Marrickville and Dulwich Hill Centres Low Carbon Precinct Study
Inner West Council aims to be recognised for its leadership on sustainability and tackling climate change. It is committed to placing climate at the centre of decisions and is targeting a 75% reduction in the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2036 and net zero by 2050.
What is a low carbon precinct? In the Inner West, electricity use and transport are responsible for 85% of greenhouse gas emissions. Small urban areas or “precincts” like Dulwich Hill and Marrickville centres offer a useful scale to implement measures to address climate change. In “low carbon precincts”, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by: • • • • • •
Designing buildings that are more sustainable and use less energy e.g. through passive design Using renewable sources of energy such as solar Making it easier to travel by walking, cycling and using public transport Reducing private vehicle use Generating less waste and recovering resources Establishing canopy cover and green roofs to provide natural cooling
Study Area - Marrickville and Dulwich Hill Centres
Marrickville Library and Pavilion
Purpose Buildings are responsible for 25% of Australia’s carbon emissions through their construction and operation. The study focused on the development of buildings under six storeys for the purposes of: • • •
residential flat buildings mixed-use commercial and residential buildings major refurbishments, where at least half of the building is being changed
Council will base its recommendations for developments of six storeys and above on those developed for the City of Sydney in 2021.
Marrickville Road
The study investigated solutions to reduce emissions in these types of developments in the study area through energy efficiency, rooftop solar, transport, green infrastructure (trees and green roofs), waste, and construction materials. The study used: • • • • •
Environmental modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from each building type Identification of specific carbon reduction initiatives and their impact on emissions each year to 2050 Best practice case studies Cost-benefit analysis and scenario testing Stakeholder feedback
Building Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Construction Materials
Transport
Waste
Green Infrastructure
Findings The results of the study show it is possible to achieve a 51-56% reduction in emissions from developments under six storeys in these areas by 2036 and 65-82% by 2050, through changes to current planning controls. The proposed controls would make a significant contribution to Council’s climate targets. The combined impact of all developments planned in the study area, if the recommendations are adopted, would also have a positive economic benefit of $30.6 million.
Greenhouse gas emission results Emissions (kg CO2-e/m2)
120
Five storey residential developments
Three storey mixed-use developments
100 80
34%
26% reduction
60
51% 54%
40 20 0
65% 82%
Precinct Emissions Base Case
Preferred Scenario (2021)
Preferred Scenario (2036)
Buildings Energy Use
Preferred Scenario (2050)
Precinct Emissions Base Case
Transport
Preferred Scenario (2021)
Preferred Scenario (2036)
Preferred Scenario (2050)
Waste
Key recommendations The study recommends that an incentives-based approach is used, tying floor space ratio and height of building to low carbon outcomes. Specific controls are recommended for the Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan to achieve this. They are designed to be feasible, sustainable and compatible with the existing character of the areas. The Local Environment Plan would require that to be eligible for increased height and floor space ratios in the study area, residential flat buildings, mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, and major refurbishments must include: • • • • •
Minimum provisions for bike parking e.g. one per apartment to encourage active transport Maximum parking rates (rather than minimum) to discourage private car use EV charging for 20% of residential car spaces and the infrastructure to enable the future installation of EV charging equipment for all car parking spaces Construction with lower carbon building materials Higher energy performance through one of the following pathways:
1. Improved energy scores for flat buildings, and maximum energy use of 20kWh/m2 per year for commercial areas 2. Compliance with a number of specific requirements such as solar PV, 7 star NatHERS score, full electrification, increased lift efficiency, motion sensor LED lighting, ceiling fans, highly efficient ventilation, heating and air conditioning and minimum tree canopy
Development Plan controls are also recommended, including Green Travel Plans, through-site links to connect areas and make them more walkable, and more detailed requirements for low carbon construction materials.