Planning for sustainable buildings MAV Environment Conference 2014 Thursday 1 May 2014

1. Planning for sustainable buildings MAV Environment Conference 2014 Thursday 1 May 2014 Elizabeth Brant Andrea Skraba Yarra City Council Whitehorse City Council

2. Background • International • UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) • Agenda 21 (1992) • UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012) • National • Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 • Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010 • Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 • Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment (1992) • State • Planning and Environment Act 1987 • Building Act 1993 • Strategic plans (eg Plan Melbourne, Regional Growth Plans)

3. Background • Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process (SDAPP): • Refers to the consistent inclusion of key environmental performance considerations into the planning permit approvals process in order to achieve more sustainable outcomes for the long-term benefit of the wider community • 10 key sustainable design criteria • Development of sustainable built form assessment tools: • STEPS – Moreland City Council • SDS – Port Phillip City Council • CASBE formed to advocate for sustainable built environment outcomes and policy support

4. The ESD policy • Initiated in 2009 by Moreland City Council • Sets out ESD information requirements for new developments: • Scaled system based on size and type of development • Tailored to Council circumstances • Authorisation to exhibit received from Minister for Planning in mid-2012 • Exhibition by six Councils in early 2013 • Minister appointed Advisory Committee in June 2013 • Advisory Committee/Panel hearing held late 2013

5. Advisory Committee and Panel process • Terms of Reference raised high level questions: • What are the roles of the planning and building systems in relation to regulation of ESD matters • Appropriateness of assessment tools • Effect on intergovernmental agreements • Interaction with building and other legislation • State versus local application • Thresholds for application requirements • Effect of policies when used with other measures • Qualitative versus quantitative assessment • Mandatory versus discretionary controls • Costs versus benefits • What is best practice

6. Advisory Committee/Panel findings • Summary of findings: • That planning and building both have a significant role to play in achieving sustainable development. • State Planning Policy Framework is a good starting point, but it needs improving, as do the Building Regulations, and the two need better integration. • A State-wide approach would be the most effective, but in the absence of that local policies should be supported. • There are clear positive economic, social and environmental benefits to be gained through the consideration of ESD at the planning stage. • Need to consider affordability beyond just the construction phase and include the ongoing costs of the property.

7. Advisory Committee/Panel recommendations • Key recommendations: • Rename policy to Environmentally Sustainable Development • Include definition of ‘best practice’ • Develop and include SDAPP fact sheets as reference documents in the policies • Adopt the policies generally as exhibited: • Wording changes • Definitions • Explanatory notes • More detailed application requirements and decision guidelines

8. Lessons learnt • Councils can work together to achieve common goal: • Diverse range of Councils • Streamlining of internal and reporting processes • Compromise and communication • Having a solid evidence base is important: • Proven evidence and outcomes • Accepted methodologies

9. Next steps • Councils will consider the Advisory Committee/Panel report • Councils to submit to Minister for Planning for approval • Continued advocacy: • State-wide approach? • Changes to BCA? • Non-statutory mechanisms?