Planning scheme amendments
Dr READ (Brunswick) (09:55): Councils from across Victoria have collaborated to build a case to increase environmentally sustainable design, or ESD targets, for new developments. Twenty-four councils, representing approximately half of the Victorian population, including Ballarat, Frankston, Strathbogie, Warrnambool and my area, soon to be renamed Merri-bek, now seek an amendment to the Victorian planning scheme to increase those ESD targets. The proposed changes would make buildings more energy efficient, result in net zero carbon emissions, cut power bills and improve water management. Right now builders are allowed to produce houses that are cold in winter and hot in summer and that consume too much energy to keep at a comfortable temperature. A visitor from Finland recently complained that the house she was staying in in Melbourne was too cold—and she is from Finland! The easiest homes to make more energy efficient are those that have not yet been built. Higher ESD standards will help us get off gas, cut emissions and keep us warmer in winter. I commend the councils for their work and join them in urging the new Minister for Planning, whom I congratulate, to support this amendment as soon as possible.