In the most ambitious community consultation project ever undertaken by Melbourne City Council, The Future Melbourne plan aims to make Melbourne one of the world’s most sustainable cities.

Chair of the Future Melbourne Planning Committee Councillor Catherine Ng said that Future Melbourne is Melbourne’s long term plan for the future direction of all aspects of city life. Developed by the community, the draft plan aims to build on Melbourne’s liveability and see the city become one of the world’s top ten most sustainable cities. The plan sets out the goals for the future, key trends and challenges, and outlines strategic growth areas for the city.

A major pillar of the six goal plan is to develop Melbourne into an eco-city that will achieve zero net emissions, manage climate change risks and lead the way in sustainable water management. The Future Melbourne plan sets out five primary goals to become an eco-city.

Becoming a zero net emissions city

To become an eco-city Melbourne will need to eliminate all of its greenhouse gas emissions. The short term target is to reduce total emissions across the municipality by 59 per cent per worker and 35 per cent per resident by 2020 (from 2006 levels). To achieve zero net emissions, the Council has identified the following key steps:

* Better data is to be collected on the performance of inner and central city residences. * All new buildings are to be energy efficient and existing buildings will be retrofitted with more energy efficient heating, cooling, lighting, equipment and appliances. 70 per cent of existing commercial building stock in Melbourne city has been retrofitted. * Reduce greenhouse gas emission by changing from unsustainable transport modes such as cars to public transport, bicycles and walking. * Emissions will be reduced by pumping the CO2 underground (geosequestration) and entire neighbourhoods will be redesigned to reduce net energy demands and to generate energy on-site. * Changes to food production, processing and consumption patterns to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Adapting for climate change

A major part of the eco-city plan is adapting to climate change. The plan emphasises the importance of better understanding the city’s dependence on resource-based industries, the capacity of its infrastructure and the needs of the population.

The management of water shortages and flooding will be improved through stormwater harvesting. There are also plans to ensure that buildings and infrastructure can mitigate the impacts of climate change. In addition, the city will use cooling from parks and rooftop gardens to deliver eco-system cooling services as well as conduct passive shading to reduce the impact of heat stress.

To effectively adapt to climate change, the Council will:

* Manage risk to the municipality from climate change * Establish Melbourne as a world leader in climate change adaptation research * Create innovation climate adaptation solutions tailored specifically to the city.

A resource efficient city

Through partnerships with various private and public groups and organisations, Melbourne plans to become a resource and material-efficient city.

Melbourne City Council will promote the use of backyard and rooftop vegetable gardens as well as encourage greater waste reduction, re-use and recycling. The Council will also incorporate waste management facilities to assist the public to reduce waste sent to landfill.

To achieve resource efficiency, Melbourne needs to:

* Reduce household waste in the city * Reduce commercial waste in the municipality * Develop a municipal ecological footprint and target * Develop and implement a more economic and efficient waste collection and processing system.

A dense urban centre

Due to the city’s low-density, the Council has identified a need to focus on sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling. Moreover, new urban growth should be focused around existing and proposed rail stations and tram routes.

The production, distribution and consumption of locally and regionally grown food is another initiative to improve the city’s sustainability is developing. The number of people living in the city will also be increased from 42 to 65 per cent.

The city as a catchment

The ‘city as a catchment’ philosophy helps to determine the flow and amount of water moving through the municipality and the pollutants that are carried with these flows. The program aims to reduce residential and office water consumption as well as the pollution entering the city’s waterways.

Making Melbourne’s eco-future

Councillor Ng is optimistic about the Future Melbourne plan and achieving its stated goals.

“Melbourne is dynamic; it thrives on its diversity and innovation, but we must also have a solid plan for the future because it’s what we do now that determines how well future generations here will live,” Councillor Ng said.

“Although the plan may not be fully realised until after 2020, we will be laying solid foundations for becoming one of the top ten most liveable and sustainable cities in the world by focusing on our targets.”

After 13 months of extensive consultation, participation and collaboration Melbourne’s community has handed over the draft Future Melbourne community plan to the Council for consideration.