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The Gas Substitution Roadmap (GSR) is guiding our state towards achieving net-zero emissions while offering more choices and lower energy bills. The Department of Transport and Planning is collaborating with the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action to put this roadmap into action. This roadmap is one part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting Victoria’s transition to clean energy as it lays out changes to planning and building regulations, including raising standards for new homes and commercial buildings by 2025. Phasing out new residential gas connections Starting January 1, 2024, new gas connections for new dwellings, apartment buildings, and residential subdivisions requiring planning permits are being phased out. This policy has been implemented through amendment VC250 to the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes in Victoria. Victoria builds over 50,000 new homes each year, with approximately 40,000 connecting to the gas network. Prohibiting new gas connections is crucial to prevent the growth of fossil gas use and emissions, as well as expensive gas infrastructure. The Victorian Government is taking bold steps to speed up the transition to renewable energy and has set ambitious emissions reduction targets. By 2035, the goal is to achieve a 75-80% reduction in emissions. In 2022-23, renewable sources accounted for 38% of Victoria’s electricity generation, highlighting the state’s commitment to a cleaner energy future. All-electric homes cost less to run and are more friendly. Amendment VC250 Amendment VC250 was gazetted on 1 January 2024 and introduces new requirements for the construction of new dwellings, apartments and residential subdivisions that require a planning permit through a new particular provision at clause 53.03. Clause 53.03 prevents a permit being granted to connect to reticulated natural gas when constructing a new dwelling, apartment development or subdividing land for residential purposes. The clause also requires a mandatory condition to be applied to a planning permit to construct a new dwelling, apartment development or subdivide land for residential purposes to ensure no gas connections can be constructed after the development is completed. The requirements only apply to the use of reticulated natural gas and do not apply to the use of bottled or reticulated Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). New and existing dwellings will still be able to connect to these gas sources. More information on Amendment VC250. What developments will the gas connection prohibition apply to? The gas connection prohibition only applies to a new planning permit application lodged on or after 1 January 2024 that is for the construction of a new dwelling, new apartment development or a new residential subdivision. Clause 53.03 defines what a new dwelling and new apartment development are for the purposes of this clause. New dwelling means: A new building, buildings, or part of a building, constructed to be used as a dwelling (other than a caretaker’s house) not including the alteration or extension of an existing dwelling. A new building, buildings, or part of a building, connected to an existing dwelling and constructed to be used as a separate dwelling (other than a caretaker’s house), provided the use does not incorporate any part of what was the gross floor area (excluding external or party walls) of the existing dwelling. A new outbuilding or swimming pool associated with an existing or proposed dwelling, provided it is not within the gross floor area (excluding external or party walls) of an existing dwelling. It does not include a new apartment development. New apartment development means: A new building, buildings, or part of a building, constructed to contain one or more apartments, whether or not any other use is provided for, but does not include the extension or alteration of, or the addition of new apartments to, an existing apartment development. What developments will the gas connection prohibition not apply to? The gas connection prohibition does not apply to the following applications: Any planning permit application lodged before 1 January 2024. A section 72 amendment to a permit if the original permit application was lodged before 1 January 2024. The gas connection prohibition does not apply to the following types of development: The construction of a new dwelling, outbuilding (such as a garage) or a swimming pool that does not require a planning permit. The extension or alteration of an existing dwelling or apartment, including the addition of new apartments to the development. The conversion of an existing outbuilding associated with a dwelling (such as a garage) into a new dwelling. The construction of a second dwelling on a lot if it is partially or fully located within the gross floor area of the existing dwelling. The laying of gas infrastructure through easements on lots that contain existing dwellings or are to be used for a new dwelling. If you are unsure whether your proposed development is affected, please contact your local council. Gas connections in new residential subdivisions The gas connection prohibition applies to lots within new residential subdivision permit applications lodged on or after 1 January 2024. Affected lots will contain a mandatory condition that will prohibit a new dwelling connecting to reticulated natural gas on that lot. This will apply whether