Via email: [email protected] 24 October 2016 Dear Sir ...
Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, GPO Box 1815 Adelaide SA 5001
Via email: [email protected] 24 October 2016 Dear Sir/ Madam, RE: 30 YEAR PLAN FOR GREATER ADELAIDE DRAFT UPDATE The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) commends the South Australian Government (Government) on the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Draft Update (Draft). Building on the success of the Plan since it was first released in 2010, the Draft represents an opportunity to address new challenges and opportunities to ensure that Adelaide will continue to be more liveable, competitive and sustainable. Since its inception in 2002, the GBCA has worked towards inspiring, influencing and empowering the property and construction industry by driving the adoption of sustainable building and community practices. To effectively respond to rapid changes facing our cities and towns in the context of globalisation, resilience and adaptation, technological advances and shifting social demands, the mandate of the GBCA has extended and evolved beyond green buildings to also address the broader challenge of catalysing a sustainable cities movement. The GBCA appreciates the opportunity to provide comment as part of the public consultation. The GBCA supports the overarching vision and principles of the Draft and comments from the GBCA are outlined below. 1. To improve transparency and accountability, the GBCA recommends Government reference Green Star certification as the preferred metric for sustainability and resilience outcomes. The GBCA is pleased to see that the Draft highlights a number of key policy themes that strongly engages with the contemporary challenges of city building. To ensure that policy actions remain relevant and effective overtime, the GBCA stresses the importance of increasing transparency and accountability through the pursuit of measurable outcomes under each policy theme. We recommend Government reference Green Star certification as the preferred metric for sustainability and resilience outcomes for buildings and communities. The Green Star rating system presents a proven metric, having been launched in 2003 as Australia’s only national, voluntary and holistic rating system for sustainable buildings and communities. Green Star has been developed by the Australian development industry and locally adapted to suit the Australian market. Furthermore, leading sustainability indices such as the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) – which has ranked Australia’s real estate market as the global green leader for six years straight – recognises Green Star ratings as the best measure of sustainability outcomes in our property industry.
The Green Star buildings rating systems covers nine categories (Energy, Water, Management, Transport, Land Use and Ecology, Emissions, Indoor Environment Quality, Materials plus Innovation). The outcomes of a certified Green Star – Design & As Built rating may be as follows: Best Practice (4 Star rating), Australian Excellence (5 Star rating) and World Leadership (6 Star rating). All Green Star certified projects produce sustainability outcomes that are typically much better than minimum legislative requirements. For instance, a 4 Star Green Star rating will always be at least 10 per cent better than a building that simply meets code requirements from an energy perspective. In 2013, the GBCA released The Value of Green Star report, which looked to quantify the overall impact of the Green Star rating system on greenhouse gas emissions, operational energy usage, operational water consumption and construction and demolition waste. The study compared data from 428 Green Star-certified projects with buildings that just met average or minimum practice standards. The report found that on average, Green Star-certified buildings:
produce 62 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average Australian buildings use 66 percent less electricity than average Australian buildings use 51 per cent less potable water than if they had been built to minimum industry requirements.
The higher the Green Star rating, the greater the environmental savings across all key areas – greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water consumption and construction and demolition waste. The South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) are leading by example and highlighting mid-tier commercial buildings can be transformed into more efficient and sustainable buildings. DEWNR are currently targeting a Green Star – Interiors rating for their fitout at 81 Waymouth Street.
2. Green Star – Communities provides a comprehensive set of metrics that directly engage with the policy themes and targets identified in the Draft.
The credits within the Green Star – Communities rating tool directly engage with the policy themes and ultimately, the five policies, targets and actions identified in the Draft, being:
Protecting our resources Smarter travel Getting active Walkable neighbourhoods A green liveable city Greater housing choice.
The Green Star – Communities rating tool is currently influencing the design and delivery of more than 50 large-scale community developments around the country, with 23 projects to date achieving certification. Green Star – Communities provides an agreed framework and set of benchmarks for measuring sustainability outcomes. The five Green Star – Communities best practice principles are:
Foster environmental responsibility Enhance liveability Create opportunities for economic prosperity Embrace design excellence Demonstrate visionary leadership and strong governance.
