a us sustainable cities paper

8/10/2019 A Us Sustainable Cities Paper

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE

Discussion Paper

Sustainable Cities

2025

The discussion paper does not present the views or conclusions of theCommittee


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House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment andHeritage

Inquiry into Sustainable Cities2025

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment andHeritage is undertaking a new inquiry into Sustainable Cities 2025. Theinquiry is timely given that 2! is the "ear of the #uilt Environment andthere will $e a national focus on the spaces we live in and how we improvethe livea$ility of our cities and settlements.

The inquiry into Sustainable Cities 2025seeks to identify current and futurepatterns of settlement% the sustaina$ility issues associated with thesesettlement patterns% and how government policy might ensure thatdeveloped areas retain an &ustralian lifestyle without diminishing the future

value of &ustralian eco'systems.

The purpose of the inquiry is not to set speci(c actions for particular areas%$ut to provide a )national map* of issues and approaches. This discussionpaper scopes some of the issues currently $eing raised in discussions andresearch into sustaina$ility of &ustralian cities.

The attached discussion paper identi(es several components whichcontri$ute to a sustaina$le city% and outlines the issues and vision of thesecomponents. &t this stage% there are many more questions than answers.

Two key issues for industry% government and communities is how to $alancethese components% and what innovative alternatives or international modelscan usefully $e applied to the &ustralian situation. &s a nation% once we cande(ne a vision and a set of o$+ectives for future city settlements% a criticalissue will $e developing the implementation strategies to achieve thatvision.

This discussion paper is not a de(nitive approach to the issues ofsustaina$le cities in &ustralia. ,t considers only part of the terms ofreference for the inquiry $y raising issues and questioning what vision wehave for a sustaina$le city and so how we might develop a $lueprint for thefuture.

The discussion paper does not present the views or conclusions of theCommittee.

The purpose of the discussion paper is to scope some of the key areascentral to developing a $lueprint for a sustaina$le city% and to canvas forinput from a wide range of professions% community groups% local and stategovernments% researchers% $usinesses% industry associations andindividuals. The aim of this paper is to assist and challenge those who maymake a su$mission or otherwise assist the Committee in the inquiry.

Su$missions to the inquiry may respond to the discussion paper or to all orsome of the terms of reference. -etails of the terms of reference and

making a su$mission to the inquiry are provided overleaf.


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Discussion Paper

Sustainable Cities 2025' A ()ueprin# for#*e Fu#ure

Cities of the future must $e sustaina$le cities. &$ove all% they must $e thecities that meet the future social and economic needs of &ustralia within theunique conte4t of the &ustralian landscape.

The sustaina$le city of the future will integrate the $uilt and naturalenvironment. The sustaina$le city will assist in retaining the $iodiversity of&ustralia% have a developed infrastructure that gives ecient and equita$leaccess to services and utilities% preserve the essentials of the )&ustralianlifestyle* and contri$ute to the economic wealth of the nation.

This future vision will not be achieved without planning andwithout a clearly articulated strategy.

There are international initiatives to develop sustaina$le cities and toaddress many of the pro$lems faced $y e4panding cities in $oth developedand developing nations. :ocal and State initiatives in &ustralia are alsoaddressing speci(c sustaina$ility issues for cities and ur$an settlements.

The challenge remains for a more holistic national approach whichintegrates the components of an &ustralian sustaina$le city and provides amodel which can $e devolved to and adapted $y State and localgovernments.

There are several components to a sustaina$le city. The following aresuggested as a set of visionary o$+ectives for the &ustralian sustaina$le city.

The sustaina$le &ustralian city of the future should0

;. 7reserve $ushland% signi(cant heritage and ur$an green


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;. Preserve bushland signi!cant heritageand urban green "ones.

Environmental conservation and ur$an e4pansion were traditionally onlyconsidered together when their $orders touched or interacted = that iswhere ur$an development encroached on ha$itat or signi(cant ecosystems.

