource development pressure and knowledge of water resources in respective regions.

The first regional plan is being developed for the South West.