Amendment C278card proposes to introduce a new Environmentally Sustainable Development Local Planning Policy (ESD Policy), for development to achieve best practice in environmental sustainability from its design stage through to construction and operation.

The ESD policy provides statutory weight to what is currently a voluntary approach in the planning process, by requiring those developments which require a planning permit to achieve best practice environmental objectives.

The amendment also includes refinements to the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) to support the new policy.

Amendment C278card applies to all land in the Shire of Cardinia, where a planning permit is required for development.

Specifically, the amendment:

• Amends the following clauses in the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) to reflect the introduction of Clause 22.11 Environmentally Sustainable Development:
  • Clause 21.01 Cardinia Shire Key Issues and Strategic Vision
    • 21.01-3 - Key issues - Environment, Settlement and housing and Particular use and development
    • 21.01-4 Strategic vision
  • Clause 21.02 Environment
    • 21.02-1 Catchment and coastal management - Key issues & Objective 2 Strategies
    • 21.02-2 Landscape – Strategies (Landscape values & Design and built form)
    • 21.02-8 Resource conservation – Key issues, Strategies (Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions & Design and construction) and Implementation – Further strategic work
  • Clause 21.03 Settlement and Housing
    • 21.03-1 Housing – Key issues, Objective 1 Strategies
  • Clause 21.04 Economic Development
    • 21.04-2 Agriculture – Key issues
    • 21.04-3 Activity centres – Key issues, Strategies (Design and location)
    • 21.04-4 Industry – Key issues, Strategies (Design)
    • 21.04-5 Tourism – Key issues, Strategies (Assets)
  • Clause 21.06 Particular Uses and Development
    • 21.06-1 Urban Design – Key issues & Objective 1 Strategies
• Introduces a new Clause 22.11 Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) into the Local Planning Policy Framework of the Cardinia Planning Scheme.

The local policy also sets out application requirements. Depending on the scale of development, an applicant needs to demonstrate how the relevant policy objectives will be achieved, by completing either a Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) or a Sustainability Management Plan (SMP).

The Council Plan 2021–25 and Community Vision 2040 (Cardinia Shire Council, June 2021) is Council's key strategic document and incorporates the long-term Community Vision 2040. The development of an ESD policy and the incorporation of the ESD policy into the planning scheme are both actions of the Council Plan (Year 1 (2021-22) and Year 2 (2022-23) respectively).