In responding to the climate and biodiversity emergency the City of Melbourne has;

• Reduced emissions from Council operations by 53 per cent between 2013 and 2019.
• Been certified carbon neutral for our operations every year since 2012.
• Purchased 100 per cent renewable energy through the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project.
• Planted 3000 trees each a year to grow our urban forest, with more than 22,000 trees planted since 2012.
• Invested $40 million in stormwater harvesting and water sensitive design, capturing and reusing around 180,000 kilolitres of water per year.
• Invested $17.1 million of Clean Energy Finance Corporation funds in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including 2244 solar panels installed and 11,816 street lights.
• Increased biodiversity with 16,000 m² of new understorey vegetation planted in Melbourne since 2018, providing habitat for our wildlife.
• Increased permeability by more than 3500 m² through park expansion and streetscapes projects.

Some aspects of the controls will increase the upfront capital costs of developments however the benefits they deliver will provide a return at the point of sale with increased property values. Occupiers will experience reduced operating costs.

The following types of planning applications apply:

• All developments requiring a planning permit will be subject to new planning policy about environmentally sustainable design
• Most new buildings will be subject to specific mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements
• Most large alterations and additions which result in more than 1000 square metres additional gross floor area will be subject to mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements
• Most developments in the Capital City Zone and Docklands Zone will be subject to sustainable transport requirements.

In effect, this means that virtually all developments will be subject to new planning rules. However, the specific mandatory and preferred building design standards and requirements contained in Schedule 73 to the Design and Development Overlay will not apply to renovations which result in up to 1000 sqm of additional gross floor area.

Most extensions to a single dwelling on a lot result in less than 1000 sqm additional GFA, in which the case the Design and Development Overlay standards and requirements would not apply.

No, the controls do not apply to a change of use.

The amendment makes use of established ESD tools which are already used in the building industry. The relevant tools are detailed below.

The City of Melbourne is working with building owners to reduce the carbon emissions of existing buildings through the Zero Carbon Building project. Council released a discussion paper for consultation in October 2022.

A Sustainable Management Plan (SMP) is required for large developments and is a report that provides additional detail of how a large development meets each of the standards and requirements in Schedule 73 to the Design and Development Overlay and will provide further detail on how the development has addressed minimum requirements and the relevant credit achievements and performance for Green Star Buildings.

A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) is required for small developments and is a report that details how the small development meets each of the standards and requirements in Schedule 73 to the Design and Development Overlay and can be integrated with a BESS assessment

You must engage a suitably qualified person to prepare the report demonstrating compliance with the relevant tools.

Sustainability Management Plans and Sustainable Design Assessments are generally completed by environmentally sustainable design consultants but can also include other qualified professionals within the building industry.

Yes, to provide adequate evidence that a development meets the required Green Star Buildings rating, the project must be registered with the Green Building Council of Australia.

This will confirm:

• which star rating the development is targeting
• that the development is following the correct requirements and is using the correct Green Star Buildings tool
• the use of a Green Star accredited professional.

Works generally need to be completed as per the requirements of an issued planning permit. Whilst an inspection is not required, best practice developments will implement sustainable design initiatives via building contracts and have suitable quality assurance requirements embedded within the process.

Heat islands are urbanised areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. "Urban heat islands" occur when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.

Green infrastructure includes elements related to vegetation, soil, drainage and irrigation (amongst others). Council’s Green Factor Tool focuses on vegetation and soil with the objective to increase the quantity, quality and distribution of green cover to improve urban cooling and biodiversity.

Gas is a non-renewable energy source and evidence suggests that our best pathways to avoid the severe impacts of climate change are to phase gas use out and transition to 100% renewable energy to operate our buildings. If a large extension was proposed to a building already on gas, applicants would be asked to outline a plan to transition the building off gas eventually.

Yes, split system heat pump air conditioners that are powered by renewable energy either via onsite renewables or green power are a sensible option and would be relied on less frequently if the thermal shell of the building reduces heating and cooling loads. A 7.5-star NatHERS rating will help deliver this.

Split system heat pumps provide the most efficient type of heating for residential spaces provided it meets the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). The efficiency a split system allows for heating and cooling to be delivered in the single system, both of which will reduce operational requirements the more efficient the building envelope is.

Your water retailer will be able to advise if your development can access a current or proposed recycled water source. In the City of Melbourne there are two water retailers, Greater Western Water and South-East Water, who each provide clear guidance on the process for connecting to recycled water.

The size of your water tank depends on:

• The catchment areas (e.g. roof area) that can be used to collect and reuse water on-site. Generally 1 sqm of roof area equals 1 litre of storage volume.
• On-site reuses including toilet flushing, laundry, wash down and irrigation
• City of Melbourne requirements for on-site storage volumes that may be integrated as part of your design response.

MUSIC and Storm modelling tools can be used to test how your proposed tank will contribute to the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) and Green Star Buildings.

Council can provide technical assistance to applicants to advise on suitable tools and design responses to Amendment C376.

There is no financial assistance available to owners.