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GBCA Future Focus Consultation Paper – Green Star Communities Background:

As part of the business-focused stream of the strategy, GSBP have been working with 2019 tour partner, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), to undertake research to better understand the communications challenges when it comes to articulating the benefits of urban green space in the community, and in the development sector.

GSBP presented some of the preliminary findings of this research at GBCA’s Transform 2018 workshop, which were then developed into the “Who’s with Us?” and “What’s the Story?” guides, which were a key focus of the 2019 national tour.

Concurrently, the GBCA have been thoroughly re-examining all of their ratings tools, credits, categories and future aspirations for improving the environmental performance of the built environment.

This work has been aggregated into a new framework which will inform the new technical documents and accreditation system for Green Star Rating.

They are currently calling for input into this proposed framework as it applies to the Green Star for Communities tool.

Feedback on the Consultation Paper is due back by Saturday November 30.

Follow this link for background information on the Future Focus Consultation page.

Opportunity:

The key opportunity for GSBP, Hort Innovation, NGIA and all of our network members is to ensure that the urban greening component of the new ratings tool becomes a top-order priority. We want for the accreditation, communication and Nature framework to prioritise more urban green space as part of Green Star rating for Communities.

GSBP have prepared a draft submission (as follows) that may be used as a basis (cheat sheet) for submissions from individuals or organisations with value-alignment to the Greener Spaces Better Places mission.

EMAIL [email protected] PHONE 02 8097 8746 WEBSITE greenerspacesbetterplaces.com.au

https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/future-focus/?utm_source=ff&utm_medium=email#communities

How do I provide feedback?

Follow the links, they will take you to the Future Focus Consultation page where direct feedback can be provided for Green Star Communities .

There are three options for providing feedback:

1. Download the form, fill it out and email it back.

Note that you will need to download the form to your desktop fill it out and email it back to [email protected]

2. Respond in a formal briefing/discussion arranged and recorded by the GBCA

You can request a meeting with GBCA staff in person or over the phone.

3. Respond in writing to the GBCA

If you have any supplementary materials, research or letters you can email this to the GBCA in addition, or instead of the submission form.

What is the purpose of this process and how did they get to this point?

The Green Star Communities rating tool was released in 2012 and therefore a more contemporary document than the New Buildings methodology

The focus is more so on how to develop land in a way that drives best practice governance, liveable communities and secured economic prosperity for occupants – so its scope is already quite broad, but aims to improve upon the existing tool and align it to the others that are also currently under review

This work is also part of the Future Focus and has likewise been guided by the GBCA’s Ten Expert Reference Panels

The purpose of this consultation is to get further input on the proposed changes to the Green Star Communities rating tool

The objective is to release the new rating too for Green Star Communities in December 2020 therefore there will be ongoing opportunities to input into the development of the tool

What do we think (in a nutshell)?

The introduction of the Nature category is significant in that it goes part


https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/future-focus/

mailto:[email protected]

https://gbca-web.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/future-focus-green-star-for-communities-consultation-paper.pdf

way in recognising the importance of plants and trees within the new tools and categories.

However, we don’t believe that the current proposed framework and accreditation system goes far enough.

Instead we propose greater recognition for designs that achieve greater canopy targets and the necessity of appropriate water infrastructure to support this.

The GSBP guide (cheat sheet) for your submission into the new Community Green Star Rating Tool:

P8 Providing Feedback

Please provide your own personal details in the form field, bearing in mind that you may need permission to respond on behalf of your organisation. Below are the GSBP responses that can be used as a guide.

P23 Do you support the new framework for Green Star Communities?

Yes.

Do you have any comments related to the new framework or any specific categories?

The benefits or urban green space – plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, lawns – are cross-cutting and a key means through which to achieve multiple health, economic, resilience and environmental benefits.

As far as possible, the framework and categories should promote, incentivise and recognise the value of ‘Living Infrastructure’.

