Sustainable Hill
Definition
Sustainability, Green buildings, Sustainable Design, Ecologically Sustainable Development, ESD… What does it all mean?
Basically it all means the same thing! It's all about providing innovative, accessible, adaptable and technically advanced development that caters for the environmental, social and economic needs of our society, both now and in the future. Ultimately, it is about development meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The aim of sustainable development is to create buildings in Doncaster Hill that provide:
- lower operating costs for residents
- increased occupant comfort
- improved accessibility
- higher perceived value due to the occupant and environmental benefits
- reduced sprawl, and
- protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment.
Why do we need a sustainable focus?
Doncaster Hill is part of Manningham City Council’s ongoing commitment to moving towards a sustainable future.
The urban village that is to be created at Doncaster Hill will move away from the use of conventional planning, design and construction methods that often have a negative impact on the environment. These spaces and buildings can contribute to excessive resource consumption, waste generation and pollution that harm our environment. Buildings are also more expensive to operate and often potentially harmful for the people living and working in them, when sustainable design is not considered.
Doncaster Hill aims to feature high environmental standards for the occupant, visitor and worker.
Use of non-toxic material, passive solar designs, re-use of grey water (ie from kitchens and laundries), natural thermal insulation and irrigation recycling are some of the examples of the high standard of sustainability set for developers and users of Doncaster Hill.
This approach will also deliver significant cost savings associated with building to developers and environmentally friendly buildings for future residents, visitors and workers.
A sustainable Doncaster Hill will be a healthier and more accessible place to live, visit and work – and will put less pressure on the environment too!
Achieving sustainability
How will This Be Achieved?
Council is advocating sustainable development for Doncaster Hill through three main mechanisms.
These are: the planning scheme policies contained in the Manningham Planning Scheme, the Doncaster Hill Sustainability Guidelines, June 2004 as well as the collaborative effort of the Sustainable Design Taskforce.
Planning policy
Clause 22.13
Doncaster Hill Activity Centre Sustainability Management Plan Policy
For the first time a local government in Australia has been successful in implementing ESD policy into the planning scheme.
The ESD element of the Doncaster Hill Strategy has been given formal statutory weight via the Planning Scheme and can now be used to enforce sustainability and high technological environmental requirements on buildings and surrounding areas.
The Amendment C33 planning controls, including the requirement for a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP), provide highly innovative and leading edge examples of a framework for sustainable growth.
The policy requires applicants for new use and development in the Doncaster Hill Activity Centre to prepare a Sustainability Management Plan as the means of documenting and delivering sustainable outcomes.
The policy at Clause 22.13 ‘Doncaster Hill Activity Centre Sustainability Management Plan Policy’ now formally incorporates the 8 key performance areas and objectives from the Doncaster Hill Strategy (Part C), October 2002. These objectives are:
Energy Management
To achieve new benchmarks in energy conservation and increase use of renewable energy sources
- Water Conservation & Re-Use
To achieve best practice water sensitive urban design that offers an alternative to the traditional approach to water management
- External Building Materials
To minimise the environmental impacts of input and output materials as well as any material used in the external construction and development of buildings and works
- Interior Materials Analysis
To achieve healthy internal building environments
- Waste Minimisation & Avoidance
To achieve a reduction in waste generated by building occupants that is collected, hauled to and disposed of in landfills
- Quality of Private & Public Realms
To achieve design excellence in the built, natural and cultural environments
- Integrated Traffic & Transport Management
Minimise overall environmental impacts due to movement and transportation of people, materials, equipment and systems
- Construction & Demolition Management
To minimise environmental impacts associated with site construction practices
Please
click to view Clause 22.13 'Doncaster Hill Activity Centre
Sustainability Management Plan Policy' | 916Kb
Doncaster Hill Sustainability Guidelines
Manningham City Council, together with DesignInc has prepared the Doncaster Hill Sustainability Guidelines, which aim to assist development applicants with their Sustainability Management Plans (SMP).
The Guidelines will further assist in the implementation of sustainable building practices, furthering the Doncaster Hill concept from the research and policy stages to actually facilitating and providing practical advice that details how sustainability can be achieved. The Guidelines are based on the eight Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) elements listed above.
The Guidelines break new ground by consolidating into one booklet an outline of numerous leading edge techniques that constitute current world best practice in the theory and practice of sustainable design and construction. They demonstrate the benefits of sustainability and the processes that can be adopted by the development sector to achieve better living conditions.
Buildings created via this process will become the model for healthier, accessible and ecologically responsive environments, where occupants will collectively enjoy the benefits of living in a sustainable urban village. A comprehensive number of resources, including publications and websites, are also enclosed to assist applicants and the community to locate further information on sustainability.
Sustainability Design Taskforce
The Sustainability Design Taskforce is an advisory body established by Manningham City Council.
It consists of Council appointed members, Council representatives and external, independent advisors that include architects, urban designers and environmental consultants.
The Sustainable Design Taskforce is an example of a partnership that facilitates and fosters the exchange of ideas. The role of the Taskforce is to provide feedback to both Council and the developer regarding a proposed development. This includes disseminating
information, knowledge and expertise in the fields of statutory planning, urban design, sustainability, accessibility and other related issues.
The Taskforce has assessed a number of Doncaster Hill development proposals, including the Westfield Shoppingtown application. However it is important to be aware that the Sustainability Design Taskforce does not replace Council as the decision-making authority.
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