A new building design tool launched by the NSW Deputy Premier today has the potential to cut red tape while driving better environmental outcomes according to the Property Council of Australia.
The Property Council’s NSW director policy and government relations, Ken Morrison, said the BASIX planning tool would make it simpler for developers to deliver homes with better environmental performance.
"this is a much simpler and far more effective way of ensuring our next generation of homes are more environmentally friendly," Mr Morrison said.
"We hope BASIX will replace the vast array of local development control plans emerging all over the state," Mr Morrison said.
"This will mean less duplication of effort for local government and a consistent environmental ask for the property industry."
Mr Morrison said much of our current environmental planning controls, while well intentioned, often did not focus on areas where the greatest environmental gains can be made.
"Why focus on high tech solutions if basic things like building orientation, heating systems, shower head types give a bigger environmental bang for your buck.
"BASIX is based on science not guesswork, and will let developers decide what is the best way for them to meet the environmental targets the community sets."
The Property Council will be urging the NSW Government to allow councils to offer incentives to meet higher levels of environmental performance.
"If a particular council wants to encourage environmental best practice, then it should offer incentives like extra density to achieve it.
"Governments and councils need to use the carrot as well as the stick to ensure the industry delivers greener buildings."
The Property Council will be working closely with the NSW Government while BASIX is in its consultation phase to ensure it becomes the simple, effective tool it is intended to be.