Beyond the well-documented provision of eco-services such as clean air, cooling, aesthetics and wellbeing, Living Infrastructure such as soil, waterways, plants, trees, insects, and other flora and fauna are integral to the success and thriveabiilty of any community, and as such we would like to see this value more deeply embedded into the framework via specific credits or formally as an underlying principle.

The reimagining of Green Star Ratings Tools is a critical, as it affords a once in a lifetime opportunity to reconnect the built environment and the natural one. A considerable and rapid transformation is required to reconsider place not as structures or plans, but instead recognise them for the elegant, often fragile and connected systems that they are.


We appreciate that the new Nature category recognises the importance of nature, but in its current form we don’t believe that it considers living infrastructure as high enough of a priority.

We are concerned that by bundling water into the ‘Positive’ category, that it deprioritises this aspect of a place at a time where it could not be of greater importance to ongoing sustainability, liveability and survival of communities all over Australia.

That being said, we submit that grey water recycling and dual plumbing be mandatory for all Green Star rated buildings.

We also submit that all Green Star Rated Communities achieve a minimum green

space cover target of 30%, and 40% canopy cover within ten years of habitation. We also submit that green space credits be awarded to communities that are designed to achieve above and beyond canopy targets beyond those outlined in the relevant local strategic plans; and that rewards innovative applications uses of green walls, roofs and renaturalisation of waterways within community designs.

P25 Do you agree that all projects certified under the new tool must put in place carbon reduction goals, with a robust plan showing how they will be delivered?

Yes.

Or, should this goal be applicable to 6 star – Yes5 star – Yes4 star – Yes

Do you agree the rating tool should have an increased focus on the carbon emissions generated by buildings?

Yes.

Comments

A net zero approach to precincts means that due consideration is given not only to the buildings but also to the surrounding road, pathway, open space, landscape, street and water way design, that combined, help influence the overall efficiency and energy demands of the buildings.

P26 Do you agree broadly with the principle of net zero operation emissions in precincts by 2030?


Yes.

Or, should the goal be applicable to

6 star – No 5 star – No4 star – No

What are the obstacles and opportunities to make that happen, that Green Star for Communities, and the GBCA and others need to address?

Each State has different legislative and regulatory requirements for precincts that currently disincentive net zero precinct outcomes.

We hear from both developers and local government that the ongoing costs of maintenance is what either makes or breaks more innovative and potentially net zero approaches to precincts.

P27 Do you support introducing a greater priority within the rating tool to influence the sustainability of buildings within the precinct?

Yes.

P28 Should requirements vary based on the level of Green Star for Communities rating?

Yes.

Do you agree that requirements should vary based on the level of control of over the building?

Yes.

Do you think that there should be a sliding scale of points available, based on the percentage of buildings in the precinct that meet higher standards of sustainability?

Yes.

P 29 Do you agree in principle that minimum requirements should be introduced for every precinct?

Yes.


P30 How do you think we can facilitate sustainability outcomes early in the life of a long- term development, and what are the barriers and opportunities to achieving this?

Retention of existing green space, waterways and mature trees is the first step toward achieving a sustainability outcome.

To achieve a Green Start Community rating, a minimum target of 30% green cover should be agreed, thereby triggering development and design considerations on how water will be retained, recycled and re-used on site to ensure adequate irrigation.

Fast growing street trees and landscaping should be integrated into ‘pre-stage’ development, and planted as soon as possible. This is akin to the approach that Stockland Aura development took and which also had the added benefit of selling property and setting a ‘tone’ for the community.

We would like to see the points awarded for high green space to built-form ratio for homes within the community.

Too often homes that are on display focus entirely on the ‘mod cons’ and finishes like marble bench tops and built form treatments, instead we would like for display homes to communicate the advantages of mature trees, gardens, rooftop gardens and green walls as key features within private properties.

Another key opportunity to create habitat, shade and beauty at the early stages of development would be to leave ‘green corridors or micros grids’ between the boundaries of homes. This would invite biodiversity, birdlife and create a natural setting at the onset of the project.

