City of Melbourne launches new incentives for mid-tier building retrofits
The City of Melbourne has launched its Retrofit Melbourne Financial Incentive Scheme, providing new financial support for owners of mid-tier commercial office buildings to improve energy performance and reduce operational carbon emissions.
Eligible building owners can access more than $50,000 in support across activities including NABERS Energy ratings, energy and carbon improvement planning, electrification feasibility assessments, and the implementation of energy efficiency and electrification upgrades.
The announcement builds on issues explored through the Urban Land Institute Australia Net Zero Imperative Technical Assistance Panel for the City of Melbourne in 2024.
Atelier Ten’s Paul Stoller and Priya Gandhi were both key contributors to the Technical Assistance Panel, helping shape its recommendations on accelerating the decarbonisation of Melbourne’s mid-tier commercial building stock. As panel co-chairs, Paul and Priya helped facilitate the wider group of specialists from across the property industry and government.
The work focused on the practical barriers preventing owners of B, C and D grade buildings from taking action. Limited upfront capital was identified as a significant constraint, alongside a lack of effective incentives and difficulty accessing affordable, trusted technical support.
Among its recommendations, the panel called for the City of Melbourne to explore mechanisms that could provide rebates or other financial incentives to asset owners implementing decarbonisation strategies.
Paul Stoller, Director at Atelier Ten, said:
“One of the clearest findings from the Technical Assistance Panel was that many building owners need practical support to move from intention to action. Financial incentives, combined with access to the right technical advice, can help overcome some of the barriers that continue to slow retrofit activity. It is fantastic to see the City of Melbourne continuing to turn its retrofit ambitions into practical support for building owners.”
The financial incentive scheme forms part of the wider Retrofit Melbourne program, which seeks to improve the performance of the city’s existing building stock and support the transition towards zero-carbon-ready buildings.
The ULI panel’s recommendations extended beyond financial incentives, exploring a precinct-based approach to decarbonisation alongside better access to technical expertise, shared information and practical support for building owners. The panel also proposed a Zero Carbon Buildings Exchange to help owners understand their assets, identify opportunities and plan their transition towards net zero.
The launch of the scheme marks another practical step in the City of Melbourne’s broader effort to accelerate the decarbonisation of its existing building stock.
Find out more:
Retrofit Melbourne Financial Incentive Scheme
ULI City of Melbourne Net Zero Imperative Technical Assistance Panel report
Download the report here