Advocacy

CASBE advocates on behalf of its member councils for stronger sustainability outcomes in the built environment across Victoria. We provide a unified local government voice in policy discussions around sustainability, helping guide scale appropriate environmentally sustainable design (ESD) through evidence-based submissions, strategic partnerships, and collaborative research.

We work across government and industry to:

Represent local government perspectives in planning and building reform
Contribute to state and national policy consultations
Support research into transition pathways for sustainable buildings
Promote best practice through case studies and shared knowledge
Collaborate with industry bodies to align policy and practice

A resilient built environment for Victoria

CASBE Position paper – A resilient built environment for Victoria – 3 advocacy positions for the 2026 State Election from the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment

On 3 August 2026, CASBE released its position paper – Resilient Built Environment for Victoria. Developed in collaboration with member councils, this paper sets out 3 positions to inform our advocacy in the 2026 state election year. It highlights key opportunities to strengthen resilience and affordability across Victoria’s built environment.

The paper outlines 3 key positions:

Resilient homes and buildings – Strengthen resilient design standards in the Victoria Planning Provisions for all residential and non-residential buildings.

Resilient subdivisions – Update state subdivision planning provisions to include mandatory resilience standards for new communities.

Up front climate risk information – Require climate risk assessments for major developments, based on the latest climate data and supported by digital planning tools.

The paper calls for strong planning policy to deliver long term resilience in Victoria’s built environment, to ensure that buildings are designed to withstand future climate risks in a cost effective and sustainable way.

CASBE invites stakeholders to explore the paper and engage with local government partners in shaping a more resilient built environment for Victoria.

CASBE 2026 Position Paper – A Resilient Built Environment for Victoria