Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD)
Environmentally Sustainable Design, [especially when applied at the earliest stage] ensures a building is thermally comfortable while providing efficient and cost saving measures against rising energy, water and waste disposal costs, as well as helping to protect the natural environment, be it biodiversity, air and waterways.
The construction process, including demolition works, accounts for 40% of all materials sent to landfill. While building operations generate 20% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and makes use of significant amounts of potable water for purposes other than drinking.
The protection of our environment is a critical shared responsibility, as such ESD is now a key priority in the planning assessment process.
Does your planning permit application require ESD?
Like many other Victorian Councils, the City of Ballarat has now adopted its own Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) policy. This policy applies to both residential and non-residential developments over certain sizes and seeks to respond to the purposes of Clause 15.01-2S (Building design) of the Ballarat Planning Scheme.
Whereas this clause advocates the broad application of sustainable design initiatives, Council’s adopted policy provides the tools against which the purposes of Clause 15.01-2S will be measured. Qualifying developments must respond to the requirements of Council’s Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Policy.
Development thresholds and related requirements of the policy
Developments that are not triggered by the policy, such as single dwellings, are still encouraged to incorporate ESD initiatives.
In accordance with Planning Scheme Amendment VC267 gazetted on 6 March 2025, certain residential developments cannot be considered against the terms of the policy. These include those developments subject to the provisions of Clause 55 (Two or more dwellings on a lot and residential buildings). This clause applies to multi-unit developments up to and including three storeys
Residential
| 2-9 dwellings Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS, Blue Factor or other agreed method. |
| 10 or more dwellings Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS or Green Star, Blue Factor, MUSIC or other agreed methods and a Green Travel Plan. |
| A building used for accommodation other than a dwelling with a gross floor area between 100 and 1,500m2 Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS, Blue Factor or other agreed method. |
| A building used for accommodation other than dwellings with a gross floor area of 1,500 m2 or more Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS or Green Star, Blue Factor, MUSIC or other agreed methods and a Green Travel Plan. |
| Two or more dwellings -Townhouse and low-rise Apartments on a lot up to 3 storeys Requirement related to Clause 55.05 Two or more dwellings on a lot up to three storeys - SUSTAINABILITY A Blue Factor or other agreed method. A site plan that demonstrates a minimum 20% permeable surfaces & Location for rooftop solar energy generation. Preliminary NatHERS assessment / standard outputs (where applicable). |
Non-residential
| A non-residential building with gross floor area between 300 and 1,500 m2 Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS, Blue Factor or other agreed method. |
| An extension to a non-residential building adding between 300 and 1,500 m2 of additional gross floor area Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS, Blue Factor or other agreed method. |
| A non-residential building with a gross floor area of more than 1,500 m2 Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS or Green Star, Blue Factor, MUSIC or other agreed methods and a Green Travel Plan. |
| An extension to a non-residential building adding 1,500 m2 of additional gross floor area Sustainable Design Assessment Including an assessment using BESS or Green Star, Blue Factor, MUSIC or other agreed methods and a Green Travel Plan. |
| Mixed-use development Apply residential and non-residential requirements as above based on land use/gross floor areas. |
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Unconditioned warehouse
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ESD resources
What is a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA)?
A SDA is basically an ESD report outlining the ESD commitments of a proposed development undertaken at the planning stage. It includes:
A Published BESS Report that achieves a minimum overall score of 50%
A Blue Factor Report (or other agreed stormwater tool) meeting minimum all 4 Stormwater quality standards:
- 80% retention of the typical urban annual load for Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
- 45% retention of the typical urban annual load for Total Phosphorus (TP).
- 45% retention of the typical urban annual load for Total Nitrogen (TN).
- 70% retention of the typical urban annual load for gross pollutants (litter).
Supporting evidence such as a Preliminary Energy or Façade Assessment.
Generally, a SDA can be prepared by the permit applicant (using the ESD Online Assessment Tools). The more complex the proposal, the more involved the assessment must be. Qualified professionals (such as an ESD Consultant) should be engaged to assist with more complex assessments.
The SDA supports the planning application by demonstrating how the proposal responds to key sustainable building categories, as listed below.
Note: By clicking on the following ESD category titles you will be redirected to Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment's (CASBE) related fact sheet.
Integrated Water Management (IWM)
Stormwater management and water efficiency measures include:
- Minimising the amount of stormwater that leaves a site, by capturing it in rainwater tanks for storage and/or re-use.
- Reducing pollutant levels in stormwater run-off, by filtering through permeable and natural ground surfaces.
- Using water efficiently and save on water bills, by capturing and re-using on-site for toilets, laundry and gardens as well as installing high WELS rated fittings and fixtures.
