Matt Dillon
Twenty-four Victorian councils have collaborated on an application to state planning authorities that aims to ensure that all new developments are designed to be climate resilient and sustainable.
The two-dozen high-profile local government organisations submitted a Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). The PSA seeks to change the planning requirements for those councils to put sustainability and climate resilience at the heart of all new developments.
The councils are all members of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE), and represent about half the state’s population and planning activity.
“The project aims to build on the existing local environmentally sustainable development (ESD) policies held by numerous Victorian councils and deliver revised and elevated ESD targets for new development, including targets for zero carbon development,” CASBE says.
In 2017, CASBE member councils committed to the strategic goal of raising ESD targets in planning.
“Given the lifespan of a building, it is critical to start elevating ESD targets to ensure our buildings are climate resilient and liveable – now and for the future,” CASBE says. “Many councils have higher and more immediate zero carbon goals for their communities than the established state targets, hence the need to introduce stronger ESD requirements.”
Along with the amendment, the councils wrote to the new Minister for Planning Lizzie Blandthorn, asking her to support the amendment and to acknowledge that the current planning requirements do not reflect the urgency needed to tackle climate change.
If the PSA is successful, in the future, the goal is that other councils will be able to choose to have this planning requirement apply to their municipality as well.
After authorisation, the amendment will go on exhibition, allowing the community to review and provide feedback on the draft proposal.
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