funding · Woollahra Municipal Council
Woollahra votes down green-building incentives report, 8-6
A proposed December 2026 report would have examined incentives for green and recycled materials, up-cycled design and prefabricated or modular construction across the local government area.
Woollahra councillors have voted 8-6 against commissioning a report on incentives for green and recycled materials, up-cycled design and prefabricated or modular construction. The proposal was due to return by December 2026 and would have applied across the Woollahra local government area.
The motion was moved by Cr James Ardouin and Cr Mary-Lou Jarvis. It asked the general manager to detail steps and costs for encouraging the construction approaches.
The proposed incentives would have excluded floor-space-ratio and height bonuses. The motion did not specify a financial program or other planning mechanism, leaving those options for the proposed report to examine.
Cr Ardouin, Cr Sean Carmichael, Cr Lucinda Regan, Cr Julian Parmegiani, Cr Torsten Merrill and Cr Hugh Woodgate voted for the motion. Mayor Sarah Dixson and Cr Alexander Andruska, Cr Jeanette Mitchell, Cr Harriet Price, Cr Mark Silcocks, Cr Witt and Cr Toni Zeltzer voted against it.
The failed motion does not create a December 2026 deadline for council staff to report on green-design incentives. No incentive scheme was adopted at the meeting.
The proposal was one of several housing-related motions considered on 22 June. Councillors also voted down a separate motion seeking a report on actions and costs to reduce construction costs, including streamlining development approvals, reviewing weekend construction controls and exploring changes involving construction insurance, labour supply and regional advocacy.
That housing motion also included proposed advocacy on compulsory acquisition for housing supply or enabling infrastructure, and changes to the draft Affordable Housing Policy 2026 involving recoverable contributions for affordable housing development. It was lost separately from the green-design incentives motion.
Council adopted its 2026-27 operational plan and budget and its Long Term Financial Plan for 2026-27 to 2035-36 at the same meeting. The plans were a separate decision from the proposal on construction materials and methods.
Reference minutes
This report covers Woollahra Municipal Council's Ordinary Council Meeting of 22 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Woollahra Council voted 8-6 against the green-design incentives motion on 22 June 2026.
- The proposal sought a report by December 2026 on steps and costs to encourage green and recycled materials, up-cycled design and prefabricated or modular construction.
- The proposed incentives would have excluded floor-space-ratio and height bonuses.
- The motion was moved by Cr James Ardouin and Cr Mary-Lou Jarvis.
- No green-design incentive scheme or related development-control change was adopted.
Why it matters
- Woollahra Council will not prepare the proposed report on incentives for lower-impact construction, so no council-backed financial or planning incentive was created for green and recycled materials, up-cycled design or prefabricated or modular construction.