Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and AECOM recently launched a new guide for local governments designed to support the development of liveable, prosperous and sustainable communities.

The Green Star – Communities Guide for Local Government was launched at the Green Cities 2014 conference in Melbourne.

The guide explains how councils can use the Green Star – Communities national framework and the Green Star – Communities rating tool to achieve better economic, social and environmental outcomes across the built environment.

According to GBCA’s Chief Operating Officer, Robin Mellon, the way communities are planned, designed and built has an enormous impact on their economy, wellbeing and environment.

Mr Mellon explains that local governments across Australia will play an integral role in implementing and administering the planning controls, policies and programs; the new guide can help local governments to achieve the best outcomes – both now and for future generations.

GBCA member organisation AECOM collaborated with the GBCA to develop the guide.

AECOM Associate Director, Design + Planning, Roger Swinbourne comments that local governments are on the frontline in delivering positive, sustainable change in the communities. The guide provides insights into how local government and industry can collaborate around Green Star – Communities to deliver more effective planning and sustainability outcomes. 

He adds that the guide aligns with AECOM’s appreciation of the challenge of driving more sustainable cities – a challenge that requires effective collaboration and partnership between government, private sector and the community to deliver a more sustainable future.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle says that the Green Star – Communities rating tool and guide ‘gives councils the knowledge, resources and benchmarks they need to make sustainability central to what they do.

The Green Star – Communities Guide for Local Government can be downloaded from the GBCA website