Moreland Energy Foundation

MAV Local Government Planning for Sustainable Buildings Guide (external link)

The purpose of this guide is to encourage and to explain to local government in Victoria, why and how to introduce practices to improve the sustainability of buildings constructed within their municipalities. It provides a useful practical guide to implementing SDAPP and explains the process of sustainable design assessment to planning permit applicants.

SDAPP Fact Sheet v3 (339kb PDF Download)

A concise fact sheet drafted by CASBE and recently updated to provide basic information on the program, particularly useful for briefing colleagues and others interested parties.

Sustainable Steps (external link)

This website represents explains the role of the STEPS and SDS tools that applicants can use to support the sustainable design information they provide to council as part of the SDAPP Program. It contains information on the tools, including links and downloadable copies of the tools themselves,  guides and training opportunities.

Guide to using the Sustainable Design Scorecard (Non-residential) (1021kb PDF Download)

This guide is designed for local government and applicants and guides the preparation of a Sustainable Design Scorecard (SDS) report to accompany planning permit applications for non-residential developments.

Guide to using Sustainable STEPS (Sustainable Tools for Environmental Performance Strategy (171kb PDF Download)

This guide is designed for local government and applicants and guides the preparation of a STEPS report to accompany planning permit applications for residential developments.

Sustainable Building Assessment Checklist (1871kb PDF Download)

A useful checklist to ensure compliance with the SDAPP program, completed by the permit applicant and submitted with an application for development.

Developing Transport Choice in established suburbs (421kb Word Download)

This paper has been drafted by Hywel Rowlands, Strategic Transport Planner at Boroondara to inform discussion surrounding development and its impact on transport choice.  A key objective in developing the paper is to highlight the opportunity that is missed when parking concessions are permitted and reciprocal tangible sustainable transport support is not realised.

CASBE Submission to the Review of the Victorian Planning System New (357kb PDF Download) 

This submission has been drafted with input from CASBE councils to the recently commenced Ministerial Review into the Victorian Planning System. The submission highlights the shortfalls in the current system, which limit the reach of the SDAPP program. It also outlines more specific policy options which better translate the overarching sustainability policy objective into everyday planning decision-making.

SDAPP Pilot Case Study New (768kb PDF Download)

With assistance from the SDAPP Rollout Project team, City of Stonnington has recently completed a piloting the SDAPP program. This case study outlines how the pilot worked including council and MEFL involvement as well as timeframes and outcomes of the pilot. Stonnington has recently been approved funding for a part-time ESD Officer based on the success of the pilot.

Standard Communications Text for Metropolitan Councils New Draft (69kb Word Download)

This resource provides standard text to be incorporated into the websites and brochures of metropolitan councils that have adopted SDAPP. This demonstrates a consistent approach to SDAPP across Melbourne.  The text is designed to be integrated with any other sustainable design information council has on their website and can be amended to suit the local council context as required.

Sustainable design principles - cheat sheet New (630kb PDF Download)

Passive design is the foundation of sustainable buildings and can limit the need for  expensive technological solutions. The Sustainable Design Cheat Sheet offers  a quick reference guide for both council officers and applicants.

Sustainable Design Web References New (64kb PDF Download)

Knowing where to go for good basic information can be difficult given the mass of information available online. This resources provides a short list of links to trustworthy sources catering for all basic elements of sustainable design.

Checklist – Pre-application discussions for sustainable design New (57kb PDF Download)

Different sustainability opportunities come up at different stages in the design process. This checklist for statutory planners is designed to assist in the pre-application process to ensure that those opportunities relevant to the concept or early design stage are addressed before lodgement of planning applications for development.

Benefits of Sustainable Design  New (476kb PDF Download)

Applicants are motivated by different concerns when building; having available a resource that taps into both economic, environmental and comfort incentives can greatly assist in promoting the benefits of sustainable design. This resource outlines the wide spectrum of benefits of building sustainably including example pay backs for different types of energy efficiency measures.

Energy efficiency and fire resistance – residential dwellings New (64kb Word Download)

There are strong parallels between thermal energy efficiency and fire resistance of buildings. This resource outlines where the two objectives align and what to consider when choosing building materials.

Looking for additional resources? Log in on the right hand side using your council login to access additional council specific documents.

CASBE and MEFL recently teamed up with the City of Whittlesea, with support from the SDAPP Rollout project, to put on a Growth Area Forum on 30 November 2011. The forum was held at and supported by the MAV with the focus to discuss various approaches to achieving more sustainable energy outcomes through urban growth planning and development. The presentations from the event are provided below. Note - These presentations should be used for reference only and not reproduced without express permission from the author.

Forum Context, Objectives, Design Guidelines - Gavin Ashley - Moreland Energy Foundation (1.4Mb PDF Download)

This presentation sets up the forum context and outlines the role of design guidelines as a potential new mechanism to improve sustainability standards at the precinct scale.

Sustainable Neighbourhood Design - Growth Area Communities - Aidan O'Neill - City of Whittlesea - Pt 1 (2.6Mb PDF Download)

Sustainable Neighbourhood Design - Growth Area Communities - Aidan O'Neill - City of Whittlesea - Pt 1 (3.4Mb PDF Download)

This presentation highlights the role of good neigbourhood design in promoting sustainable energy outcomes and the need to balance this objective with other important design principles. It also highlights the potential for an enhanced role of the energy statement in future precicnt structure planning.

Habitat 21 Project Case Study - Lynn Sweeney - Places Victoria (4.1Mb PDF Download)

This presentation provides a case study of Habitat 21, a Places Victoria (VicUrban) project which produced a range of architect designed efficient homes within a commercial building envelope to demonstrate to the housing market and industry the benefits of well designed, sustainable homes.

The Role of Sustainability Ratings Tools - Ed Cotter - EC Sustainability Consulting (1.4Mb PDF Download)

This presentation provides an international and local perspective on the use of ratings tools and codes in planning for low energy communities. It highlights the the factors that contribute to energy use in new communities, noting that it is bigger than the building and should be tackled at a variety of scales.

Connecting Energy and Urban Planning - Cameron Taylor - Dept of Treasury and Finance - Pt 1 (4.9Mb PDF Download)

Connecting Energy and Urban Planning - Cameron Taylor - Dept of Treasury and Finance - Pt 2 (4.8Mb PDF Download)

Connecting Energy and Urban Planning - Cameron Taylor - Dept of Treasury and Finance - Pt 3 (2.2Mb PDF Download)

This presentation provides an overview of the regulatory framework for energy planning in Victoria. It highlights the potential for greater links between energy and urban planning through further research and faciliating discussions between key agencies at pivotal decision-making points.