Environmentally Sustainable Design

About

Environmentally Sustainable Design focuses on creating buildings, that are good for the environment. This means using materials and technologies that save energy and reduce waste. Key ideas include using renewable resources, cutting down energy and water use, and selecting safe or recycled materials. The goal is to make spaces that work well for people while also helping the environment and supporting a healthy ecosystem for future generations.

Sustainable design assessment in the planning process 

We are committed to creating an environmentally sustainable and liveable shire. We can assist you to incorporate environmentally sustainable design into your development during the planning process. When you apply for a planning permit you are encouraged to include sustainable design information with your application as per Council’s Environmentally Sustainable Development Local Planning Policy, which has been submitted to the Minister of Planning for consideration. You can view progress regarding the local policy on the Creating Cardinia Webpage. 

Incorporating sustainable design into new developments

The objective of Council’s Environmentally Sustainable Development Local Planning Policy is that development should achieve best practice in environmentally sustainable development from the design stage through to construction and operation. 

The policy provides objectives and application requirements for residential, mixed-use, and non-residential development. It recognises the importance of considering environmentally sustainable design at the time of planning approval for new developments. 

If you are applying for a planning permit to construct a new building, you are encouraged to provide information with your planning permit application across the following areas, in anticipation of the approval of Council’s Environmentally Sustainable Development Local Planning Policy: 

  • Energy performance 
  • Integrated water management  
  • Indoor environmental quality 
  • Transport 
  • Waste management 
  • Urban ecology 

Application details

The information encouraged to be submitted with a planning application is proportionate to the scale and complexity of the proposed development. 

A Sustainable Design Assessment is for: 

  • Residential development comprising of 2 - 9 dwellings or a building used for accommodation other than dwellings with a gross floor area between 100 sqm and 999 sqm  
  • Non-residential development with a gross floor area of 300 sqm to 999 sqm or an extension to an existing non-residential building creating between 300 sqm to 999 sqm of additional gross floor area (excluding outbuildings)  

A Sustainability Management Plan is for: 

  • Residential development comprising of 10 or more dwellings or a building used for accommodation other than dwellings with a gross floor area equal to or more than 1000 sqm 
  • Non-residential development with a gross floor area equal to or more than 1000 sqm or an extension to an existing non-residential building equal to or creating more than 1000 sqm of additional gross floor area (excluding outbuildings)  

Sustainable Design Assessment (for small scale development)

A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) is a document that sets out the sustainable design features of a proposed development. 

The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) can be used to undertake a Sustainable Design Assessment. Submit the BESS report with your planning application to satisfy the requirements for an SDA. 

It is important that all relevant initiatives are clearly annotated on architectural drawings. 

It's generally not necessary to engage a sustainability consultant to prepare an SDA. 

Sustainability Management Plan (for large scale development)

A Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) is more detailed than an SDA. It sets out the sustainable design features of large developments as defined in the application requirements above, and provides more information about how the performance outcomes will be achieved (including implementation schedules). 

A BESS report alone will not satisfy the requirements for an SMP. 

Large developments provide the opportunity for major resource savings and other environmental benefits, so greater rigour in investigation is beneficial. 

It is important that all relevant initiatives are clearly annotated on architectural drawings. 

Preparation of an SMP will usually require the engagement of a sustainability consultant. 

Example tools for SDAs and SMPs

  • BESS is a free online sustainability assessment tool purpose-built for the planning application stage. It can assess single dwellings, multi-dwellings, non-residential and mixed use developments of any size. 
  • STORM is a free online calculator for testing whether a site achieves best practice water quality objectives. STORM is managed by Melbourne Water. 
  • MUSIC is detailed stormwater modelling software that is available for purchase from eWater. 
  • Green Star is a green building certification system administered by the Green Building Council of Australia. The Green Star Buildings tool is suitable for use by large developments. 

Sustainable Design Fact Sheets

The Sustainable Design Fact Sheets are a series of information sheets aimed at the development industry. They outline Best Practice Standards and offer sustainable design advice across a range of sustainable development categories.    

The Sustainable Design Fact Sheets are digitised to enable searching, greater accessibility, translation, and printing. They can be found at the Sustainable Design Fact Sheet website:  https://factsheets.bess.net.au  

The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) maintains these Fact Sheets on behalf of CASBE member councils. Cardinia Shire Council is a member of CASBE.  

The following Fact Sheets are available:  

A summary of the relevant Best Practice Standards and councils design advice are included on each of the Fact Sheet pages, however they are also compiled in one location here. If you would like to discuss this further please contact Council’s Sustainable Facilities Officer Brett Munckton via email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 787 624. 

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