New Rating for Sustainable Communities

A new national rating tool designed to drive better planned, better designed and more
sustainable communities has been welcomed by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA).
The rating will encourage the delivery of neighbourhoods, precincts and communities
that prioritise environmental sustainability.

PIA President Dyan Currie said the new independent national rating is an innovative
idea that will encourage better planned communities.

“This rating will become cherished by community developments in the future as it’s
awarded to projects that tick the environmental sustainability boxes,” Ms Currie said.

“To receive this rating, community planning and design projects will have to meet certain
criteria in water and energy saving and reduction in the dependence on motor vehicles.
It’s a great incentive for the industry”.

The rating called ‘Green Star – Communities’ was released today by the Green Building
Council of Australia (GBCA).

The rating tool was created after the cooperation of industry and all levels of
government. It will benchmark community developments against a number of categories
including design, innovation, economic prosperity and liveability.

Dyan Currie said PIA has always supported the ongoing assessment of planning and
development projects and said the ‘Green Star – Communities’ rating will certainly be
followed by others.

“Around the world there are trends towards this approach to building and construction.
Having a rating standard such as this gives everyone the opportunity to strive for the
same goals of excellence.

“Anything that improves the standard of planning and building in Australia should be
welcomed by everyone in the community.

“I congratulate the Green Building Council of Australia for putting this together and look
forward to its implementation in the industry.”

‘Green Star – Communities’ will be officially launched on Wednesday June 27 at the Built
Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) conference in Canberra by Minister for
Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese.

PIA is a partner in the 2012 BEMP summit which will include a keynote address by
researcher and author Dr Rebecca Huntly.

Speakers will include industry leaders in the planning, design, development and
environment fields including PIA CEO Kirsty Kelly.
Planning Institute Australia