&s ur$an areas e4pand% a harmonised rather than frontier approach isrequired to retain &ustralia*s $iodiversity% eco'systems and to providesettlements which can $e co'ha$itated $y people% >ora and fauna. Theur$an environment should continue to $e uniquely &ustralian and thefeatures of the landscape should not $e ghettoised to isolated non'inha$itedparts of the country.

?r$an green


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Ensure equitable access to and efficient use of energy,

including renewable energy sources.

&s cities grow and energy needs escalate% there are pro$lems of meetingthe supply of inner city and industrial areas% and providing the infrastructure

to deliver energy to spreading developments. ,necient energy usageresults in higher energy needs and increased air emissions.

To meet future consumption needs and manage air emissions% thesustaina$le city must diversify its sources of energy generation and% wherepossi$le and appropriate% incorporate renewa$le energy sources.

& sustaina$le city would successfully uncouple economic growth fromincreased energy consumption.

:ower energy consumption rates% greater eciency and increased use ofrenewa$le energy sources have potential $ene(ts to city settlements in

terms of infrastructure costs% air emissions and more secured long termaccess to energy sources.

+ues#ions for Considera#ion

+ow $ight we i$ple$ent a shift fro$ the e,isting large(scale

energy generation and distribution infrastructure towards analternative $odel&

+ow can the upta-e of renewable energy for residential and

co$$ercial properties be pro$oted&

'hat are the i$pedi$ents to utilising renewable energy

sources in residential co$$ercial and industrial areas andhow $ight these be addressed&

Should renewable energy generation be pro$oted at the

single dwelling level or across city regions&

re there econo$ic and hence social i$plications of a city

increasing its use of green power and developing newco$ple,es which are predo$inantly self(su/cient in ter$s of

energy generation&

Should higher e/ciency standards be $andated for all new

dwellings appliances and business operations&

+ow can residential and co$$ercial develop$ents

incorporate renewable energy generation into planning andconstruction&

To what e,tent should public transport syste$s see- to

change to renewable energy sources&


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. stablish an integrated sustainable waterand stor$water $anage$ent syste$addressing capture consu$ptiontreat$ent and re(use opportunities.

ith ur$an sprawl and the e4pansion of low density housing at cityoutskirts% cities of the future will undou$tedly e4ceed the e4isting capacityof surrounding water supplies and receiving waters. The characteristicapproach of many large cities to water and stormwater management Athatis% piping in large water supplies and piping out equally large quantities ofwaste waterB% cannot $e eciently maintained as the consumption andgeographical si


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Manage and minimise domestic and industrial waste.

:arger cities have $een characterised $y larger amounts of waste which ismore dicult and costly to transport to depots for treatment. Thesustaina$le city must more fully em$race the ethos of product stewardship

with suppliers and purchasers recognising a responsi$ility for the wastegenerated from production processes% packaging and consumption.

& sustaina$le city must unite the community% industry and government topush for and implement sustaina$ility within their spheres of in>uence. Thesustaina$le city cannot relegate its waste or the environmental cost of itsconsumption patterns to regional areas% pockets of land(ll or city industrial


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'hat strategies are appropriate to encourage eco(e/ciency

and the reduction of do$estic waste&

'hat strategies are appropriate to encourage eco(e/ciency

and the reduction of industrial waste&

re there econo$ic i$pacts for a sustainable city in dictating

higher environ$ental standards and waste treat$ent&

'hat is the role of industry in ensuring sustainable cities

and what incentives or standards are appropriate to achievethis&

+ow can industry be encouraged to be $ore socially and

environ$entally responsible and to wor- in partnershipswith local co$$unities&

/. #evelop sustainable transport networ-snodal co$ple$entarity and logistics.

3any &ustralian cities have $een constructed around the automo$ile. Thishas created a culture heavily reliant on private automo$ile access. Thepotential pro$lems of this reliance include0 environmental impacts Asuch asur$an sprawl% smog and air pollutionB1 economic costs Afrom providing ur$aninfrastructure across a more dispersed geographical areaB1 and social

impacts Aincluding isolation% economic strati(cation of areas and reducedaccess to pu$lic servicesB.

