When do you need a Green Travel Plan?

Short answer: with the SMP, for bigger jobs.

A Green Travel Plan outlines strategies, targets and actions that aim to reduce single-occupancy car trips. Councils usually ask for one in their Environmentally Sustainable Development policy, alongside a Sustainability Management Plan.

When councils ask for one.

Yarra, Darebin and Monash

Their ESD policies ask for an SMP and a Green Travel Plan for 10 or more dwellings, or a non-residential building of more than 1,000 m2.

Kingston

10 or more dwellings, or a non-residential building of more than 2,499 m2.

Other councils set their own figures. See when you need an SDA or SMP.

What goes in it.

Darebin's transport fact sheet describes a Green Travel Plan as a suite of onsite initiatives and offsite services. Depending on the development, it should highlight:

• Parking for bicycles, motorbikes, small cars, electric cars and onsite or nearby car share.
• End-of-trip facilities for staff: showers and personal lockers.
• Bicycle and walking maps.
• Nearby public transport stops and timetables.
• Free or subsidised public transport tickets through the employer or owners corporation.
• Nearby recreation areas.
• An organisation's car-pooling scheme.

Darebin also notes the council may consider reducing minimum car parking where a Green Travel Plan is in place with bike parking and car share provided.

Clause 52.34: the bicycle numbers.

Clause 52.34 of the Victoria Planning Provisions sets the minimum bicycle facilities for listed uses. A few examples from Table 1:

• Dwellings: in developments of four or more storeys, 1 resident space to each 5 dwellings and 1 visitor space to each 10 dwellings.
• Office: where net floor area exceeds 1,000 m2, 1 employee space to each 300 m2 and 1 visitor space to each 1,000 m2.
• Industry: 1 employee space to each 1,000 m2 of net floor area.

If 5 or more employee spaces are required, add 1 shower for the first 5 and 1 to each 10 after that, and 1 change room or access to a communal one for each shower. Employee and resident spaces go in a locker or a lockable compound; visitor spaces at a rail.

A permit can vary, reduce or waive these requirements. Darebin's fact sheet treats the clause figures as absolute minimums, not a sustainable transport solution on their own.

Sources: planning schemes of Yarra, Darebin, Monash and Kingston; Victoria Planning Provisions Clause 52.34; Whitehorse City Council; Darebin City Council transport fact sheet. General information, not an assessment of any particular site.

Common questions