2
The following highlights how Green Star – Communities can provide measurable outcomes under key policy themes identified in the Draft, including design quality, economy and jobs, biodiversity and climate change. Design Quality As noted in page 49, the Draft addresses the importance of facilitating good design outcomes that ensure new developments positively contribute to existing neighbourhoods. Good design involves an all-inclusive approach that addresses streetscapes, public realm, public art and infrastructure that supports the community. With the Bowden development identified in page 53 as a case study of good design, it is important to note that Renewal SA has raised sustainability benchmarks by recently achieving a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating (representing World Leadership) and mandating 5 Star Green Star benchmarks for all buildings within the precinct. In Bowden, the feeling of community extends beyond the front door and ties residents together. Its unique approach to streetscape includes meeting places where residents and visitors alike can stop for a chat, curbless streets where people on foot and bike take priority, and parks with BBQs, water features and games to play. Please find attached the Bowden case study for further information. Economy and Jobs Economy and jobs is another policy theme identified in the Draft, underlining the importance of supporting economic development and unlocking investment. One of the policy actions entails promoting certainty to undertake development while simultaneously providing scope for innovation. The way in which Green Star – Communities effectively engages with this policy theme is evident through the Tonsley project, Australia’s first innovation precinct. Tonsley was awarded a prestigious 6 Star Green Star – Communities certification (representing World Leadership), with the former manufacturing site transformed into a sustainable centre for innovation and productivity. With the former Mitsubishi Main Assembly Building (MAB) retained as the central town square, the MAB will incorporate retail outlets, eateries, meeting areas and education spaces. Furthermore, education and research are key cornerstones of the development. TAFE's $119 million Sustainable Industries Education Centre (SIEC) onsite provides nearly 45,000 square meters of world-class, energy efficient, trade training infrastructure. Meanwhile, Flinders University's $124 million Tonsley campus will be home to computer science, engineering, mathematics as well as entrepreneurship and innovation programs. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information. Biodiversity Identified as a key policy theme, the Draft points to the importance of valuing our natural environment and enhancing biodiversity. One of the policy actions identified involves the delineation and maintenance of areas with significant environmental values including nature protection areas and complementary developed areas. As reflected at Aura on the Sunshine Coast, Green Star – Communities highlights this policy theme, by providing key metrics to ensure transparent and measurable outcomes. Stockland achieved a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating at Aura with the project being recognised for its environmental excellence. More than 700 hectares, nearly one-third of the site, will be rehabilitated from decades of use as a former pine plantation and designated as a conservation area. New habitats for rare and endangered flora and fauna species will be created with fauna underpasses at every major creek crossing. Aura will also feature the most advanced water reticulation, filtration, storage and treatment system which will recycle water, minimise run-off and ensure the protection of the nearby Pumicestone Passage. The integration of annual environmental reporting will also ensure compliance with stringent water quality and biodiversity measures. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information.
