The protection of our environment is an important global and local responsibility. We want to help lead the transformation in how we live and use our resources in the future.

Wyndham City Council is committed to creating a sustainable and liveable city. We can assist you to incorporate Environmentally Sustainable Design into your development during the planning process.

All planning applications must consider sustainable design under the Wyndham Planning Scheme clause 15.01-2L-01 Environmentally Sustainable Development. The objective is that development should achieve best practice in environmentally sustainable development from the design stage through to construction and operation.

If you are applying for a planning permit to construct a new building, you will need to provide information with your planning permit application across the following areas:

  • Energy performance
  • Integrated water management
  • Indoor environmental quality
  • Transport
  • Waste management
  • Urban ecology

Type of Development

Application Requirements

Example Tools

Residential

2 to 9 dwellings

 

Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA)

10 or more dwellings

Sustainability Management Plan (SMP)

Green Travel Plan (GTP)

Non-Residential
  • Development of a non-residential building with a gross floor area of 500 m² to 2,000 m²
  • Alterations and additions between 500 m²  and 2,000 m²

Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA)
  • Development of a non-residential building with a gross floor area of more than 2,000 m² or more
  • Alterations and additions greater than 2,000 m²

Sustainability Management Plan (SMP)
Green Travel Plan (GTP)

Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) for small scale development

A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) is a document that sets out the sustainable design features of a proposed development.

The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) can be used to undertake a Sustainable Design Assessment. Submit the BESS report and SDA with your planning application.

It is important that all relevant initiatives are clearly annotated on architectural drawings.

Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) for large scale development

A Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) is more detail than an SDA. It sets out the sustainable design features of large developments as defined in the above table, and it provides more information about how the performance outcomes will be achieved (including implementation schedules).

A BESS report alone will not satisfy the requirements for a Sustainability Management Plan.

The nature of larger developments provides the opportunity for increased environmental benefits and major resource savings. Hence, greater rigour in investigation is justified.

Preparation of a Sustainability Management Plan will generally require the engagement of a sustainability consultant.

Sustainable Design Fact Sheets

The Sustainable Design Fact Sheets are a series of information sheets aimed at the development industry. They outline Best Practice Standards and offer sustainable design advice across a range of sustainable development categories.  

The Sustainable Design Fact Sheets are digitised to enable searching, greater accessibility, translation, and printing. They can be found at the Sustainable Design Fact Sheet website: https://factsheets.bess.net.au

The Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) maintains these Fact Sheets on behalf of CASBE member councils. Wyndham City Council is a member of CASBE.

The following Fact Sheets are available:

A summary of the relevant Best Practice Standards and councils design advice are included on each of the Fact Sheet pages, however they are also compiled in one location here.        

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