The current commitment by government to provide truly eco
communities is very limited. However, some advances have been
made in new subdivisions and some successes have started to be
experienced. This has mainly occurred at the early stages of
land development and the provision of sustainability objectives to
developers.
Prior to the release of government land structure plan,
desirable subdivision models and deign guidelines for builders need
to be created to ensure that the final built environment outcomes
are in the public interest and sustainability outcomes are the
result.
Prudent master planning after proper evaluation of the precinct
ground water, soil conditions and ecology constraints is the
obvious first step.
Master planning should deliver energy efficient buildings
configured to reduce green house gas emissions in the manufacturing
and construction phases of the project.
Passive solar design principles are often overlooked by planners
who are not fully conversant on how this can be achieved and thus
have a significant effect on the final results. Sun access,
summer shading strategies, natural breeze paths, natural landscape
regimes as well as shade, shelter and amenity for the pedestrian
and decongested traffic planning all play a part in creating a
sustainable neighbourhood.
It is a complex issue but great results can be achieved so there
is an economic win for a community as well as enhance the native
ecology of the area. Conventional developments instituting
'business as usual' policies and techniques are simply not working
to abate or deal with Climate Change.