Protecting Canberra’s unique character as the ‘bush capital’ and re-establishing a neighbourhood planning process are two of the key elements of the Greens policy on Urban Planning, announced today by candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury.

“Urban design should be based on a long-term vision of sustainability, and should promote inclusiveness, equity and a sense of community and place,” said Rattenbury.

“In addition, the Greens are determined to ensure that Canberra’s bush capital characteristics are protected. The network of open spaces and nature parks through our city are undoubtedly one of our most valuable assets. As our city grows, and pressure for development increases, we must ensure that we protect the integrity of this network.”

The Greens also want to re-establish a neighbourhood planning process, and extend its coverage to all suburbs.

“Neighbourhood Planning was abandoned by the Labor Government after the 2004 election because it was seen to be too time consuming and demanding.”

“The Greens are committed to giving residents real influence in the changing shape of their suburbs. The neighbourhood planning process has worked well in Canberra where it has been used and where the plans themselves have been adhered to. Communities are open to adapting, as long as they have true input in the process.”

Other key features of the policy include:

-Implementing enforceable development standards for energy and water efficiency in residential and commercial developments, including random audits and penalties for non-compliance

-Mandating passive solar orientation of new residential homes and other buildings in subdivisions

-The incorporation of community gardens in neighbourhoods and englobo developments

-Mandating the disclosure of political donations made by development applicants

“This policy lays out the steps to ensure that we do build a Canberra that our children thank us for.
The decisions we take today will be with us for a long period of time, so we must ensure that our planning looks forward at least 50 years,” concluded Rattenbury.

ACT Greens lead candidate for Brindabella, Amanda Bresnan, committed the ACT Greens to pursuing Universal Housing Design after the October Election, when addressing a National Seniors Election Forum today

“Most of us want to stay in our homes as we age or lose some of our capacity,” Ms Bresnan said.

“which is one reason why the Greens are keen to see a greater commitment to Universal Housing design[1].”

“The Victorian Council of Social Service recently put out a paper called Universal Housing, Universal Benefits. They calculated that the economic benefits of universal housing for the Victorian Government was $70 million each year based on savings in home care, residential aged care and hospital costs.”

“The report also noted that “A comparative cost analysis of retrofitting home modifications in adaptable and non-adaptable homes in NSW found that modifications made to a non-adaptable home would cost between three times and eighteen times as much as those made to an adaptable home, depending on dwelling type.”"[2]

“In other words, not only is life much easier and comfortable for people who are aging, or living with disability, if their homes can accommodate their needs; but the whole community will save an enormous amount on nursing home and hospital expenses as well as the costs of adapting housing.”

The ACT Greens are calling for

-From now on, all new public housing to meet Universal Design criteria

-In the short term, an increase in the proportion of all new residences in the ACT required to meet Universal Design criteria, particularly those residential developments near shops, health facilities and services. (At least 25%.)

-Over time, the amendment of national building codes move all residential construction towards Universal Design.

-I have no doubt that it will be suggested that such a blanket approach will increase the cost of housing. That cost will be kept down, however, if these design principles become integral to house design, rather than factored in as optional extras” Ms Bresnan said.

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The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design describes universally designed housing as “an approach to building homes and living spaces which:

1. meet the needs of home occupants regardless of age or ability;

2. are capable of adapting to meet the changing needs of home occupants;

3. can be economically adapted to respond to the current and future needs of homes occupants;

4. are well integrated within the community.

[http://www.anuhd.org/content/principles-design]

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[1] http://www.anuhd.org/content/principles-design

[2] http://www.vcoss.org.au/documents/VCOSS%20docs/Housing/Universal%20Housing%20Universal%20Benefits-email.pdf

The Greens want a solar test applied to all new developments in the ACT, Greens candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury announced today.

“Now that we know the benefits of passive solar design in our living and work spaces, it is time for the planning approval process to catch up and include building orientation and access to sunshine in its development approval process,” said Rattenbury

“For instance, the development proposed for the Burnie Court site in Lyons, as described in Draft Variation No 288, is laid out in such a way that it makes poor use of the free energy of the sun.”

“At the moment, the Territory Plan says that overshadowing is allowed so long as it allows a minimum of three hours in some part of the living areas of existing dwellings. That’s a pretty minimal requirement”

“The Lyons Estate (nee Burnie Court) redevelopment is starting from scratch, so there is no reason why every single dwelling should not have good solar access.”

“The entire new development of Molonglo is the same. We have to be building suburbs now that are fit for the 21st century, not designed like it is the 1980’s.”

“We have to get smarter about planning and building if we want to reduce our carbon footprint and our planning system has a key part to plan in this process,” concluded Rattenbury