We're reviewing our Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy to deliver improved sustainability outcomes in Council-owned buildings and assets.

This review aims to improve the existing Sustainable Infrastructure Policy, and will set clear expectations for Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) to be integrated into Council’s building and infrastructure projects.

The Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy applies to the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal of Council owned and managed buildings, roads, drainage, and open space assets, and Council owned assets which are managed by lessees and licensees.

The revised policy seeks to reflect current best practice in ESD. Council will ensure the financial costs of implementing ESD initiatives and the benefits of reduced operating costs and carbon offsets are integrated into long-term renewal forecasting, respective asset management plans and associated operational and capital budgets. This will include progressively increasing the cost allowance for ESD initiatives in new projects.

We want your feedback on Council’s proposed Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy to help guide our efforts to deliver better buildings and assets.

What you told us

Read community feedback on the proposed Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy.

Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) refers to the design, construction, and operational practices of buildings and infrastructure that optimise environmental and social outcomes.

Buildings produce 20% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions through energy use during operation.

What's more, the construction of buildings, including demolition waste, contributes 40% of all the materials sent to landfill. Buildings also use large amounts of mains water in operation for non-drinking purposes.

ESD is a key priority in the development of today's built environment. The sustainable design of Bayside's assets and infrastructure protects our environment and future-proofs our community buildings and infrastructure against rising energy, water, and waste disposal costs.

You can read more about ESD and sustainable design standards on our website.

Key policy objectives

  • Timeline item 1 - active

    1. Establish a consistent approach to best practice ESD for the design, constructionand disposal of all Council owned and managed buildings and infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and improve climate resilience.

  • Timeline item 2 - active

    2. Set clear expectations for ESD to be integrated into the operation of buildings and infrastructure and new lease and licence agreements.

  • Timeline item 3 - active

    3. Support Council’s commitments to achieve our environmental sustainability targets and to maintain our status as a ‘carbon neutral’ organisation.

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    4. Ensure upfront project costs to incorporate ESD requirements are viewed as an investment that will return financial savings and other co-benefits over the life of the asset.

  • Read the policy

    Council adopted the Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy at the March 2022 Council Meeting.

    Read the Policy  

  • Feedback now closed

    Feedback on the draft Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy closed on Thursday 14 October 2021. Community feedback will be considered at the 23 November Council meeting.


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Julian Donlen

Coordinator Environmental Sustainability

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