October 2, 2023

Electrify Your Council Council Tracker

These councils are part of a growing, council-led movement across NSW leveraging their powers over the planning system to create all-electric, gas-free new homes and businesses which are better for our health, energy bills and the environment.

Councils that have implemented all-electric rules

1. Lane Cove Council

At its 21 September Council meeting, Lave Cove passed new planning rules which prohibit the installation of gas appliances in all new development (residential and non-residential). This is the first NSW council to fully implement all-electric requirements for all new developments across a whole council area. This is the ideal pathway towards all electric new development that 350 Australia is encouraging all councils across NSW to emulate. 

2. City of Newcastle

At its 12 December 2023 Council meeting, City of Newcastle voted in support of changes to its Development Control Plan to require multi-unit residential developments to be fitted with indoor electric appliances (cooktops, ovens and internal space heaters). 350 and local residents were instrumental in ensuring the council passed these changes. Unfortunately, hot water units were excluded from the electrification changes, so 350 will continue to advocate for this in 2024.  

3. Waverley Council

On 7 December 2022, Waverley Council was one of the first NSW council to implement changes to its Development Control Plan to require new residential buildings be fitted with all-electric indoor appliances (cooktops, ovens and internal space heaters) to improve indoor air quality and local health outcomes. These changes paved the way for other NSW councils to follow suit.

4. City of Parramatta

On 2 December 2022, Parramatta Council was one of the first NSW councils to pass changes to its Development Control Plan which requires all-electric appliances in new commercial and residential buildings within the Parramatta City Centre. This was the first such requirement for new homes and commercial buildings in NSW by a local council. The council recently resolved to consider a requirement that all new commercial buildings across the entire municipality be all-electric and gas-free, which will come to council for decision at a later date.

Councils developing all-electric rules

5. Hornsby Council

At its 10 April 2024 Council meeting, Hornsby Council voted unanimously to consult the community about a proposal to ensure new homes are fitted with electric indoor appliances (cooktops, heaters and ovens). Consultation will be open from 22 April – 27 May 2024, and will come back to council for final adoption in mid 2024. The progress is the result of 350 Australia advocacy with council officers and councillors.   

6. North Sydney Council 

At its 11 December 2023 Council meeting, Cr Zoe Baker, Mayor of North Sydney Council, moved a Mayoral Minute for council to explore opportunities to require new homes be fully electric by amending local planning policies. They Mayoral Minute was supported by Council. 

Council staff are now preparing a report to be voted on by councillors in mid 2024. 

7. City of Sydney

On 21 August 2023, Sydney Council passed a motion to begin the process of changing its planning laws to require all-electric, gas-free new homes and businesses. 350 Australia supported the successful passing of this motion through engagement with councillors, officers and local residents. At its 11 December 2023 Council meeting, City of Sydney unanimously voted to progress these changes by incorporating draft new rules into its Development Control Plan to require new residential buildings in the LGA to be fitted with indoor electric appliances (cooktops, ovens and internal space heaters).  These changes will go on public exhibition in 2024. Unfortunately, hot water units were excluded from the electrification changes, so 350 will continue to advocate for this in 2024.  

8. Inner West Council

At its 5 December 2023 council meeting, the council took the next step towards electrification. Thanks to intense advocacy by 350, Doctors for the Environment, Healthy Futures, and local climate groups, our coordinated advocacy resulted in the council expanding the scope of its electrification rules to apply to hot water in new residential buildings, plus an expansion to apply to new commercial buildings. The changes will go on public exhibition soon. If adopted by Council, the changes would ensure that new residential and commercial buildings in the LGA would be fully electric. 

9. Blue Mountains Council

On Tuesday 26 September 2023, Blue Mountains City Council passed a motion to explore how the council could require new homes and businesses across the municipality to be all-electric. 

10. City of Canada Bay

On 19 September 2023, Canada Bay passed a motion to begin the process of changing its planning laws to require all-electric, gas-free new homes and businesses. The motion was in response to 350’s advocacy with the local government sector during 2023.

11. City of Ryde

On 22 August 2023, Ryde Council passed a motion to begin the process of requiring all-electric, gas-free new residential development across its council area.

12. City of Canterbury-Bankstown

Canterbury-Bankstown is currently in the process of changing its planning rules to require all-electric appliances to new residential and commercial buildings in the Campsie and Bankstown city centres. These changes are at the masterplan stage and have been submitted to the state government for approval.