Environmentally Sustainable Development Plan

The application of ESD principles can result in up to 85% reduction in energy use, 60% reduction in water use and 70% reduction in construction waste.

Whitehorse City Council strongly encourages that Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) is addressed as a part of planning permit applications.

The process includes demonstrating and reporting the sustainable design initiatives incorporated within proposed developments submitted to Council.

Either a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) Report or Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) Report, along with ancillary documentation; such as performance reports from Council supported and recognised assessment tools, are required by Council to support your planning permit application.

The requirement to submit respective reports and documentation is outlined under Whitehorse City Council’s ESD Policy which is stipulated under clause 22.10 - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Whitehorse City Council Planning Scheme.

As a part of Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process (SDAPP) framework which assists to support Council’s objectives detailed within the ESD Policy, several sustainable building categories articulating design considerations are specified.

Development must demonstrate that the objectives within the ESD Policy are ascertained using the SDAPP Framework as a guide.

Council ESD Objectives	SDAPP Framework
Energy Performance	Energy Efficiency ( PDF 300.62KB) Sun shading ( PDF 472.46KB)
Water Resources	Water Efficiency ( PDF 233.09KB)
Indoor Environment Quality	Indoor Environmental Quality ( PDF 204.08KB)
Stormwater Management	Stormwater Management ( PDF 572.73KB) Site Permeability ( PDF 1.64MB)
Transport	Transport ( PDF 430.07KB)
Waste Management	Waste Management ( PDF 289.16KB)
Urban Ecology	Urban Ecology Green Roofs, Walls and Facades ( PDF 544.48KB)
	Innovation ( PDF 214.56KB)
	Construction and Building Management ( PDF 143.45KB)

Additional ESD provisions may be drawn upon and referenced within several other clauses and objectives, a part of Whitehorse City Council’s Planning Scheme. Such provisions include, and are not limited to:

Clause 21.05 – Environment regarding the overarching strategy towards Environmentally Sustainable Development;

Clause 22.04 – Tree Conservation regarding retention and protection of trees including vegetation loss and urban ecology

Clause 52.34 – Bicycle Facilities pertaining to the Victorian State Government’s provision of bicycle facilities and onsite amenities.

Clause 55.03 - Site Layout and Building Masses which applies to Two or More Dwellings on a Lot and Residential Buildings pertaining to the Victorian State Government’s approach towards site coverage, permeability and stormwater management, energy efficiency, and indoor environment quality; and

Clauses 55.07 and Clause 58 – Apartment Developments which encapsulates the Victorian State Government’s Better Apartments Design Standards (BADS) and the Apartment Design Guidelines promoting ESD within apartment developments.

Relevant objectives from the Planning Policy Framework (PPF) clauses.