The ACT's new planning system - which starts today - has missed its opportunity to meet the challenge of climate change, Greens MLA Deb Foskey says.
Dr Foskey said the government could have included more sustainable design regulations, but failed to take their chance.
"This was an
opportunity to raise the bar on making our buildings and suburbs more
energy efficient and climate friendly," she said.
"Unfortunately, the ACT government has made little progress in this
direction. I would like to see the... government committing to regulating for
green building. Unfortunately, we appear to be going backwards."
"Stationary energy use is our biggest contribution to greenhouse gases,
and in a climate like ours with extremes of heat and cold, our energy
use will grow if we don't act to curb it now."
"For new homebuilders, this means regulations."
The new Territory Plan allows overshadowing of existing houses by new ones if it allows for a minimum of three hours of sunlight in adjacent living areas, but Dr Foskey said that rule alone would make it hard to install solar hot water systems or benefit from solar feed-in tariffs.
"Canberra led the world in embracing Earth Hour on the weekend," the Greens MLA said.
"Let's use it as a step off point for a stronger ACT climate change
strategy and better building design, so we can make a difference all
year round." |