Moreland councillor Dale Martin to propose using all new roofs for solar power or as green space

A GREENS councillor in Melbourne’s northwest wants to make sure all new buildings use their roof space to either save or produce power.

Moreland councillor Dale Martin wants to make more use of roof space. Picture: Ellen Smith

DALE Martin’s “magnificent” dream of looking out over Moreland filled with useful roofs could become a reality following a proposed motion.

At tonight’s council meeting, the North-West Ward councillor will call for a report from council officers into implementing an amendment to the planning scheme mandating that 15 per cent of roof space on new buildings in Moreland be used for either green space or solar panels.

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If it is passed by the council, a future recommendation would be sent to the state Planning Minister Richard Wynne for approval.

Cr Martin said he had conducted a Facebook poll on the idea and received a 94 per cent approval vote. He said it would result in more power being fed back into the grid or using plants to lower the heat island effect.

“I would love to go up to the tallest building in Moreland and look out and just see green roofs and (solar panels) across the entire city, that would be magnificent,” Cr Martin said. “You can either generate power or you can save power by these treatments to your roof that you aren’t currently doing.”

RMIT sustainability and urban planning senior lecturer Dr Susie Moloney said the idea proved the council was among the leaders in sustainable planning.

“We want to normalise this in buildings and cities so that people expect this in their buildings,” she said.

“In the bigger context of rising energy prices, distributed energy is the future and that is reflected in the trend of solar.”

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