Operational Energy
Powering buildings can be achieved more efficiently and cost-effectively by:
- Meeting, or exceeding the National Construction Code (NCC) requirements with appropriate heating and cooling and star ratings of appliances.
- Maximising natural ventilation and daylight.
- Providing on-site renewable energy such as solar panels to reduce energy bills.
Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)
A healthy indoor environment benefits the wellbeing of building occupants as well as reducing costs by:
- Orientating a building to achieve the best aspect for naturally capturing daylight, breezes and views.
- Installing openable and double-glazed windows and doors with sufficient external shading to adjust to climate.
- Selecting interior materials and finishes that are low in toxic or hazardous compounds.
Transport
Prioritising active transport that not only reduces emissions but improves the health and wellbeing of people and the environment by:
- Providing connection to bike paths, parking spaces and end-of-trip facilities.
- Convenient access to public transport and connected footpaths.
- Supplying Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.
Waste and Resource Recovery
Sourcing local, durable and recycled materials and products that produce less waste, and can be separated and recycled by:
- Committing to recycle at least 70% of all demolition and construction waste.
- Providing on-site waste stream separation and management.
- Utilising durable and re-usable products that require less maintenance and avoids ending up in landfill.
Embodied Carbon
Reducing, or better still removing the use of building materials that are from new, intensive and unethical sources that require excessive mining, processing, manufacturing and transporting creating unnecessary embodied carbon, instead:
- Selecting construction materials with recycled components, have low embodied energy and are sustainably sourced.
- Prioritising natural materials such as timber and bricks.
- If choosing concrete, aluminium or other metals ensure they have a percentage of recycled components.
Urban Ecology
Protecting and enhancing natural vegetation has many benefits, including:
- Ecological and biodiversity values of providing habitats for animals and native or indigenous plant species.
- Improving air quality and moderating local temperatures and in-turn wellbeing.
- Supports [storm]water management, quality and supply.
Innovation
Supporting change and continual improvements to existing practices, products or methods through:
- Technical,
- Environmental,
- Social and Cultural innovations.
*It is mandatory to meet National Construction Code (NCC) requirements for energy efficiency; water efficiency; ventilation and daylight.
ESD Online Assessment Tools
A range of online ESD tools exist to assist applicants to measure their proposal against the key sustainable building categories.
To satisfy Council’s adopted ESD policy, development proposals are required to achieve minimum overall ‘scores' for applicable tools; 50% for BESS and 100% for Blue Factor.
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Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) This is the dedicated online tool in Victoria for assessing sustainable design at the planning process stage. A ‘Best Practice’ overall minimum BESS score of 50% is required. This includes achieving mandatory minimum 50% overall scores in each of these categories:
*Achieving an overall score of 70% or higher is defined as ‘Excellence’ and encouraged. |
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The Blue Factor tool has replaced STORM for assessing the amount of stormwater runoff and pollutants a development may create, and what water sensitive urban design (WSUD) treatment measures are needed to manage stormwater effectively. Rainwater and stormwater runoff and pollutants from new developments can affect the health of our waterways and bays. New developments in Victoria must comply with planning requirements to manage stormwater to protect our waterways and bays. Blue Factor is now used to demonstrate compliance with planning requirements for WSUD and stormwater management for small-scale residential and simple commercial developments. *Note: Melbourne Water's STORM Calculator was retired 13/10/2025 |
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The MUSIC (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation) tool can be used for larger developments to assess Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) responses. This tool simulates stormwater in urban catchments and helps determine the performance and quality of treatments. |
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Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star Rating System This is an Australian sustainability rating and certification system comprising four tools covering Buildings, Communities, Performance and Interiors. The Green Star Buildings tool can be used for larger developments, and it is expected a minimum 4-Star Green Star rating will be achieved. To claim Certification the development must be registered with the Green Building Council Australia (GBCA). |
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Daylight modelling If daylight modelling is required for an application a number of tools are available to provide a Daylight Factor output. The BESS tool can be used for apartment developments, while Green Star Daylight and Views Hand Calculation Guide can be applied for non-residential spaces. Other software modelling is available to assess daylight outcomes. |
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(Preliminary) Energy Assessments
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‘Other agreed methods’ might also include site specific initiatives not otherwise included within the scope of these tools.
Should you wish to consider initiatives not captured by the above on-line tools or which might be outside the scope of the key sustainable building categories, please discuss with Council’s ESD Officer to understand if your proposed initiative(s) may be appropriate.
In accordance with the ‘Innovation’ key building category, initiatives which improve upon existing best practices are encouraged.