BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY INDEX (BASIX)

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BASIX

PEACE OF MIND THAT YOUR DEVELOPMENTS ARE SUSTAINABLE

The Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) was introduced in 2004 as part of the New South Wales Government’s Environmental Planning & Assessment Act. It’s a measurement that ensures a new development can meet the State targets of a 40% reduction in water consumption and a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases.

As such, as part of the Development Application process, any new development must be assessed under this Index and receive BASIX approval that confirms your new project meets the Government’s sustainability targets.

For your new build, this covers critical criteria such as:

The size of your building
The location of your building
Your building’s orientation
The construction category under which your building falls
The type and size of windows on your building
The landscaping surrounding the building
Energy ratings
Water recycling measures

At CIVAC, we make it easy for you to achieve your new building’s BASIX approval. All you need to do is get in touch with our Town Planners, and we manage the process for you.

Here’s how it works.

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HOW OUR PROCESS WORKS

1 UNDERSTANDING YOUR BASIX PROCESS 2 STARTING THE PROCESS 3 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING 4 APPLICATION LODGEMENT

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BASIX PROCESS

Can I prepare my BASIX information myself?

BASIX approval can be achieved online using the Government’s BASIX tool. This provides developers with both a DIY option and Simulation option to undertake BASIX approval for their project.

However, obtaining BASIX approval requires you to have all the necessary environment and physical data from your project plans at hand in order to add it to the tool. So it’s important to be prepared, and have all the prep work completed first.

For the DIY option, there are some requirements your development must meet in order to undertake this BASIX application yourself. Your building:

Must feature a floor area no more than 300 square metres in size
Must be either single or double storey
Must not include any open mezzanine areas greater than 25 square metres
Must not feature glazing any greater than 10% – 40% of your floor area
Must not include more than 40 windows or glazed doors
If any skylights are installed, be no more than 3 square metres

The Simulation option allows for greater flexibility in your building type and materials, however this makes it much more involved and time-consuming to undertake.

So if you’re considering undertaking BASIX approval yourself—take a minute to call CIVAC first, to find out if it really is the best option for your build

STARTING THE PROCESS

We meet with you to determine your needs

The main objective of BASIX approval is to ensure your new development meets the State’s strict sustainability criteria. It also helps to ensure that every element of your building plan is corrected planned for, and that there are no adverse impacts to the environment and the surrounding community. There’s a lot that’s involved.

At CIVAC, our goal is to make your Development Application as smooth and as seamless as possible—and this includes managing your BASIX approval process.

So once you’ve given us a call, our specialist team will meet with you initially to discuss your project. We’ll talk through your project idea, determine what you want to achieve, flag any potential issues that we see, and determine what’s required to manage your BASIX application.

We then begin the process for you, and connect you with our extended expert team to manage your application for BASIX approval.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

We gather the necessary documentation

The process for obtaining BASIX approval requires a range of information, demonstrating that your plan meets the required sustainability targets.

At CIVAC, our Town Planners and Project Managers will help you prepare and gather the necessary supporting documentation to lodge your BASIX application. These usually include:

Architectural plans, to show the design and size of your building
Engineering plans, to demonstrate the technical specifications of the building
Landscape plans, to show how your building will interact with the environment on which it sits

APPLICATION LODGEMENT

Achieving your BASIX approval

Once these plans are all prepared and collated, your Project Manager is ready to lodge with a BASIX assessor on your behalf.

We continue to manage the entire process for you. Your Project Manager will track and monitor your application, keeping you updated on its progress. They’re on call to answer any questions or queries regarding the project, and can respond on your behalf with any additional information, if needed.

If there’s anything that requires further attention at this stage, we’ll take care of it for you.

Once this process is complete, you’re on your way to being issued your Development Approval.

But our job isn’t finished here, though. If there are any further steps in the process you need to undertake, our team is right here by your side to help you see your project through to completion.

FAQ'S

Got questions about achieving BASIX approval? We’ve got answers.

BASIX Certificates are prepared by a qualified BASIX Assessor during the preparation of approval documents and form part of the final DA or CDC approval.

It is therefore essential that the BASIX Certificate is provided to the builder and complied with during construction.

To verify this, mandatory inspections must be carried out by the PCA during construction to ensure compliance with the BASIX Certificate

A BASIX Certificate is prepared as part of the approval process and is valid for a period of three (3) months.

Once the BASIX has been submitted and approved as part of a DA or CDC it is valid for the duration of the validity of the approval.

The cost of a BASIX Certificate is dependent upon the type of development being proposed and the fee charged by the Accredited BASIX Assessor.

Coupled with this are the fees as set by the NSW Government for lodgement of the BASIX.

Talk to us about obtaining BASIX approval for your project.

No matter the size, scope, or complexity of your project, our team at CIVAC is here to help make it a success. Ready to get started? Send us your project details in the fields below, and one of our friendly team will be in touch to discuss your next steps.