1 MCPHAIL STREET, ESSENDON

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ASSESSMENT

14.02.2024
REV: 1

CONTACT: 1300-035-740
ADDRESS: 73 WOODLAND ST, ESSENDON, 3040
EMAIL: info@yourdesigngroup.com.au
WEB: www.yourdesigngroup.com.au

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CONTENTS

SUMMARY…………………..………………………………………………………………………………… 3

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

MANAGEMENT..……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

ENERGY EFFICIENCY………….…………………………………………………………………………… 6

WATER & STORMWATER………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY…..…………………………………………………………………… 10

TRANSPORT…..……………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

WASTE………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

URBAN ECOLOGY.………..……………………………………………………………………………….... 13

INNOVATION…..……………………………………………………………………………………………… 14

APPENDIX 1 – STORM ASSESSMENT..………………………………………………………….………..

APPENDIX 2 – BESS REPORT.………………………………………………………………………………

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SUMMARY

The aim of this Sustainable Design Assessment report is to assess the ESD initiatives in the proposal
and to convey to Council how ESD issues are being addressed. Your Design Group has used the
BESS tool as the basis for our assessment.

The project’s BESS results are summarized in the table below.

An overall BESS score of 72% is achieved, with a score >50% in all the major sections (Energy,
Water, Stormwater and IEQ). The combined assessment demonstrates how the project incorporates
ESD principles for all the development.

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INTRODUCTION

This Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) provides an overview of the sustainable design initiatives
and predicted environmental performance of the proposed development.

The project
The project consists of the erection of four dwellings on a 1011m² allotment.
Dwelling 1 will consist of 3 bedrooms and a Single garage.
Dwelling 2 will consist of 3 bedrooms and a Single garage.
Dwelling 3 will consist of 3 bedrooms and a Single garage.

Documents
This report has been informed by:
Town Planning drawings TP00 – TP7 dated XXth February 2024 by ‘Your Design Group’.

Moonee Valley City Council Requirements

Moonee Valley City Council is the responsible authority for issuing a town planning permit for this
development. In accordance with Clause 21.04-3 (Ecologically Sustainable Development) of the
Moonee Valley Planning Scheme, a Sustainable Design Assessment using STEPS/SDS or another
approved tool (i.e. BESS) for assessing the sustainability
of the new development is required.
The following tools have been used to benchmark the sustainable initiatives included in the proposal:
 Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) tool
 STORM Assessment to address the Stormwater Management (Water Sensitive Urban
Design) Policy – Moonee Valley Planning Scheme Clause 22.03

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MANAGEMENT

Best practice for building management means that sustainability is integrated from concept design
through the construction process. Good decisions made early will always deliver the maximum benefit
for the lowest cost. Best practice building management also means giving future occupants the
information they need to be able to run their buildings in the most efficient way.

The Management Section contributes 0% to the overall score in the BESS tool.
The following initiatives have been targeted:

 Building Users Guide

Management 4.5% - Contributing 0% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Pre-application meeting 0%

Thermal performance modelling - multi-unit residential 0%

Building Users Guide 0%

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Good building design decreases power consumption, saves money and reduces the effects of climate
change. On the other hand, poor building design is uneconomical and contributes to greenhouse gas
emissions.
Best practice design for energy efficiency means designing buildings that need minimal heating and
cooling because they are well insulated, have appropriate summer shading, have good orientation to
take advantage of the sun for heating, and have high efficiency fittings and appliances.
On-site renewable energy generation is also encouraged to supplement or meet energy needs.

Thermal Performance
Full energy ratings will be carried out at the building approval stage. Dwellings will achieve a minimum
6.0 Stars average across the development. This will be achieved using appropriate insulation level in
all external walls, roof and floors as well as the use of double-glazing windows throughout.
For the purpose of BESS assessment, minimum compliance figures have been assumed which will
be met at the building approval stage.
The following initiatives have been targeted:

 Reverse cycle heating and cooling system (4 Star).

 Electric Heat Pump Band 1 hot water system.
 External lighting: Controlled by motion detectors.
 Internal lighting: Maximum illumination power density of 4W/m² or less.
 External clothes line

Energy 50% - Contributing 28% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 100%

Electricity Consumption 100%

Gas Consumption 100%

Hot Water 100%

External Lighting 100%

Clothes Drying 100%

Internal Lighting – Residential Single Dwelling 100%

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WATER & STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
The average Melbourne household of four people uses approximately 240,000 litres of drinking water
each year. Best practice water efficiency means using fixtures and appliances with a high WELS rating
and substituting precious drinking water with alternative water sources (such as greywater and
rainwater) for uses such as toilet flushing and garden irrigation, where appropriate.

Water Efficient Fittings

 4 Star WELS rated (>6.0 but <=7.5 L/min) showerheads

 Medium sized contemporary baths
 5 Star WELS rated kitchen and bathroom taps
 4 Star WELS rated WC
 Washing machines and dishwashers listed as ‘default or unrated’
 No urinals specified
 Rainwater connected to toilets
 Rainwater not connected to Laundry or Hot Water System

Rainwater Collection & Use

Rainwater runoff from the roof area of each townhouse will be collected and stored in
rainwater tanks. Each dwelling will be provided with 2,500L rainwater tanks.