Sustaina$le transport logistics are vital to reversing the pro$lems caused $yautomo$ile dependence and to providing cites which are equita$le%accessi$le and economically via$le.

Transport systems encompass more than the movement of people orcommuters across the city. Transport logistics must also take into accountthe needs of $usinesses and industry to service the city and manageincoming and outgoing goods. The transport logistics of a sustaina$le cityrecognise the need for a more comprehensive network of complementarytransport systems with transport nodes forming the focus of ur$an villages.

This transport network has multiple systems operating in a decentralisedmanner that ena$les a we$ of travel directions and nodal hu$s of work%industrial% residential and recreational connections. 3any ma+or cities have$een constructed around a feeder transport system that channels cars andpu$lic transport into the centre city = which is the traditional employmentand commercial hu$. The sustaina$le city must transform this )feeder*mentality to a more nodal and decentralised network. However thistransformation must take place alongside changes in residential planningpatterns and employment centres.


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Transport logistics must also ensure that alternative means of transport%such as train% tram% pedestrian or cycling% is well serviced and theinfrastructure e4ists to facilitate interconnecting commuting travel Aeglocka$le $icycle sheds at transit nodes% workplaces with showering facilities%well lit pedestrian walkways which $ypass ma+or road crossings and a range

of pu$lic transport systems which are complementary% safe and aDorda$leB.

The opportunity to secure the advantages oDered $y diDerent nodes oftransport needs to $e pursued with measures to enhance theircomplementarity through coordination and integration.

The need for a complementary array of pu$lic transport systems is alsounderpinned $y the possi$ilities of using renewa$le energy sources to powerthese vehicles% further reducing air emissions and reliance on conventionalfuels.


'hat initiatives can assist in the reduction of auto$obile

dependence&

Should new transport technologies such as electric cars and

buses be pro$oted as alternative to conventional fuels&

'hat are the features needed in new settle$ent areas to

encourage $ore diverse and sustainable transport networ-s&

'hat is the role of federal govern$ent in assisting

$etropolitan areas to restructure transport networ-s in linewith $ore sustainable settle$ent patterns&

'hat are the needs of transport syste$s for the$ to be

equitable accessible and econo$ically viable&

Is a $ore decentralised nodal type of transport networ-

appropriate for co$$uter and traveller needs&

'hat are the transport logistic needs of industry and how can

these be $anaged in a sustainable city&

8. Incorporate eco(e/ciency principles intonew buildings and housing

&ustralia has demonstrated capa$ility and e4pertise in utilising eco'eciency principles in design and construction. This capa$ility and e4pertisemust $ecome mainstream if we are to transform e4isting $uilt areas as wellas new development into models of sustaina$ility. To meet the goals ofreduced energy and water consumption and re'use and to increase the

usea$ility and livea$ility of commercial and residential premises% more


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innovative approaches to the development% construction% and refur$ishmentof $uildings are needed.

,n commercial premises% incorporating eco'eciency principles may demanda greater partnered approach across lessees of a $uilding. ,t will $e

important to esta$lish the economics of green $uildings to ensure that theknowledge a$out alternative more sustaina$le design principles andmaterials is more readily availa$le through mainstream architects andconstruction companies. ,n residential premises% the economic impetus foreco'eciency must also $e recognised and the savings and the comfort of)green designs* must $e given a value in the marketplace.

,n a sustaina$le city% $etter practices need to $e incorporated into new

construction and encouraged as part of ma+or )retro'(ts* and renovations.


