Environmentally sustainable development

Many residential and non-residential planning permit applications are required to include a sustainable design assessment (SDA) or a sustainable management plan (SMP) to meet our environmentally sustainable development (ESD) requirements (found in the Banyule Planning Scheme).

We are a leading council in ESD, and need more assessment and evidence at planning application stage than the current industry standard.

You do not need to provide an SDA or SMP if you want to:

  • develop only 1 dwelling
  • extend or renovate an existing dwelling
  • add a veranda, pergola, decking, fencing or shed
  • alter landscaping without disrupting your plans for ESD features like rainwater tanks, gardens and irrigation
  • add a non-residential extensions of less than 50m2.

What you will need and when

Development type What is required? Example reporting tools
2-9 dwellings or a non-residential building with floor area under 1000m2 SDA
10 or more dwellings or a non-residential building with floor area greater than 1000m2 SMP

Preparation

Creating an SDA

An SDA is required for 2-9 dwelling developments or for residential buildings with a floor area less than 1,000m2.

Step 1.Engage a consultant

It is important that you hire an ESD consultant or a professional architect or building designer who understands ESD and the planning permit requirements to ensure the development is designed from the ground up with environmental outcomes in mind.

The consultant will create an SDA report that focuses on your features and how they address our ESD requirements, including water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and energy efficiency measures. The report must contain an implementation plan that details what trades will be required for installing and maintaining the ESD features, for example rain water tanks or a rooftop solar system. The report also requires evidence (such as a STORM report or preliminary NatHERS certificate) to support your application.

Your consultant will also collect assessment reports and evidence data. There are dozens of tools in the industry. Be sure your consultant understands which ones we need.

Step 2.Reporting tools

There are a variety of tools in the industry to measure and report on sustainable design. The following tools and documents typically form part of the SDA:

Be sure your consultant understands what we are looking for. They will collect all reports and data. 

Step 3.Drawings

Specific ESD drawings and WSUD drawings must be prepared by the architect or building designer, and should highlight all ESD and WSUD features.

Step 4.Pre-application meeting (optional)

A pre-application meeting is an informal discussion between you, the consultant and the planning department (including the ESD advisor) to ensure the preliminary design and ESD response is adequate, and to ask any questions relating to assessment tools, sustainability and innovation.

Apply for project advice

We will reply within 10 business days with an advice pack.

Step 5.Application

Include your SDA (with attachments) and the consultant's ESD and WSUD drawings with your permit planning application.

Apply for a new planning permit

Creating an SMP

An SMP is for larger developments that have more than 9 dwellings or over 1,000m2 (non-residential).

Step 1.Engage a consultant

Given that the development scale is large, it is important that you hire an ESD consultant to work with your architect, engineer and builder at the beginning of your project.

The consultant must work with all professionals involved to ensure that ESD features are functional within your design.

The consultant will create an SMP report that focuses on your site's ESD features and how they address our requirements, including water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and energy efficiency measures. This report must include an implementation plan. The report must contain an implementation plan that details what trades will be required for installing and maintaining the ESD features, for example rain water tanks or a rooftop solar system. The report also requires evidence (such as a MUSIC model or preliminary Section J report) to support your application.

Step 2.Reporting tools

There are a variety of tool in the industry to measure and report on sustainable design. The following tools and documents typically form part of the SMP:

Be sure your consultant understands what we are looking for. They will collect all reports and data.

Step 3.Drawings

Specific ESD drawings and WSUD drawings must be prepared by the architect or building designer, and should highlight all ESD and WSUD features.

Step 4.Pre-application (optional)

A pre-application meeting is an informal discussion between you, the consultant and the planning department (including the ESD advisor) to ensure the preliminary design and ESD response is adequate, and to ask any questions relating to assessment tools, sustainability and innovation.

Apply for project advice

We will reply within 10 business days with an advice pack.

Step 5.Application

Include your SMP (with attachments) and the consultant's ESD and WSUD drawings with your permit planning application.

Apply for a new planning permit

Assessment

Your application will be assessed before we notify you about any additional information required or items to be included before we endorse the application.

Endorsement

All approved assessment reports will be endorsed as part of your planning permit.

Construction

Make sure that your builder is aware of and has quoted you on the ESD features approved in your planning permit.

Builders are accountable for ensuring ESD features are provided as is everyone else in the process. We will inspect and enforce the endorsed ESD features on new developments.

Inspections

We inspect every development at completion to ensure high quality planning and ESD outcomes. It is important you install all ESD items as outlined within the endorsed SDA or SMP to avoid rectification works or further enforcement measures.

Larger developments (greater than 9 dwellings or 1,000 m2) are also required to submit a post-construction SMP with additional evidence to ensure all outcomes have been achieved.

Sample documents

Information sheets

Design fact sheets

The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) has an extensive range of design fact sheets to help you.

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