Sustainable housing refers not only to the way individual homes are designed and built but also the location, layout and design of new residential subdivisions and suburbs.

Sustainable housing is

• energy efficient and cheaper to run than similar sized older homes,
• minimises use of drinking water for uses such as flushing toilets and in washing machines,
• limits negative impacts on native animals, plants
• limits negative impacts on waterways
• located to allow easy access to transport options, services, jobs, and recreation opportunities
• considers the health and wellbeing of people living there

Sustainable housing promotes healthy built environments with many benefits:

Reduced wastage and reliance on non-renewable resources

Better energy performance and more efficient energy consumption which reduces household costs

Improved internal and outdoor environments and landscape quality providing greater amenity and liveability

Improved stormwater management so mitigating impacts on streams and the greater catchments

Preparedness for a changing climate, particularly the increasing number of hot days and heat waves

Reduced car dependency and promotion of more sustainable transport options.

The State Government has several initiatives in place to support housing sustainability and State Planning Policy requires the assessment of environmentally sustainable development (ESD) as part of planning applications. The National Construction Code also requires minimum standards to be met.

At the local level, Yarra Ranges Council:

has adopted an ESD policy that will become part of the Planning Scheme when Amendment C148 is gazetted

offers an ESD advisory service

is part of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) to share ideas and develop solutions

subscribes to the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS), an assessment tool that assists builders and developers to meet ESD requirements

developed engineering standards for stormwater detention in new housing estates

requires green spaces and landscaping to help counteract the increased heat that results from dark & impermeable surfaces like roads and buildings

joined other Councils in Living Melbourne, a strategy for a greener, more liveable Melbourne.

The standards for ESD are set as minimum standards through building permits, which makes it hard to achieve large environmental and cost savings. In addition, while Council has tree protection controls in place, current controls for multi-unit housing and shrinking lot sizes leave less area for planting canopy trees and vegetation. These controls need to be reviewed.

The Housing Strategy Review Discussion Paper proposes several opportunities for Council, including:

Continue to advocate for the strengthening of environmental performance requirements for all new developments.

Encourage developers to apply best practice ESD principles.

Prepare an Urban Forest Strategy for public and private land and a preferred species list for residents and planning permit applicants.

Introduce controls in the Planning Scheme to ensure appropriate space is provided for landscaping and increased permeability.

More detailed information is provided in the full Discussion Paper.

Want to know more? Read the full discussion paper

• Housing Strategy Discussion Paper (Word version)
• Housing Strategy Discussion Paper (PDF version)