+ow can green construction and refurbish$ent techniques beintegrated into standard building practices&

+ow can eco(e/ciency innovations be pro$oted to achieve a

$ar-et value in both co$$ercial and residential buildings&

'hat are the i$pedi$ents to eco(e/ciency principles being

ta-en up across new housing develop$ents and co$$ercialareas&

'hat type of incentives or standards for new develop$ents

$ight be appropriate to encourage $ore sustainableresidential co$ple,es&

re e,isting building standards and product labelling

su/cient to enable infor$ed consu$er choices and to ensurethat the use of eco(e/ciency $aterials and designs and are$a,i$ised

7. #evelop urban plans that acco$$odate

lifestyle and business opportunitiesThere are an increasing num$er of ur$an dwellers1 however this increasedpopulation is not homogenous. Rather% the increase in city inha$itants isaccompanied $y a diversi(cation of lifestyle preferences ranging from highdensity inner city apartment dwellers to the small acreage on city outskirtsto self'contained village type su$ur$an lifestyles.

,n growth ur$an and su$ur$an areas% a dichotomy of development isemerging that features $oth larger dwellings on smaller allotments and)rural residential living* = $oth claiming lifestyle appeal. )Empty nesters* andageing communities continue to occupy large family homes and arereluctant to leave familiar neigh$ourhoods and valued services.


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There are a num$er of possi$le planning scenarios that could shape ourfuture cities. However% allowing cities to continue to plan without strategicforethought can only result in more dispersed cities characterised $yeconomic strati(cation% high infrastructure costs% and inequita$le access toand provision of pu$lic services. 7ossi$le planning designs include0

- The compact city which increases high density inner city living1

- The edge city which increase population density at selected outernodes and increases investment in pu$lic transport and freewaynetworks which interconnect these nodes1

- The corridor city which encourages growth along city arterials andretains the inner city as the central hu$ with upgraded pu$lictransport radial links1

- The fringe city which e4pands to develop new centres on the outer

regions of the city1 and

- The ultra city which stimulates $usiness centres in surroundingregional townships and provides high speed commuter linkages.

,ntegral to some of these possi$le designs are decentralised concentrationsof residential and commercial developments% or )ur$an hu$s*. ?r$an hu$stypically include a range of community and support facilities% recreationalservices% landscaping of pu$lic spaces and residential comple4es cateringfor family and professional needs.

-epending on the design of the development and the degree of planning%ur$an hu$s can $e designed for self'suciency in the management ofwaste% water collection and re'use% and energy generation. ,f areas ofdevelopments are focussed around transit


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+ow do we ensure that further urban e,pansion occurs as

planned co$$unity develop$ents&

re there dangers in developing decentralised cities with

$ultiple urban hubs and how do we address these issues&


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'hat co$$unity co$$ercial and biodiversity needs should be

addressed in developing new urban centres& SustainableCities 20251 Case S#udies

& sustaina$le and livea$le city will require sound ur$an planning% aDorda$leand sustaina$le $uildings% a reduction in car dependency% provision of ur$angreen


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03 4reen uilding ) SustainableCo$$ercial 6efurbish$ent

The 8: oce $uilding% completed in Septem$er 22% is located in Carlton%3el$ourne. ,t was developed $y the Green #uilding 7artnership and is a

prototype for &ustralia*s sustaina$le commercial $uilding sector. ,tsinnovative concept and design sets a high $ut economic and commerciallyachieva$le standard for others to follow.

,n contrast with conventional $uildings% the 8: Green #uilding has minimalenvironmental impact% and was $uilt for a cost similar to that of a less'sustaina$le commercial $uilding. ,ts design also guarantees signi(cantlylower running and tenancy costs.The pro+ect aimed to provide anenvironmentally healthy $uilding for its occupants and also to raiseawareness within the construction industry. &ccordingly% the pro+ectdeli$erately used mainstream architect and construction companies todemonstrate how achieva$le it is to design and fur$ish a sustaina$le inner'city commercial $uilding.

