W3 Working Waterways zone in NSW
W3 is a zone in the NSW Standard Instrument, and 10 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) use it. This page shows what the zone is for and what those councils allow in it, counted from each council’s own land use table.
- Used by
- 10 of the 147 council LEPs
- Uses the table doesn’t name
- prohibited in 10 of the 10
- Tables as at
- 19 August 2026
What the zone is for
Every council that uses W3 includes these objectives, word for word. They come from the Standard Instrument, the template all NSW council plans are built on:
- To enable the efficient movement and operation of commercial shipping, water-based transport and maritime industries.
- To promote the equitable use of waterways, including appropriate recreational uses.
- To minimise impacts on ecological values arising from the active use of waterways.
- To provide for sustainable fishing industries.
Allowed in most councils (11)
Each number is a count of LEPs, not properties. No consent needed means the use itself doesn’t need a development application. With consent means it does. Can’t say is not a ban: either that council has no rule for the use, or it is a broad term whose types the table treats differently, so it depends on the type of project.
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaculture | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Boat building and repair facilities | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Boat sheds | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Environmental facilities | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Environmental protection works | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Port facilities | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Water recreation structures | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Wharf or boating facilities | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Charter and tourism boating facilities | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Marinas | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Moorings | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
Councils differ (15)
These uses are allowed by some councils that use W3 and prohibited by others, so the answer depends on which council the land is in.
| Use | No consent needed | With consent | Prohibited | Can’t say |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building identification signs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Business identification signs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Mooring pens | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Boat launching ramps | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Flood mitigation works | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Jetties | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Kiosks | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Emergency services facilities | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Freight transport facilities | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Passenger transport facilities | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Restaurants or cafes | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Signage | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Community facilities | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Roads | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Water supply systems | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Uses the table doesn’t name
Every council’s table ends with a rule for anything it hasn’t listed. 10 of the 10 LEPs prohibit any use their W3 table doesn’t name.
That is why a use can be counted as prohibited above in more councils than actually name it.
What the zone doesn’t tell you
- Lot size, height and floor space are set on the LEP maps for each property, so they vary within the same zone.
- Heritage, flood and bushfire mapping can limit what is possible on a lot even where the zone allows it.
- State policies can apply as well as the council’s table. Granny flats are dealt with under the Housing SEPP, and small works such as sheds can be exempt development under the Codes SEPP. See the NSW granny flat rules and NSW shed rules.
An address search shows all of this for one property.
Council LEPs that use W3 (10)
Some councils have more than one LEP, each covering part of the area.
- Bayside LEP 2021
- Bega Valley LEP 2013
- Clarence Valley LEP 2011
- Coffs Harbour LEP 2013
- Greater Taree LEP 2010
- Port Macquarie-Hastings LEP 2011
- Shoalhaven LEP 2014
- Tweed City Centre LEP 2012
- Tweed LEP 2014
- Wollongong LEP 2009
Land zoned under a State Environmental Planning Policy rather than a council LEP, such as some growth precincts, isn’t included in these counts.
Frequently asked questions
What is W3 Working Waterways zoning in NSW?
W3 Working Waterways is one of the zones in the NSW Standard Instrument, used by 10 of the 147 council Local Environmental Plans. Its first standard objective is: “To enable the efficient movement and operation of commercial shipping, water-based transport and maritime industries.”
What happens to uses the W3 table doesn’t list?
10 of the 10 LEPs prohibit any use their W3 table doesn’t name. That catch-all rule is part of each council’s table, so a use can be prohibited in W3 without being named.
How do I check if my property is zoned W3?
Search the address on ZoneScout. It reads the zone from NSW Government planning data and shows that council’s own land use table, along with the lot size and any heritage, flood or bushfire mapping.
Sources
- Standard Instrument—Principal Local Environmental Plan (NSW legislation) ↗
- Council Local Environmental Plans (legislation.nsw.gov.au) ↗
General information only, not planning advice. Whether a project counts as a particular defined use is a planning judgement for your council or a planner.
Talk to a town planner in New South Wales
This page covers the general rules. A qualified town planner can tell you what applies to your block, including the zone, overlays and approval path, before you spend money on drawings.
- Qualified, practising town planners
- Advice specific to your property
- Free, with no obligation