Looking across roofs in Darlinghurst you see a lot of concrete. That’s kinda cool, especially walking through the Bladerunner-esque train underpass in Woolloomoolloo. But can you imagine turning some of the roofs green, with grass, small plants and trees, as well as solar panels and other ‘green’ technology?

It’s not as far fetched as you might think. Right now there are no more than a handful of these ‘green roofs’ around the city, but last year the council granted $48,000 to a group of Sydney-based architects, landscape architects and others to investigate what could be done to encourage more. It was widely reported at the time. But nothing since, despite the group reporting to council five months ago.

One of the authors, Tone Wheeler, says between 60 and 65 per cent of all buildings in the Sydney CBD could have some form of green roof, and that simple planning changes could be used to encourage their development.

A minor amendment to the planning laws can encourage better buildings. This could be done by giving [building] owners more ground space or an extra floor in the building, which can be offset by the whole of the roof being accessible to grow plants or food.

But at the council meeting on November 3, the Mayor, Clover Moore, described the Green Roofs Manual as “being developed”.

At the same meeting, they approved Wheeler’s development application for the Wayside Chapel on Hughes Street in Potts Point – featuring a green roof terrace.