Triple bottom line assessment and sustainability: A method of performance evaluation

This paper describes recently completed research which compared the sustainability of master planned communities against traditional regulatory subdivisions in Australia. The application described in this paper appears to be the first post-development residential performance assessment using a broadly based set of indicators in Australia. The paper is a commentary on the methodology that was used in the performance evaluation. The method is known as the triple bottom line (TBL) approach. The term TBL originated in the corporate sector in connection with socially responsible investing. It is often used as a synonym for sustainability in both the public and private sectors. The TBL analysis uses an approach which embraces environmental, economic and community matters. In this paper we describe the TBL methodology and its origins, the suite of indicators constructed to conduct the performance appraisal and TBL’s application to measurement at the scale of the neighbourhood. There were inevitable trialling difficulties experienced but we conclude that TBL is a promising technique for pursuing sustainability.