RICS Oceania has provided a submission to the Queensland Government’s Improving Sustainable Housing in Queensland Discussion Paper.

The Discussion Paper was launched in June and proposes measures to reduce the environmental impact of Queensland homes.  The Government’s measures are designed to encourage home owners to use less water and energy. 

The RICS submission was informed by representative views of Australian RICS members through the RICS Oceania Sustainable Steering Group and by research undertaken by RICS internationally. 

In addition to our views provided on the standard response form, see appendix A available from the right hand column, RICS also wishes to provide comments on 4 points, in brief these are below. The full submission can be downloaded from the right hand column.

1. RICS strongly support the initiatives to improve housing design and implementation of sustainable fixtures and fittings with new and existing dwellings. However, we believe that the Queensland Government must also be cognisant of the very low level of housing affordability within many areas in the state.

2. RICS has some concern with the proposed changes relates to the phase out of electrical water heating. We agree that this is a very sustainable proposal; however we do have concerns regarding its implementation particularly for low and middle income households.

3. RICS would welcome the openness that a sustainability declaration would bring, but would recommend that it is mandated that these declarations are provided rather than on a voluntary basis.

4. RICS is developing a program of international research which explores the ways in which communities can move towards a low carbon built environment which may further inform the work of the Queensland Government. This research explores the financial, technical and regulatory aspects of this challenge and examines this both from the viewpoints of mature economies and more developing nations.