Environmentally
Sustainable
Design Policy
Consultation Copy
2017
Appendix 1
Environmentally Sustainable Design Policy
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to articulate Brimbank City Council’s approach to the
consistent incorporation of environmentally sustainable design (ESD) into the
construction and management of Council’s buildings and facilities.
This Policy prescribes minimum ESD performance requirements for all major,
capital and building maintenance project works.
This Policy forms part of Council’s ESD Framework that specifies minimum
requirements for design standards, construction, materials and technologies in
Council buildings.
This Policy relates to buildings that are owned, leased or managed by Council. It
does not apply ESD standards for residential or commercial buildings through the
statutory planning scheme.
POLICY STATEMENT
Brimbank City Council owns, operates and leases 180 facilities across the
municipality that are used by the community, staff and committees of
management. These facilities vary in size and function and include the Brimbank
Community and Civic Centre, Brimbank Operations Centre, two leisure centres at
Sunshine and St Albans, public libraries, community centres and various sports
pavilions.
The construction and use of Council’s facilities involves large consumption of
resources including energy, water and materials. This Environmentally Sustainable
Design (ESD) Framework aims to realise the significant opportunities available to
Council for utility cost savings and resource efficiency gains.
Through the Brimbank Greenhouse Reduction Strategy 2013-2023, Council has
committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% of 2011 emissions
by 2022/23. In 2015/16, Brimbank’s facilities contributed 38% of total emissions
and approximately $750,000 annually in electricity and gas costs to Council.
Brimbank’s Sustainable Water Management Strategy 2013-2023 also commits
Council to reducing its potable water consumption across all of its services to 181
ML by 2022/23. Council’s facilities consumed approximately 347 ML of potable
water in 2015/16.
ESD Minimum Performance Targets set through this Framework will significantly
contribute to Council reaching these environmental targets and to demonstrate
leadership and innovation in building performance.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS BEING USED
Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD): Design, construction and
management practices that achieve or exceed ‘best practice’ standards in
resource efficiency and environmental impact for buildings, infrastructure,
transport, landscaping and streetscapes.
Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS): web-based platform for
assessing energy and water efficiency, thermal comfort and overall
sustainability of new buildings or alterations. BESS is comprised of nine
categories: Management, Water, Energy, Stormwater, Indoor Environment
Quality, Waste Management, Urban Ecology, Innovation.
Green Star Certification: a comprehensive, national, voluntary rating scheme
that evaluates the environmental design and construction of buildings
administered by the Green Building Council of Australia.
MINIMUM PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Council’s ESD Framework adopts a range of minimum performance requirements
that encourage ESD outcomes, whilst providing flexibility during design and
construction for inclusion of ESD features.
Major projects - projects valued greater than $5 million
Examples of major capital projects include the Brimbank Community and Civic
Centre, Leisure Centres, Community Centres and Hubs.
The minimum ESD requirement for Major projects is:

5 Star Green Star Certification.
The Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Certification is a
comprehensive, national, voluntary rating scheme that evaluates the
environmental design and construction of buildings. 5 Star Green Star
Certification signifies ‘Australian Excellence’.
Capital projects - projects valued up to $5million
Examples of capital projects include sports pavilions and smaller community
facilities.
The minimum ESD requirement for Capital projects is:



Compliance with Council’s Buildings ESD Standards
Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) score of 60% or higher,
and
At least one item achieved in each of the BESS Categories.
The Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) is a web-based platform
for assessing overall environmental sustainability of new buildings or alterations.
BESS is comprised of nine categories: Management, Water, Energy, Stormwater,
Indoor Environment Quality, Waste Management, Urban Ecology and Innovation.
A BESS score of 60% is considered a ‘pass’. A BESS score of 70% is considered
best practice.
Building Maintenance & Minor Assets
Examples include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) replacement,
lighting upgrades, hot water unit replacement, appliances such as fridges and
stovetops, furniture and finishes, and plumbing fittings/appliances.
The minimum ESD requirement for Building Maintenance is:

Compliance with Council’s Buildings ESD Standards.
The specifications listed in the ESD Buildings Standards are broadly in line with a
Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) score of 60% or above,
representing ‘ESD Excellence’.
ESD BUILDING STANDARDS
ESD Building Standards are detailed in Council’s ESD Framework. The Standards
prescribe building requirements for the following areas:

Management

Passive design

Building fabric

HVAC

Hot water

Lighting

Renewable energy

Water efficiency and stormwater

Materials

Minor Asset – Furniture, Fit Outs and Loose Equipment

Waste

Transport

Urban Ecology & Biodiversity

Innovation
Applying the ESD Building Standards
The ESD Building Standards apply to:
 Capital projects: new building projects valued up to $5 million. Capital
projects are required to meet 5 Star Green Star Certification.
 Building maintenance: Brimbank City Council has a large existing building
stock. To ensure a manageable transition to a more sustainable building
stock, the ESD Building Standards will apply when building upgrades or
renewals occur.
In some instances the ESD Building Standards may be difficult to achieve. Where
this is so, Council will aim to achieve the best possible outcome. Special
considerations may exist for:
 Heritage Buildings
 Buildings leased (not owned) by Council.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY
The delivery of this Policy is the responsibility of staff from across Council.
Specific tasks and their responsibilities are provided in the table below.
Role
Internal Clients
(Leisure &
Community
Facilities,
Lifelong
Learning and
Community
Participation)
Capital Works
Steering Group
Project Officer
(Facilities and
Major Projects)
Responsibilities




Ensure ESD requirements within the Capital Works
Nomination and Evaluation System comply with the
objectives of this Framework

Ensure ESD scope of works are incorporated into the
Design Brief tender
Ensure Design Project Control Group includes an
Environment Department Officer to support delivery of ESD
Ensure ESD requirements are incorporated into the
Construction Tender
Ensure ESD requirements are built as per the Construction
Tender



Building
Maintenance



Environment
Department
Procurement
Identify relevant ESD Minimum Performance Requirement
and plan new projects that address the ESD Framework’s
objectives
Incorporate costs related to ESD into total design and
construction costs
Include relevant ESD information in the Capital Works
Nomination and Evaluation System






Review Design Brief, participate in site meetings during
construction, and complete handover and provide support
during defects period
Ensure programmed works (renewals as per annual
condition audits) are compliant with ESD Building
Standards
Ensure ESD standards are applied where possible for
reactive maintenance
Provide the Internal Client and Project Officer advice and
guidance on ESD at all project stages
Allocate an officer to the Design Project Control Group
Report on the implementation of the ESD Framework to
Council
Modify standard tendering and quotation design
consultancy and construction template to include reference
to Council’s ESD Framework.
Ensure the evaluation criteria include ESD for design and
construction.
Ensure the evaluation panel allocates a weighting for ESD
RELATED POLICIES AND DOCUMENTS

Sustainability Policy

Procurement Policy

Indoor Thermal Comfort Policy

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy

Sustainable Water Management Strategy

Urban Forest Strategy
Amendment of Policy
Rev
Reviewed Date
Reason for
Amendment
Next Review
Date
Approved by
EMT
Date Approved by Executive –