Sustainable Development

The SDAPP program refers to the inclusion of key environmental performance initiatives into the planning permit assessment process. The objective of the program is to ensure sustainable building outcomes for the long-term benefit of local communities.

SDAPP is:

• Your guide to achieving more sustainable building outcomes;
• A practical approach to assessing sustainable development initiatives through the planning permit assessment process; and
• The consistent application of key environmental performance standards in the assessment process

Building operations generate 20% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and makes use of significant amounts of potable water for purposes other than drinking. 

In addition to this, the construction process, including demolition works, accounts for 40% of all materials sent to landfill.

The protection of our environment is a critical shared responsibility. 

Through the SDAPP program, Council is leading Ballarat towards a more sustainable future where new buildings make better use of renewable sources of energy and, in turn, reduce their overall carbon footprints. The SDAPP process focuses not only upon the operational phase of a building, but the construction phase as well.

Sustainable design is now a key priority in the planning assessment process. Sustainable design assists to protect the environment, secures today’s living standards and future-proofs local communities against rising energy, water and waste disposal costs.

Like many other Victorian Councils, the City of Ballarat has now developed its own Environmentally Sustainable Design policy. This policy applies to both residential and non-residential developments over certain sizes and seeks to respond to the purposes of Clause 15.01-2S (Building design) of the Ballarat Planning Scheme.

Whereas this clause advocates the broad application of sustainable design initiatives, Council’s adopted policy provides the metrics against which the purposes of Clause 15.01-2S will be measured.

The table below sets out the development thresholds and related requirements of the policy.

Whilst Council encourages the incorporation of sustainable design initiatives in all size and scale developments, the policy and related requirements only apply to those size/scale developments set out in the table.

Where the policy applies, a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) must be submitted.

A SDA is a Report outlining the ESD commitments of a proposed development undertaken at the planning stage. It includes a Published BESS Report, often requiring supporting evidence such as a Preliminary Energy Assessment, and a STORM Report (or agreed stormwater tool).

Generally, a SDA can be prepared by the permit applicant (using the above online tools). The more complex the proposal, the more involved the assessment must be. Qualified professionals (such as an ESD Consultant) should be engaged to assist with more complex assessments.

The SDA supports the planning application by demonstrating how the proposal responds to key sustainable building categories, as listed below.

Note: By clicking on the following ESD category titles you will be redirected to CASBE’s related fact sheet.

Integrated Water Management (IWM)

Stormwater management and water efficiency measures include:

• Minimising the amount of stormwater that leaves a site, by capturing it in rainwater tanks for storage and/or re-use.
• Reducing pollutant levels in stormwater run-off, by filtering through permeable and natural ground surfaces.
• Using water efficiently and save on water bills, by capturing and re-using on-site for toilets, laundry and gardens as well as installing high WELS rated fittings and fixtures.

Operational Energy

Powering buildings can be achieved more efficiently and cost-effectively by:

• Meeting, or exceeding the National Construction Code (NCC) requirements with appropriate heating and cooling and star ratings of appliances.
• Maximising natural ventilation and daylight.
• Providing on-site renewable energy such as solar panels to reduce energy bills.

Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)

A healthy indoor environment benefits the wellbeing of building occupants as well as reducing costs by:

• Orientating a building to achieve the best aspect for naturally capturing daylight, breezes and views.
• Installing openable and double-glazed windows and doors with sufficient external shading to adjust to climate.
• Selecting interior materials and finishes that are low in toxic or hazardous compounds.

Transport

Prioritising active transport that not only reduces emissions but improves the health and wellbeing of people and the environment by:

• Providing connection to bike paths, parking spaces and end-of-trip facilities.
• Convenient access to public transport and connected footpaths.
• Supplying Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.

Waste and Resource Recovery

Sourcing local, durable and recycled materials and products that produce less waste, and can be separated and recycled by:

• Committing to recycle at least 70% of all demolition and construction waste.
• Providing on-site waste stream separation and management.
• Utilising durable and re-usable products that require less maintenance and avoids ending up in landfill.

Embodied Carbon

Reducing, or better still removing the use of building materials that are from new, intensive and unethical sources that require excessive mining, processing, manufacturing and transporting creating unnecessary embodied carbon, instead:

• Selecting construction materials with recycled components, have low embodied energy and are sustainably sourced.
• Prioritising natural materials such as timber and bricks.
• If choosing concrete, aluminium or other metals ensure they have a percentage of recycled components.

Urban Ecology

Protecting and enhancing natural vegetation has many benefits, including:

• Ecological and biodiversity values of providing habitats for animals and native or indigenous plant species.
• Improving air quality and moderating local temperatures and in-turn wellbeing.
• Supports [storm]water management, quality and supply.

Innovation

Supporting change and continual improvements to existing practices, products or methods through:

• Technical, 
• Environmental,
• Social and Cultural innovations.

A range of online ESD tools exist to assist applicants to measure their proposal against the 10 key sustainable building categories.

On the basis Council’s approach is informed by Sustainable Design fact sheets, the BESS online tool is preferred.

Benchmarks allow proposals and/or completed buildings to compare their performance against similar typologies. In most cases, online tools provide instant and reliable feedback with regards to energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, potable water savings, treatment of stormwater, embodied energy emissions, daylight and ventilation.

Importantly, in addition to preferred tools, the policy also allows consideration to be given to other agreed methods. This might include other recognised assessment tools, such as:

• NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) tools, including FirstRate, AccuRate and Building Energy Ratings Scheme (BERS); and
• National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme (NABERS)

‘Other agreed methods’ might also include site specific initiatives not otherwise included within the scope of these tools.

Should you wish to consider initiatives not captured by on-line tools or which might be outside the scope of the 10 key sustainable building categories, please discuss with Council’s ESD Officer to understand if your proposed initiative(s) may be appropriate .

In accordance with the ‘Innovation’ key building category, initiatives which improve upon existing best practices are encouraged.

To learn more about each assessment tool please go to:

• BESS – www.bess.net.au
• STORM – www.storm.melbournewater.com.au
• Green Star – www.gbca.org.au
• NatHERS (including FirstRate, AccuRate and BERS) – www.nathers.gov.au
• NABERS – www.nabers.com.au