Economic re#urns

Construction and refur$ishment costs of the sustaina$le 8: Green #uildingare compara$le to the standard construction and refur$ishment costs.However% the 8: $uilding delivers signi(cant environmental $ene(ts%comfort and health $ene(ts to the $uilding occupants and signi(cantlyreduced running costs. ,n comparison to a conventional oce $uilding% the8: Green #uilding has0

I E4pected energy savings of over 8/F1

I Reduction in lighting costs of over JF1

I 6ver 8F reduction in equipment% ventilation% heating and coolingcosts1

I &ppro4imately ;F reduction in annual car$on dio4ide emissions1and

I KF savings in average annual mains water consumption.

hile some commercial $uildings incorporate particular energy eciency

features% 8: is unique in achieving high environmental standards andeciency in all areas of construction and operation. ,t also is unique inproviding a workplace largely free of to4ic emissions from furniture and(ttings.

Cons#ruc#ion ma#eria)s

&ppro4imately JF of the tim$er used in 8: is recycled. The remaining

2F is from plantation tim$er1

&ll $ricks used have $een recycled and cleaned without acid1

Reinforcing steel is from recycled sources1


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Galvanised steel has $een used in preference to stainless steel which

requires higher levels of energy in its production process1

7C use has $een reduced $y /F and wherever possi$le low to4ic

materials have $een used1 and

The concrete used has a 8F recycled component.

Carpets are made from recycled and low'to4ic materials.

Ener, Consump#ion and Genera#ion

8: ma4imises the use of thermal mass for heating and cooling. The$uildingLs computerised environmental management system automaticallyad+usts internal and e4ternal louvres to retain even temperatures.

The $uilding incorporates dou$le'glauorescent lights when required.

8: has rooftop photovoltaic arrays for electricity generation. &ny additionalenergy requirements are purchased through a green'power scheme. The useof em$odied energy in construction materials has $een oD'set $y purpose'speci(c tree planting in western ictoria.

-a#er Mana,emen#

8: uses KF less mains water than a similar conventional $uilding.

Rainwater is collected% micro'(ltered and ? sterilised for use within the$uilding. ater'ecient showers are (tted in the $uilding.

&ll waste water passes into an in'house $iological sewage treatment plantafter which it is used for toilet >ushing% the rooftop and internal gardens.E4cess water is discharged% as treated water% to the municipal sewage. Theresidual solid sewage waste is utilised on farms in western ictoria.

A)#erna#i.e Transpor# and Green Spaces

The workplace facilitates walking and cycling $y incorporating a $icyclestorage area% on'site showers and change rooms.

& rooftop garden has $een designed to enhance the aesthetics of the innercity and provide an outdoor space for employees. The garden uses nativeplants and is watered using on'site treated waste water.

2. Christie 'al- ) Sustainable +ousing#evelop$ent

Christie alk is a community housing development on a 2 square metre$lock of land in inner'city &delaide. ,t is $eing developed as a pilot pro+ectdemonstrating how communities can provide sustaina$le inner city living

through0


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ater and energy conservation1

3aterial reuse and recycling1 and

Shared landscaped areas and community spaces.

Stages ; and 2 of the pro+ect have $een completed and stage is underway.The pro+ect consists of ;! dwellings which include four linked three'storeytownhouses% a three storey $lock of si4 apartments% four stand'alonecottages and a )community house*. The land is owned $y the irranendidevelopment co'operative during construction and individual properties aresold on a community title. & range of dwelling types are represented in thepro+ect with diDering con(gurations% orientations and construction systemsto demonstrate the variations of environmental design to meet lifestyleschoices and climatic conditions.

Each purchaser owns their own dwelling and also shares ownership andresponsi$ility for the landscaped community areas. These areas include acommunity garden% and a )cohouse* Acommunity houseB with a kitchen%small general purpose hall and a laundry. To date% properties in thedevelopment have sold well.

Cons#ruc#ion Ma#eria)s

Tim$ers are plantation or recycled. Mloor decking is generally made from acompressed straw product% which is equivalent to particle $oard $utcontains no woodchips or formaldehyde. 7aving% carports and featureelements incorporate $ricks% stone% steel and tim$er retrieved from thedemolition of pre'e4isting structures on the site.