the construction of that dwelling requires a planning permit or not. Development for any other land use on those lots will be permitted to connect to gas. The mandatory condition does not affect lots that contain an existing dwelling or apartment. It also does not affect a lot where a permit has been granted for a dwelling or apartment on the land in the lot. For staged subdivisions, if the original permit application is lodged before 1 January 2024, all stages within that subdivision are exempt from the gas connection prohibition, even if future stages are endorsed after this date. The approval of a Precinct Structure Plan is not a planning permission for subdivision of land into individual lots. The gas connection ban will apply to planning permit applications for the subdivision of land lodged on or after 1 January 2024. Small second dwellings On 14 December 2023, Amendment VC253 introduced a new …

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NCC 2022 was adopted by states and territories on 1 May 2023. Victoria has now formally introduced  transitional arrangements in the Building Regulations 2018 for the following provisions: – 1 May 2024 – New livable housing requirements.– 1 May 2024 – Updated energy efficiency and condensation mitigation requirements. The transitional arrangements will allow practitioners to continue using the relevant provisions of NCC 2019 until the end of the relevant transition period. Other amendments to the Building Regulations 2018 include adopting the latest versions of standards for fire sprinklers and removing duplication of bushfire protection requirements between the Regulations and NCC 2022. For more detail, please visit legislative and regulatory amendments. The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Australia, including plumbing and drainage work. It sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of certain buildings. Volume One: relates to Class 2 to 9 buildings. Volume Two: relates to Class 1 and 10 buildings. Volume Three: relates to plumbing and drainage work associated with all classes of buildings (see Plumbing Codes and Standards for more information). The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) released NCC 2022 on 1 October 2022 to allow industry time to adjust to the new requirements and structure prior to it becoming mandatory. PDFs of all volumes are available for download. Printed copies will also become available for purchase from the ABCB’s commercial providers . Energy efficiency and condensation mitigation requirements The ABCB has updated the NCC to strengthen minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of new homes. The new energy efficiency and condensation mitigation requirements will commence in Victoria on 1 May 2024. The changes will make homes cheaper to run, more comfortable to live in and more resilient to extreme weather. Victoria will also remove barriers to installation of efficient electric hot water systems, helping households to capture further benefits from investing in solar panels, and supporting those who choose all-electric new homes. Learn more about 7 star energy efficiency building standards by heading to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) energy website. Learn more by accessing updated energy efficiency Practice Notes. Livable housing design requirements NCC 2022 includes new requirements for livable housing design. These new provisions will improve the suitability of new Australian homes for people with mobility constraints. The Livable Housing Standard is a significant advance in providing more housing options for people with physical disabilities and older Australians and will apply to new houses and apartments. Head to the ABCB website to learn more about these changes. ABCB NCC 2022 education resources Access the Code in full through the ABCB website, as well as useful handbooks and guidance materials. ABCB are also providing a series of articles that give an overview of some of the key changes and new requirements that may impact your work.

The Victorian Government has made it easier to build a small second home in residential and rural areas across Victoria – giving families more housing choice and boosting housing supply. To make it easier to build a small second home, otherwise known as a small second dwelling, the Victoria Planning Provisions, all planning schemes and the Building Regulations have changed. Some of the key features of a small second home include: Floor area equal to or less than 60 square meters Sited on the same lot as an existing dwelling One small second dwelling per lot, however there may be more than one and this would be subject to a planning permit Is self-contained, i.e. has a kitchen, bathroom, toilet and laundry facilities No carparking required Anyone can live in it or rent it out Cannot be subdivided from the primary dwelling Cannot be connected to reticulated gas Meets siting requirements, including minimum garden area Can be attached, detached or a conversion Must have an access path from the front street In most cases, a small second dwelling will not require a planning permit; however, a building permit is always required. To support these changes, an updated Minister’s Guideline (MG-12): Siting and Design of Single Dwellings was published on the VBA website on 14 December 2023. For more information, including an applicant’s guide and details about the planning and building framework, visit the Department of Transport & Planning’s website.