City of Melbourne green building amendment passes, and greening tool released
The City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne committee has this week passed the C376 Amendment, known as sustainable building design.
The amendment, still to be gazetted, aims to ensure that new buildings in Melbourne meet best practice sustainability standards, including improved energy performance and enhanced urban greening and ecology. It also provides guidance on greening outcomes such as increasing biodiversity and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
This will also utilise the Green Factor Tool, contracted through HIP V. HYPE in partnership with the University of Melbourne expert, Dr. Judy Bush, and the organisation Little Sketches. The free tool evaluates whether a proposed design meets a certain greening score.
Light roofs are cool roofs – even in the US
Here’s something for the Urban Taskforce, the housing lobby group that vigorously opposed the mandating of white roofs in new housing developments in Sydney a few years ago. In the US – these days a hotbed of counter eco-revolutionary principles – Atlanta has done exactly what made the taskforce squirm and see to it that a planning minister Rob Stokes was dismissed. It’s made cool roofs great!
(Mind, Stokes had also “outrageously” called for a tree to be accommodated where possible.”)
According to Grist, Atlanta is not alone.
“Atlanta joined a growing number of American cities requiring that new roofs be more reflective. That significantly reduces temperatures not just in a building, but in the surrounding urban environment,” it said.
Logic won! Here’s the full story that explains why light colours reflect heat and dark colours on a stinking hot day might make you swoon, or worse. And here’s a snippet: “A cool roof is a passive technology that keeps working on its own. For the flat roof of a commercial building, a simple coat of white paint will do. Manufacturers also make special cool roof shingles that reflect more sunlight. Whatever the strategy, cool roofs are no more expensive to install than traditional ones, and can even be cheaper. They also extend the life of a roof because there’s less wear and tear of the material expanding in the heat, then contracting when it cools down.
Melbourne rules, OK!
Some people may be spouting Melbourne’s demise as a get-rich-quick property investment destination, but others are digging in for the long haul.
A few weeks ago, Shane Quinn of Quintessential told a big property lunch group that Melbourne had a weight of impediments on its property shoulders from taxes to falling prices. While Max Beck, long time doyen of the property scene, stuck up for the Southern Belle and said nah… it’ll be just fine.
Cbus Property clearly agrees. It’s just committed to another $400 million residential project at River Street in inner city Richmond, – its 25th major project. in the city.
Adding impetus to the decision was the state government’s promise to expedite planning projects according to LAWD’s Lukas Byrns, who was one of several agents involved in the sale of the site for $50 million, along with Paul Callanan and Peter Sagar also of LAWD, JACX Property’s Michael Jackson and Charter Keck Cramer’s Tom Byrnes.
SJB Architects has been appointed to come up with the concept design for the site that chief executive of the industry super fund Adrian Pozzo describes as “an opportunity to enhance the existing micro-village atmosphere of the area.”
“The neighbouring streets are filled with interesting new businesses, such as micro-breweries, coffee roasters and artisan bakers, fitness studios and even a doggy daycare centre – not to mention easy connectivity to the CBD and the proximity of parks, public transport, childcare and schools,” Pozzo said.
Good to hear too, that “In line with Cbus Property’s enduring commitment to sustainable design principles, 43-67 River Street is planned to deliver healthy, resilient and energy-efficient residences with an intrinsic focus on quality, comfort, wellbeing and a sustainable lifestyle for its future residents.”
Even better that the commitment is up front, instead of the usual tale we get that sustainability elements are still indeterminate, unconfirmed, part of the final late-stage reveal.
Nicolette Boele calls for legal funds to defend Bradfield result
Newly elected Bradfield member parliament Nicolette Boele has promised to “refund every donor” if she wins the case brought by the Liberal Party to challenge the result of the recent federal election. Apparently there are 151 “questionable ballots” that in a recount gave a razor thin margin of 26 votes in favour of Boele and against contender Gisele Kapterian. The callout came in a letter forwarded by Climate 200.
Another guide on planning for the climate transition
The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) and Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) are among the latest to release a guide to help corporates with their transition.
Similar to a recent tome recently released by Monash’s Climateworks Centre, the Governing for Net Zero guide offers support to boards and investors on navigating Australia’s mandatory climate reporting, offering analysis and case studies of existing transition plans and outlining directors’ legal obligations.
The guide will also feature red flags, a legal chapter written by Pollination Law and a foreword by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
More discounts from NABERS
Starting in July, the NABERS rating tool will expand the small building discount of 50 per cent for offices to all building sectors. This means organisations operating smaller sites with limited resources can access lower certification fees. “It’s a win for sustainability and accessibility,” it said. New sectors can also access the same discount, with the discounted period now expanded to under three years. You can find out if you are eligible here
Anglican church to be revamped for apartments and community
The renewal of the St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Lane Cove has been given the go-ahead to deliver 48 two or three-bedroom apartments, as well as a 418-seat auditorium.
The 3763 square metre site will be revamped to offer new homes for local families and downsizers, with the location offering access to two nearby retail locations. The parish church, built in 1924, will be retained and adapted into an auditorium and ministry space.
The area will also undergo landscaping and greening of its façade to better connect with the characteristics of Lane Cove, according to the developers and builders. Entry to the church and community space will also be separated from residential entry.
Developers Traders in Purple said the church saw high demand from locals wanting to downsize in the neighbourhood and took the application to the council with the intention of responding to local needs.
Jobs
Former deputy mayor at the City of Melbourne, chief policy and impact officer Arron Wood will leave his role at the Clean Energy Council to join First Nations renewable energy provider Yurringa Energy.
Wood has been on the boards of several organisations and institutions, including South East Water, the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, and Sustainability Victoria.
Tarek Alshoufi has been appointed as ADP Consulting’s newest director for its Brisbane office.
Alshoufi will join the leadership team with Xavia Hobson and Tim Elgood overseeing the team of about 60.
Alshoufi started as an electrical engineer and held several project management roles, including most recently as services manager for construction firm BESIX Watpac. He had also been an associate director of DMA engineers, as well as the national team lead for electrical at Arcadis