Today, Council has lodged a Planning Scheme Amendment with the State Government, seeking to introduce planning policy that elevates sustainability requirements for new buildings and encourages a move towards net zero carbon emissions.

Along with the Amendment, Council has written 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.

The Amendment seeks to build on the current Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) requirements for new developments and in doing so, better protect the natural environment, reduce resource and energy consumption, and support the health and wellbeing of future occupants.

Strengthening its calls, Glen Eira City Council has collaborated with councils from across the state, sharing the project with: Ballarat: Banyule; Bayside; Boroondara; Darebin; Frankston; Greater Bendigo; Greater Dandenong; Greater Geelong; Hobsons Bay; Knox; Maribyrnong; Mitchell; Moonee Valley; Moreland; Mornington Peninsula; Port Phillip; Stonnington; Strathbogie; Warrnambool; Whitehorse; Whittlesea; and Yarra.

The 24 councils represent approximately half the Victorian population and development activity.

After the State Government’s recent implementation of Stage 1 of its ESD Roadmap (by creating new planning policy objectives for buildings and subdivisions), Council sees this Amendment as the next step in improving ESD requirements with detailed, measurable targets that will deliver meaningful outcomes in practice.

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Jim Magee said these tangible actions support our climate emergency response and goal towards achieving net zero carbon emissions across our entire community by 2030.

“We are thrilled to be joining with councils from across the state on this incredibly important work.”

“Local governments have long led work towards net zero carbon in new builds, but we need governments across all levels — State and Federal — to work together if we want to create real change.”

Under the proposed changes, new developments would:

• produce net zero carbon emissions;
• reduce household bills by making buildings more energy efficient;
• provide a healthier and more comfortable environment for building occupants;
• better manage water quality, use and collection;
• protect and enhance greening and biodiversity; and
• be more resilient to changing climate impacts.

Glen Eira City Council is undertaking this work as a member of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE), supported by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).