Moreland's Sustainable Design standards
Clause 22.08 of the Merri-bek Planning Scheme - Environmentally Sustainable Development, sets out a number of policy objectives under key sustainability categories.
To help with the implementation of this policy, Moreland City Council has produced fact sheets for each of the key sustainability categories. The fact sheets provide more information about each category including design strategies, guidelines and best practice standards.
Note that a 'pass' score in BESS is a required element of a Sustainable Design Statement / Sustainability Management Plan, but the development must also achieve the objectives under Clause 22.08, or where these cannot be met, provide adequate demonstration why they cannot be met.
These fact sheets are also used in other Victorian Councils.
Indoor environment quality
Policy objectives
- To achieve a healthy indoor environment quality for the wellbeing of building occupants, including the provision of fresh air intake, cross ventilation and natural daylight
- To achieve thermal comfort levels with minimised need for mechanical heating, ventilation and cooling
- To reduce indoor air pollutants by encouraging use of materials with low toxic chemicals
- To reduce reliance on mechanical heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems
- To minimise noise levels and noise transfer within and between buildings and associated external areas
Moreland Council expectations
- Adequate daylight to all living areas and bedrooms (as defined in BESS)
- Openable windows in all habitable rooms
- Cooling loads to not exceed 30MJ/sqm for any dwelling
- Appropriate shading to all windows receiving direct sunlight
Factsheet: Indoor Environment Quality (PDF 201Kb)
Construction and building management
Policy objectives
The overarching objective is that development should achieve best practice in environmentally sustainable development from the design stage through to construction and operation
Factsheet: Construction and Building Management (PDF 120Kb)
Energy performance
Policy objectives
- To improve the efficient use of energy, by ensuring development demonstrates design potential for ESD initiatives at the planning stage
- To reduce total operating greenhouse gas emissions
- To reduce energy peak demand through particular design measures (e.g. appropriate building orientation, shading, optimised glazing, space allocation for solar panel and external heating and cooling systems
Moreland Council expectations
- Minimum 50% score in BESS Energy category
- Cooling loads to not exceed 30MJ/sqm for any dwelling
- External natural clothes drying facilities where possible
Factsheet: Energy Efficiency (PDF 279Kb)
Factsheet: Sunshading (PDF 612Kb)
Water resources
Policy objectives
- To improve water efficiency
- To reduce total operating potable water use
- To encourage the collection and reuse of stormwater
- To encourage the appropriate use of alternative water sources (e.g. greywater)
Moreland Council expectations
- Rainwater capture and reuse for toilet flushing at a minimum
- Minimum 50% score in BESS Water Category
Factsheet: Water Efficiency (PDF 210Kb)
Stormwater management
Policy objectives
- To reduce the impact of stormwater run-off
- To improve the water quality of stormwater run-off
- To achieve best practice stormwater quality outcomes
- To incorporate the use of water sensitive urban design, including stormwater re-use
Moreland Council expectations
- 100% STORM score or MUSIC modelling demonstrating best practice stormwater management
Factsheet: Stormwater Management (PDF 549Kb)
Factsheet: Site Permeability (PDF 2Mb)
Transport
Policy objectives
- To ensure that the built environment is designed to promote the use of walking, cycling and public transport, in that order
- To minimise car dependency
- To promote the use of low emissions vehicle technologies and supporting infrastructure
Moreland Council expectations
- Bicycle parking - 1 per dwelling
Factsheet: Transport (PDF 412Kb)
Waste management
Policy objectives
- To promote waste avoidance, reuse and recycling during the design, construction and operation stages of development
- To ensure durability of long term reusability of building materials
- To ensure sufficient space is allocated for future change in waste management needs, including (where possible) composting and green waste facilities.
Moreland Council expectations
- Recycling facilities are at least as convenient to future occupants as general waste facilities.
Factsheet: Waste Management (PDF 269Kb)
Urban ecology
Policy objectives
- To protect and enhance biodiversity within the municipality
- To provide environmentally sustainable landscapes and natural habitats, and minimise the urban heat island effect
- To encourage the retention of significant trees
- To encourage the planting and indigenous vegetation
- To encourage the provision of space for productive gardens, particularly in larger residential developments.
Factsheet: Urban Ecology (PDF 521Kb)
Factsheet: Green Roofs, Walls and Facades (PDF 2Mb)
Other categories not specifically covered under Clause 22.08
The following additional factsheets are provided. While these categories are not specifically covered in Clause 22.08, the information does often overlap with other categories. Merri-bek Council encourages development applicants to also address these categories in any proposed development.
Factsheet: Building Materials (PDF 254Kb)