One year on, 24 Councils still waiting on Minister
One year after lodging an innovative planning scheme amendment with the State Government, twenty-four Victorian CASBE member councils are still waiting for a response from the Victorian Minister for Planning.
The councils, as part of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE), lodged the amendment to introduce planning policy that elevates sustainability requirements for new buildings and encourages a move towards net zero carbon development.
The amendment builds on the current Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) requirements for new developments and in doing so, aims to better protect the natural environment, reduce resource and energy consumption, and support the health and wellbeing of future occupants.
CASBE Executive Officer Natasha Palich said councils have led the way on sustainability requirements but need the buy in of the State Government.
“The World Meteorological Organisation recently confirmed that in early July the world had the hottest week ever recorded. That’s motivation enough to put politics aside and have all levels of government work together on action,” Ms Palich said.
“CASBE councils believe the detailed measurable targets in the Elevating ESD Targets Planning Scheme Amendment will deliver meaningful outcomes in practice, and we call on Minister Kilkenny to progress this amendment as a matter of urgency.
“Local governments have long led work towards net zero carbon in new builds, but we need strong policy at the early design stage to create real change and ensure our buildings will deliver zero carbon outcomes.”
“Too often councils have seen their hard work disappear into the bureaucracy of the State Government. We implore the Minister not to let that happen with this amendment, because it provides a tangible solution for greater sustainability outcomes for new development.”
While waiting, councils are leading the way by:
- CASBE has streamlined our Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) tool to support industry with new credits for all electric buildings; and
- Electrifying their own buildings and facilities, such as aquatic centres, providing practical case studies for change.
Background
Stage 2 Project partners
- Ballarat City Council
- Banyule City Council
- Bayside City Council
- Boroondara City Council
- Darebin City Council
- Frankston City Council
- Glen Eira City Council
- Greater Bendigo City Council
- Greater Dandenong City Council
- Greater Geelong City Council
- Hobsons Bay City Council
- Knox City Council
- Maribyrnong City Council
- Mitchell Shire Council
- Moonee Valley City Council
- Moreland City Council
- Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- Port Phillip City Council
- Stonnington City Council
- Strathbogie Shire Council
- Warrnambool City Council
- Whitehorse City Council
- Whittlesea City Council
- Yarra City Council