P31 Of the proposed credits listed, please indicate in order of preference, the top ten credits you think every Green Star certified project should have to address (this is in addition for every project to address Operational Carbon).

Order in terms of preference: 1. Habitat creation 2. Integrated water cycle 3. Nature connectivity 4. Water pollution to runoff 5. Human connection to nature 6. Enjoyable places 7. Impacts to nature 8. Resilience to other impacts 9. Climate change 10.Healthy and active living


P32 Comments

Green Star Communities must be ‘green’ and therefore require a minimum canopy target of 30%.

All Green Star Communities must recycle water and have dual plumbing to provide adequate irrigation of public and private green space.

Green Star Communities actively encourage, promote and incentivise gardens, trees, rooftop walls and green walls as features of private homes.

Green Star communities do not compromise existing biodiversity through the use of bio-banking or offsets to displace benefits elsewhere.

Green Star Communities commit to the ongoing maintenance and health of their natural living infrastructure.

P34 Place in order of preference

3 - Continuing with the current five-year certification timeframe 2 - Continuing with the current five-year certification timeframe and having voluntary progress meetings with GBCA1 - Having an annual certification process as described above

Why?

In light of recent issues and the negative perceptions surrounding building certification, the more transparency being led by the GBCA, the better.

Do you have any changes to the above positions?

No.

Do you have any other suggestions on how the certification process could be improved?

There are many methods already in market that are being used to measure and track tree canopy, green space and heat mapping outcomes.

It is therefore quite practical to set canopy and green space targets and track and report progress on achieving these. Our suggestion is progress toward achieving targets should be measured every two to three years and credits be awarded accordingly. A Badge might also be awarded once a specific target is achieved or exceeded.

Thermal heat mapping is another fairly straightforward way of identifying changes over time and reporting on how the credits combined can achieve a tangible result, as lill as identifying where improvements can be made.

P36 Do you agree with the transition period?


Yes.

In addition to a transition period and new Green Star training, what additional information and support could the GBCA deliver to assist the market in using the new rating tool?

No comment.

P38 Get involved in Green Star for Communities

Greener Spaces Better Places will continue to work with the GBCA to support, develop and promote projects that adopt urban greening as part of their Green Star Community accreditation.

GSBP will also work with the GBCA to continue to develop out partnership as part our commitment to the network to get as much green into Green Star as possible.

P41 Appendix A

Community – Do you agree with the proposed credit/outcome?

Culture, Heritage and Identity – Y

Comment:

We submit that acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is explicitly mentioned as part of this credit.

Vibrant Community – YDesign for Diversity – YDesign for Quality – YPrivacy – Y

Nature – Do you agree with the proposed credit/outcome?

Impacts to nature – YWater pollution and runoff – YHabitat creation – YNature connectivity – YOffsite restoration – NHuman connection to nature – Y


Places – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Sustainable Transport - YSustainable Buildings - YSafe Places - YEnjoyable Places - YAmenities - Y

Positive – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Low energy demand - YOperational carbon - YCarbon in materials - YIntegrated water management - YImpacts from resources – Y

Healthy – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Healthy and active living - YWalkable access to amenities - YAccess to fresh food - YNoise levels - YHuman connection to nature – Y

Resilient – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Climate change - YInfrastructure dependency - YResilience to other impacts - YCommunity resilience – Y

Prosperous – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Employment and economic diversity - YEducation and skills development - YCommunity investment - YAffordability - YIncentive programs - YDigital infrastructure – Y

Responsible – do you agree with the proposed credit and outcome?

Integrated approach to planning and engagement – YCorporate responsibility - YDesign review - YResponsible construction practices - YSustainable procurement - Y


Sustainable products – Y

Leadership – do you agree with the proposed credit or outcome?

Exceptional performance – YLeadership in sustainability – YInnovation challenges – Y

End of submission


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