**The position of retrofitting in terms of the action groups may better fit/has fitted in the past with Renewable Energy Benalla under the 'Reduce 1/3 goal'.

Ecologically Sustainable Development may be a consideration in Planning Developments however it appears not be a major factor in Planning Subdivisions.  We see this by the absence of passive orientation in Subdivisions.

Our group has yet to have a formal meeting however we have had email contact regarding goals and actions.  One of our members with planning experience is away now and we hope to meet on his return.  Another member has alerted us to the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework which is an initiative of the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE).
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At the Council Office on Wednesday July 27, I met Bronwyn Chapman and the Environmental Sustainability Officer Nathan Gasperoni.  We discussed the new BSFG Review groups.  As for our group Bronwyn thought the current Planning Scheme enabled developers to consider and incorporate passive design in new subdivisions.  She also felt there may be an opportunity to have a Briefing for Developers about sustainable subdivisions.  This could be a joint briefing with BSFG and with Council funding.  We also briefly discussed Retrofits and Council may have looked at retrofitting buildings and have a tool, Combat, which might be of interest to us.

I mentioned my interest in Council emissions following the BSFG Climate Emergency Petition presentation to Council on Wednesday September 29th, 2021.  At the meeting Council was to have available an emissions report ready for the review of the Climate Adaptation Strategy which is now due.  I recently found that Council have been involved in evaluating Emissions Assessment tools with Strathbogie, Indigo and Towong Shire Councils.  Bronwyn suggested I write to the Council asking for a Council emissions report.

Bronwyn suggested a way for BSFG to work with Council could be to have regular meetings with her and Nathan.  Council funding could also be available for BSFG projects however these could only be considered for the 2023 Council Budget.  There are also the annual Community Grants and the monthly Sponsorship Grants to support BSFG activities,  https://www.benalla.vic.gov.au/Your-Community/Annual-Grants-Program.

Bronwyn also suggested BSFG report to Council regularly about BSFG activities, such as the recent well attended Landlords Solar Forum.


Peter Maddock

Peter and Trish, members of the new Ecological Sustainable Planning, Development and Retrofits action group completed this training recently!