Blue Mountains City Council Mandates All-Electric New Developments by 2026

Strategic Insights -

The Blue Mountains City Council has approved new planning provisions requiring all new housing developments to be all-electric and gas-free starting October 2026. This change aims to benefit future occupants in terms of health, economics, and the environment. The planning provisions are set to take effect from October 1, 2026, allowing existing development applications a 12-month window to be completed before the new requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Blue Mountains City Council has approved new planning provisions that mandate all new housing developments to be all-electric and gas-free starting October 2026.
  • The changes aim to benefit future occupants in terms of health, economics, and the environment.
  • The planning provisions will affect all new housing developments, but not knockdown-rebuilds, granny flats, or businesses.
  • The change is intended to move the city towards becoming genuinely carbon-neutral.
  • Climate action group Macquarie Alliance praised the motion, highlighting the verified negative health effects of gas in households.
  • Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill described the changes as "a sensible way forward" and "a ban on the use of gas in new developments".

Statistics:

  • 12-month window for existing development applications to be completed before the new requirements take effect.
  • 12% of childhood asthma linked to gas cooking stoves, according to climate action group Macquarie Alliance.

Sources:

  • Unnamed article on Blue Mountains City Council's website
  • Blue Mountains Gazette
  • Macquarie Alliance
  • Dr Sylvia Ireland