&ll concrete in sla$s and mass walls contains the ma4imum percentage of>yash permitted. Mlyash is a waste product from power stations and itsaddition reduces the amount of new cement used in the constructionAcement production is one of the largest single glo$al contri$utors togreenhouse gas emissionsB.

&ll (nishes% including paint and varnishes% are chosen on the $asis ofenvironmental and non'to4ic criteria.

Ener, Genera#ion and E/cienc

3ains electricity is drawn from the grid $ut photovoltaic panels generateelectricity for sale to the local energy utility. 6n completion it is e4pectedthat the site will $e a net energy e4porter for much of the year as the designand eciency of the dwellings means that energy requirement are minimal.

&ll dwellings have solar hot water and a shared system of $anked solarpanels. &ll new appliances have high energy eciency ratings1 companieswith a recycling program were favoured when specifying appliances.

Hea#in,0 Coo)in,0 1i,*#in, and Insu)a#ion

Each house works as a )thermal >ue* allowing controlled release of warm air

while drawing in (ltered% cooled air from the vegetated% landscapedsurroundings. indow placement and planned vegetation planting ensures


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that natural lighting is ma4imised. 3ost windows are dou$le'glaoor apartments.

The concrete sla$s provide su$stantial internal mass% particularly to thecottages and apartments. E4ternal and internal walls are made from either

an aerated concrete product or other materials which have high thermal andacoustic insulation properties. This places an additional thermal mass$etween the townhouses and also assists in noise reduction $etweendwellings.

The apartments use cross'ventilation and high thermal mass for cooling.Some ceiling fans are included to assist in maintaining air >ow on still days.However there are no heaters or air conditioners and the e4pectation is thatnone will $e needed to supplement the passive heating and cooling of thehouses.

-a#er Mana,emen#

&ll water shed $y the roofs% $alconies and other impervious surfaces iscollected for use on site. &fter (ltering% the water is used for irrigation andtoilet >ushing% reducing the total water importation to the site. &n onsitechlorine'free sewage treatment system is $eing purchased. Compostedsolids will $e taken to rural sites as fertiliser and the (ltered eNuentreturned to the second'class water supply through the on'site stormwatersystem.

Access and Green Spaces

The development is designed to take advantage of its inner'ur$an locationand ma4imise access to a range of pu$lic transport services. There is no

internal trac within the development and there is limited provision carparking.

6utdoor spaces encourage walking. :ow water use plantings favour nativespecies. Some e4otics have $een chosen where appropriate to suit passivedesign considerations.

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City of Vancouver A Sustainable Transort Strategy

?nlike many developed cities% ancouver has evolved a transportationsystem which is not dominated $y freeways. ,n the ;K/s and ;K8s% acommunity $ased movement fought and won its $attle to keep freeways out

of central and inner ancouver. Since developing alternative transportstrategies% Greater ancouver has had high levels of transit use with ;;Otrips per person in ;KK;% compared to 8 trips per person which is theaverage for a large &merican city.

The accessi$ility of the city and the continued a$sence of large freewaysand automo$ile'dominated transit routes have made ancouver a leadinge4ample of a sustaina$le transportation system.

S#ra#e,ies for a Sus#aina$)e Transpor# Ne#2or3

,n the past% ancouver faced similar population settlement trends to mostdeveloped cities. ,ncreasing num$ers of city dwellers increased the

geographical si


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,n con+unction with the development of a sustaina$le transport networkacross the city% ancouver has transformed the types of ur$andevelopments taking place. ancouver*s ?r$an Containment 7olicy%introduced in ;KK% designates certain land unavaila$le for ur$andevelopment. This policy also encourages development at regional centres%

$ased around the Skytrain network that ena$les walking and cycling withinstation precincts and provides good access to fast% frequent rail travel forlonger trips.

-evelopment has also $een concentrated on pu$licly owned vacant sites%land severely impacted $y the rail system% and land which is underutili

a us sustainable cities paper

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