Perth Waterfront Project - Climate Change Implications

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Thursday, 17 February 2011]
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Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Helen Morton

PERTH WATERFRONT PROJECT — CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:

(1) In drawing up the plans for Perth’s city waterfront, how has the government taken into account the
assumed mean sea level rise of 0.9 metres by 2110, which will be factored into the revised state
planning policy 2.67?

(2) How has the government taken into account the predicted climate change-related increase in storm
surges?

(3) Will all structures in the development be required to meet high energy efficiency standards?

(4) What energy efficiency star rating will the buildings be required to meet?

(5) Will the development showcase sustainable building and urban design principles; and, if so, how?

Hon HELEN MORTON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question.

(1) The Perth waterfront has been designed to comply with “Western Australian Planning Commission:
Statement of Planning Policy No. 2.6: State Coastal Planning Policy” and the WAPC position statement
released in 2010, which deals with the increased allowance for a sea level rise of 0.9 metres.

(2) Buildings will be constructed above predicted storm surge levels. Some areas of the public promenade
will be constructed at lower levels, but designed to accommodate flooding in extreme storm events.

(3) Yes.

(4) Buildings will be required to achieve minimum green-star rating. The required rating level will be
determined prior to land being released to the market.

(5) In addition to the minimum green-star rating for buildings, the project will also explore opportunities
for water-sensitive urban design, such as harvesting and reuse, reduced potable water consumption and
on-site catchment and treatment of stormwater; and decentralised energy systems, such as cogeneration
and trigeneration.