Rainwater collected will be used for toilet flushing in each townhouse. These initiatives will reduce
significantly the stormwater impacts of the development and help achieve compliance with the
STORM calculator

Water 100% - Contributing 9% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Potable Water Use Reduction (Interior Uses) 100%

Rainwater Collection & Reuse 100%

Water Efficient Landscaping 100%

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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

For the purpose of the assessment, the development has been delineated into the following surface
types:
 Site area of 1011m²;
 Total roof area runoff of all townhouses is 443m², of which, 432m² will be diverted into
rainwater tanks for each dwelling with 11m² of roof area not diverted to rainwater tanks;
 Impervious driveway and paving areas of 156m²;
 Landscaped area of 412m² considered permeable;

STORMWATER INITIATIVES

Rainwater Tanks

2000L rainwater tanks will be provided for toilet flushing for each dwelling.
Roof catchment area of 140m² will be diverted to a 2000L rainwater tank for Dwelling 1.
Roof catchment area of 120m² will be diverted to a 2000L rainwater tank for Dwelling 2.
Roof catchment area of 120 m² will be diverted to a 2000L rainwater tank for Dwelling 3.
Total effective capacity of 6,000L across the development from 240m² of total roof catchment area.
The rainwater collected will be used for toilet flushing in all townhouses.

A charged pipe system will be utilized to direct the rainwater from the catchment areas to their
associated tanks.

Stormwater 100% - Contributing 14% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Stormwater Treatment 100%

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INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY

Australians spend on average 90 percent of their time indoors, therefore the quality of the indoor
environment is vital to our health and wellbeing. Building design and material choices impact on
indoor environment quality and should be considered during the early design stages. Best practice
design for Indoor Environment Quality means that building occupants can enjoy a comfortable space
with good air quality, adequate daylight and ventilation. Indoor environment quality is affected by
building orientation and layout, window sizes and specification, shading devices, products used for
construction and fit-out and neighbouring structures.

IEQ considerations that are not captured in BESS but are also important include:
 Acoustic privacy
 External views and daylight levels
 Air quality and ventilation
 Glazing
 Toxicity of materials, e.g. Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, sealants and
adhesives – this is captured within the Innovation section of BESS.
 Formaldehyde Minimisation, e.g engineered wood products to have a “low” Formaldehyde
emission, certified as E0 or better.

Indoor Environment Quality 100% - Contributing 17% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Thermal Comfort – Cross Flow Ventilation 100%
Thermal Comfort – Improved Glazing 100%
Thermal Comfort – External Shading 100%
Thermal Comfort – Orientation 100%

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TRANSPORT

In Australia, cars account for approximately 50 percent of our total transport greenhouse gas
emissions. The other half includes emissions from trucks, buses, aviation, railways and shipping. In
addition to contributing to global warming, car exhaust contains toxic pollutants that are dangerous to
our health. As the population of cities increases so does traffic congestion, further multiplying the
amount of exhaust pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in our air. Best practice design for
transport means creating buildings that encourage walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing, and
the use of lower emissions vehicles.

The following initiatives have been targeted:

 1 secure bicycle spaces for each townhouse (space in garage)

Transport 100% - Contributing 4% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Bicycle parking - residential 100%
Bicycle parking – residential (visitors) 0%
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 0%

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WASTE

Building Management and its key elements should be integrated into the design of the proposed
development. These principles contribute to ensuring efficient and effective on-going building
performance. Waste management and its key elements should be integrated into the design of
the proposed development. These principles contribute to ensuring minimal waste is transported
to landfill by means of disposal, recycling and on-site waste storage and/or collection methods.

The following initiatives have been targeted:

 Each townhouse will have provision for one green waste bin as provided by Moonee Valley
City Council.

Waste 100% - Contributing 6% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Construction Waste Management - Building Re-use 100%
Food & Garden Waste 100%

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URBAN ECOLOGY

In highly urbanized environments, such as metropolitan Melbourne, it is important to recognize

the importance of maintaining and increasing the health of our urban ecosystems to improve
living conditions not only for the fauna but also ourselves. We can improve our urban ecosystem
through the incorporation of vegetation through landscaping for both new and existing
developments.

The following initiatives have been targeted:

 35% of the site has vegetation.
 There is there a tap and floor waste (drainage) on every balcony or rear yard to
encourage plants to be grown.

Urban Ecology 100% - Contributing 4% to overall score

Credit Disabled Scoped out Score

Vegetation 100%

Green Roof 0%

Green Wall or Facade 0%

Private open space - ecology 100%

Food Production - residential 100%

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INNOVATION

The objective of the Innovation section is to encourage design features and technologies that are not
recognised elsewhere within BESS because they are new to Victoria, or because they go well beyond
the best practice standard in BESS.

Timber
All timber used in the development will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Program
for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certified, or recycled / reused.
Flooring
The use of timber flooring will be preferred for all living areas and bedrooms. Wherever
possible, flooring will be selected from products/materials certified under any of the
following:

 Carpet Institute of Australia Limited, Environmental Certification Scheme (ECS) v1.2;

 Ecospecifier GreenTag GreenRate V3.2; and/or
 Good Environmental Choice (GECA).
Alternatively, flooring must be durable, include some eco-preferred content, be modular
and/or come from a manufacturer with a product stewardship program and ISO
14001certification.

Joinery
Wherever possible, joinery will be manufactured from materials/products certified under any of
the following:

 Ecospecifier GreenTag GreenRate V3.1;

 Good Environmental Choice (GECA); and/or
 The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS) Sustainable Materials
Rating Technology standard Version 4.0 – SmaRT 4.0.
The use of Ecological Panel (or equivalent) will be investigated, which is created from
100% post- consumer recycled products.

Non-toxic and Durable External Materials

All external materials used to construct the building will be long lasting and will be non-toxic.
Steel
Wherever possible, steel for the development will be sourced from a Responsible Steel
Maker. Reinforcing steel for the project will be manufactured using energy reducing
processes commonly used by large manufacturers such as Bluescope or OneSteel.

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