3
Climate Change The Draft identifies the importance of mitigating against and adapting to climate change. As noted in page 109, recommended policy actions include encouraging and enabling the establishment and expansion of green industries, technologies and building innovation to increase competitive advantage and improve resilience. Green Star – Communities provides metrics to ensure that new developments are responsive to climate change. At Alkimos Beach in Perth’s northern coastal corridor, which was awarded a 6 Star Green Star - Communities rating, mandatory solar panels and gas boosted solar hot water systems as well as other energy-efficient appliances, supported by a financial incentive package from the Alkimos Beach development partners are expected to reduce home energy bills by up to 50 per cent. Furthermore, Alkimos Beach will host Australia’s first community energy storage trial that will see more than 100 homes connected virtually to innovative solar energy storage as part of a development-wide initiative to reduce peak electricity demand. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information. The GBCA applauds the Government on the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Draft Update and we encourage the Weatherill Government to continue to work collaboratively with the GBCA as a facilitator of industry best practice, knowledge and collaboration, to help assist realise the objectives and actions of the Draft. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 02 8239 6200, or via email at [email protected] for further information. Yours sincerely
Luke Farr Manager - Advocacy [email protected]
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Via email: [email protected] 24 October 2016 Dear Sir/ Madam, RE: 30 YEAR PLAN FOR GREATER ADELAIDE DRAFT UPDATE The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) commends the South Australian Government (Government) on the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Draft Update (Draft). Building on the success of the Plan since it was first released in 2010, the Draft represents an opportunity to address new challenges and opportunities to ensure that Adelaide will continue to be more liveable, competitive and sustainable. Since its inception in 2002, the GBCA has worked towards inspiring, influencing and empowering the property and construction industry by driving the adoption of sustainable building and community practices. To effectively respond to rapid changes facing our cities and towns in the context of globalisation, resilience and adaptation, technological advances and shifting social demands, the mandate of the GBCA has extended and evolved beyond green buildings to also address the broader challenge of catalysing a sustainable cities movement. The GBCA appreciates the opportunity to provide comment as part of the public consultation. The GBCA supports the overarching vision and principles of the Draft and comments from the GBCA are outlined below. 1. To improve transparency and accountability, the GBCA recommends Government reference Green Star certification as the preferred metric for sustainability and resilience outcomes. The GBCA is pleased to see that the Draft highlights a number of key policy themes that strongly engages with the contemporary challenges of city building. To ensure that policy actions remain relevant and effective overtime, the GBCA stresses the importance of increasing transparency and accountability through the pursuit of measurable outcomes under each policy theme. We recommend Government reference Green Star certification as the preferred metric for sustainability and resilience outcomes for buildings and communities. The Green Star rating system presents a proven metric, having been launched in 2003 as Australia’s only national, voluntary and holistic rating system for sustainable buildings and communities. Green Star has been developed by the Australian development industry and locally adapted to suit the Australian market. Furthermore, leading sustainability indices such as the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) – which has ranked Australia’s real estate market as the global green leader for six years straight – recognises Green Star ratings as the best measure of sustainability outcomes in our property industry.
The Green Star buildings rating systems covers nine categories (Energy, Water, Management, Transport, Land Use and Ecology, Emissions, Indoor Environment Quality, Materials plus Innovation). The outcomes of a certified Green Star – Design & As Built rating may be as follows: Best Practice (4 Star rating), Australian Excellence (5 Star rating) and World Leadership (6 Star rating). All Green Star certified projects produce sustainability outcomes that are typically much better than minimum legislative requirements. For instance, a 4 Star Green Star rating will always be at least 10 per cent better than a building that simply meets code requirements from an energy perspective. In 2013, the GBCA released The Value of Green Star report, which looked to quantify the overall impact of the Green Star rating system on greenhouse gas emissions, operational energy usage, operational water consumption and construction and demolition waste. The study compared data from 428 Green Star-certified projects with buildings that just met average or minimum practice standards. The report found that on average, Green Star-certified buildings:
produce 62 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average Australian buildings use 66 percent less electricity than average Australian buildings use 51 per cent less potable water than if they had been built to minimum industry requirements.
The higher the Green Star rating, the greater the environmental savings across all key areas – greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water consumption and construction and demolition waste. The South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) are leading by example and highlighting mid-tier commercial buildings can be transformed into more efficient and sustainable buildings. DEWNR are currently targeting a Green Star – Interiors rating for their fitout at 81 Waymouth Street.
2. Green Star – Communities provides a comprehensive set of metrics that directly engage with the policy themes and targets identified in the Draft.
The credits within the Green Star – Communities rating tool directly engage with the policy themes and ultimately, the five policies, targets and actions identified in the Draft, being:
Protecting our resources Smarter travel Getting active Walkable neighbourhoods A green liveable city Greater housing choice.
The Green Star – Communities rating tool is currently influencing the design and delivery of more than 50 large-scale community developments around the country, with 23 projects to date achieving certification. Green Star – Communities provides an agreed framework and set of benchmarks for measuring sustainability outcomes. The five Green Star – Communities best practice principles are:
Foster environmental responsibility Enhance liveability Create opportunities for economic prosperity Embrace design excellence Demonstrate visionary leadership and strong governance.
