More and more Victorian based councils are leading the way in promoting sustainable residential development by adopting the use of STEPS as the preferred method of environmentally sustainability assessment.  The tool is used to assess residential planning applications to set clear environmental performance targets for residential development. 

STEPS awards scores for the five most critical elements in constructing environmentally sustainable dwellings. These are:
• Greenhouse emissions from operating energy
• Peak energy use
• Mains (drinking) water use
• Stormwater quality impacts
• Building materials impacts.

The program also calculates the number of bicycle places required and the area need to provide for waste recycling services.

When submitting a planning aplication, a copy of the STEPS Report and a copy of each of the environmental modules completed in the tool is submitted with the planning appliation documentation.

Current participating councils are:
Moreland City Council, City of Darebin, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, Hobsons Bay City Council, Knox City Council, Maribyrnong City Council and Nillumbik City Council.

More information can be found on the Moreland City Council website http://www.morelandsteps.com.au