Amendment C376 (Sustainable Building Design Amendment) proposes changes to the planning rules to ensure future development achieves best practice in Environmentally Sustainable Design, including increased energy efficiency and greening of buildings.
All land in the municipality will be subject to the new planning rules, however they will only apply to new planning applications. The amendment includes new planning policy for all development, new standards and requirements for particular types of development, and new sustainable transport requirements for most development in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone.
Drawing inspiration from world leaders like Singapore, Vienna and Copenhagen, the new planning rules will:
- Improve energy and water efficiency
- Increase the uptake of renewable energy
- Encourage more greenery on roofs and walls
- Boost the number of new trees
- Cut back on waste generation
- Increase electric vehicle infrastructure and bicycle parking.
Implementing these measures into the design of buildings will have a major impact on the city’s emissions – reducing the urban heat island effect, addressing water shortages and improving energy efficiency and resource recovery.
They will benefit future tenants and property owners, by offering more attractive, environmentally friendly homes, offices and buildings– which are cheaper to operate. These new rules will reduce the emissions of new and redeveloped buildings in the city, which is an important step in achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
In addition, the new planning rules are designed to improve the liveability of the city as the climate gets hotter and more extreme. For example, greening will help cool buildings during a heatwave, and using water wisely will help us cope better with drought events, both of which are becoming more common. The new rules will also make buildings cheaper to operate.
Council will help developers and community implement the new standard for green infrastructure through our award-winning Green Factor Tool – a free online green infrastructure assessment program.
The first of its kind in Australia, the Green Factor Tool allows designers, architects, developers, builders and the community to consider and optimise the inclusion of green infrastructure in building design.