2
The following highlights how Green Star – Communities can provide measurable outcomes under key policy themes identified in the Draft, including design quality, economy and jobs, biodiversity and climate change. Design Quality As noted in page 49, the Draft addresses the importance of facilitating good design outcomes that ensure new developments positively contribute to existing neighbourhoods. Good design involves an all-inclusive approach that addresses streetscapes, public realm, public art and infrastructure that supports the community. With the Bowden development identified in page 53 as a case study of good design, it is important to note that Renewal SA has raised sustainability benchmarks by recently achieving a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating (representing World Leadership) and mandating 5 Star Green Star benchmarks for all buildings within the precinct. In Bowden, the feeling of community extends beyond the front door and ties residents together. Its unique approach to streetscape includes meeting places where residents and visitors alike can stop for a chat, curbless streets where people on foot and bike take priority, and parks with BBQs, water features and games to play. Please find attached the Bowden case study for further information. Economy and Jobs Economy and jobs is another policy theme identified in the Draft, underlining the importance of supporting economic development and unlocking investment. One of the policy actions entails promoting certainty to undertake development while simultaneously providing scope for innovation. The way in which Green Star – Communities effectively engages with this policy theme is evident through the Tonsley project, Australia’s first innovation precinct. Tonsley was awarded a prestigious 6 Star Green Star – Communities certification (representing World Leadership), with the former manufacturing site transformed into a sustainable centre for innovation and productivity. With the former Mitsubishi Main Assembly Building (MAB) retained as the central town square, the MAB will incorporate retail outlets, eateries, meeting areas and education spaces. Furthermore, education and research are key cornerstones of the development. TAFE's $119 million Sustainable Industries Education Centre (SIEC) onsite provides nearly 45,000 square meters of world-class, energy efficient, trade training infrastructure. Meanwhile, Flinders University's $124 million Tonsley campus will be home to computer science, engineering, mathematics as well as entrepreneurship and innovation programs. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information. Biodiversity Identified as a key policy theme, the Draft points to the importance of valuing our natural environment and enhancing biodiversity. One of the policy actions identified involves the delineation and maintenance of areas with significant environmental values including nature protection areas and complementary developed areas. As reflected at Aura on the Sunshine Coast, Green Star – Communities highlights this policy theme, by providing key metrics to ensure transparent and measurable outcomes. Stockland achieved a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating at Aura with the project being recognised for its environmental excellence. More than 700 hectares, nearly one-third of the site, will be rehabilitated from decades of use as a former pine plantation and designated as a conservation area. New habitats for rare and endangered flora and fauna species will be created with fauna underpasses at every major creek crossing. Aura will also feature the most advanced water reticulation, filtration, storage and treatment system which will recycle water, minimise run-off and ensure the protection of the nearby Pumicestone Passage. The integration of annual environmental reporting will also ensure compliance with stringent water quality and biodiversity measures. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information.
3
Climate Change The Draft identifies the importance of mitigating against and adapting to climate change. As noted in page 109, recommended policy actions include encouraging and enabling the establishment and expansion of green industries, technologies and building innovation to increase competitive advantage and improve resilience. Green Star – Communities provides metrics to ensure that new developments are responsive to climate change. At Alkimos Beach in Perth’s northern coastal corridor, which was awarded a 6 Star Green Star - Communities rating, mandatory solar panels and gas boosted solar hot water systems as well as other energy-efficient appliances, supported by a financial incentive package from the Alkimos Beach development partners are expected to reduce home energy bills by up to 50 per cent. Furthermore, Alkimos Beach will host Australia’s first community energy storage trial that will see more than 100 homes connected virtually to innovative solar energy storage as part of a development-wide initiative to reduce peak electricity demand. Please find attached the abovementioned case study for further information. The GBCA applauds the Government on the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide Draft Update and we encourage the Weatherill Government to continue to work collaboratively with the GBCA as a facilitator of industry best practice, knowledge and collaboration, to help assist realise the objectives and actions of the Draft. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 02 8239 6200, or via email at [email protected] for further information. Yours sincerely
Luke Farr Manager - Advocacy [email protected]
4
