Sydney Olympic Park Authority State of Environment Report
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2003-04 Sydney Olympic Park Authority State of Environment Report Contents Our Mission 3 Foreword 4 2003-04 at a Glance 6 1 Introduction 8 2 Triple Bottom Line Sustainability 10 Framework for Environmental Sustainability 11 Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act (2001) Environmental Guidelines Sustainability Policy Sustainability Strategy Social Sustainability 16 Economic Sustainability – Growing the Green Economy 17 Case Study 1: Vision 2025 – Building a Sustainable Town 3 Environmental Performance 2003-04 20 Biodiversity 21 Species & Ecosystems Case Study 2: Conserving Wilsonia backhousei Case Study 3: GIS Modelling of Fire Risk Resource Conservation 28 Water Case Study 4: Drought Management at Sydney Olympic Park Energy Case Study 5: Bicycle Strategy Sustainable Materials Case Study 6: Sustainable Umbrellas – A Prototype Parklands and Open Space Case Study 7: Wentworth Common Heritage Contents continued Site Impacts 43 Air, Noise, Light, Water Quality Remediation Case Study 8: Sustainable Leachate Management Waste Management Involving People 50 An Enriched Experience Raising Environmental Awareness Case Study 9: Earthwatch Institute Employee Fellowship Program 4 Environmental Compliance Report 58 Licences, Certificates, Permits 59 Environmental Incidences 61 Venues 62 Our Mission Our mission is to develop and maintain, to international standards, a unique integrated township called Sydney Olympic Park. Serving the public Sydney Olympic Park Authority is committed to the highest standards in serving the public of NSW. In achieving its mission it seeks to support three key Government priorities: • Promotion of sustainable urban development outcomes and liveable cities • Development of a healthy community • Generation of social, environmental and economic returns on Government investment in Sydney Olympic Park and, in turn, the realisation of a lasting Olympic legacy. 3 I am very pleased to present Sydney Olympic Park Authority’s third State of Environment Report. 4 Foreword It is only four years since Sydney During 2004, Sydney Olympic Park Sydney Olympic Park Authority welcomed the world to Sydney Authority celebrated the Year has also begun to establish Olympic Park for the highly of the Built Environment by partnerships and strategies that successful Sydney 2000 Olympic participating in activities that will position the Park as a natural Games. A key innovation of the promoted an appreciation of location for the development of a Sydney Games was our ability environmentally sustainable, ‘Green Economy’. That is, one that and commitment to integrate practical and aesthetic built incorporates Australia’s emerging environmental sustainability into environments. Themes explored and potentially highly profitable all aspects of the event. Maurice included: Towards Sustainable sustainable business sector. Strong, the Chairman of the Earth Communities, Healthy I am proud of the Sydney Council, has described the Sydney Environments, Excellence in Olympic Park Authority’s many 2000 Games and Sydney Olympic Building, Our Built Heritage, achievements in championing Park as: Imagining the Future and sustainable outcomes in all Design for All. The best ever and the greenest aspects of planning, management or most sustainable Games As the place-maker for the Sydney and development during 2003-04 ever…Without question Sydney Olympic Park township, Sydney and recognise that there is still 2000 has set the bar high…I am Olympic Park Authority has much to be done. I encourage confident that your example has adopted a triple bottom line you to follow our journey as we set new standards that not only approach to sustainability, which create a new urban model for other Olympics, but also other integrates the achievement of a dynamic, sustainable and events, construction, best practice environmental, liveable community at Sydney infrastructure, urban social and economic sustainability. Olympic Park. redevelopment and suburban This approach is informing the development projects, will need development of Vision 2025, to follow. which will provide the blueprint for ecologically sustainable Sustainable urban design development in the Park until excellence and environmental 2025. To this end, we have Brian Newman innovation remain core drivers strengthened our partnerships Chief Executive Officer in all of the Sydney Olympic Park with several local Councils and Authority’s functions, particularly identified key areas where, by as we progress our vision for the working together, we can better creation of a sustainable connect Sydney Olympic Park to township. its surrounding communities. 2003-04 at a Glance • Vision 2025,a model for • A review of the Environmental • Became a key partner of the sustainable urban development Guidelines (1993) commenced National Water Roadmap which of Sydney Olympic Park into a in June 2004 will research and analyse township over the next 20 years, sustainable management of • Staff worked closely with the was presented to the NSW Australia’s water supply Year of the Built Environment Government Secretariat and commenced • Launch of the Second • A minimum 4 Green Stars, based planning to host the Houses Environment Industry Action on the Green Building Council of the Future Exhibition in 2005 Agenda,a progress report on Australia’s Environmental the growth of Australia’s • Joined more than 30 education, Design Rating (Commercial sustainable businesses research, Government and Office), was mandated for all industry organisations in a • A major conference sponsor for: future commercial building consortium to develop the Green Building Conference 2003, developments at Sydney International Centre of Enviro 04, Buying Green 2004 Olympic Park. Twenty staff Excellence in Water Resources were trained to use • Participated in its first Management the rating tool Earthwatch Institute Employee • Conservation Master Plan Fellowship Program which Detailed design negotiations • Millennium Parklands Precinct enabled a staff member to for proposed commercial and endorsed by NSW Heritage participate for two weeks in an residential developments set Council ecological research team looking new benchmarks for sustainable at the complex impacts of design excellence at the Park climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem processes 6 • Partner in a successful • A second hybrid (petrol/electric) • Winner National Trust Energy collaborative research fleet vehicle was purchased Australia Heritage Award 2004 application on aquatic biota for Ecotourism at the • Innovative environmental awarded by the Australian Newington Armory educational programs for Research Council (ARC) schools, tertiary students • Winner Energy Green Globe • Continued to develop innovative and professional groups were Award 2003 for energy options for a sustainable expanded management strategies leachate strategy • Three Wetland Education and • Winner StreamWatch Award • Implementation of the Sydney Training (WET) Workshops were 2003 for environmental Olympic Park Bicycle Strategy, conducted on macrophyte and education including major capital works algal identification, mangrove projects, which has led to the and saltmarsh management, Park being recognised in 2004 and wetland management as a premier cycling destination • Management Plan prepared for Wilsonia backhousei,a threatened saltmarsh plant 7 1 Introduction Sydney Olympic Park Authority was established on 1 July 2001 as a statutory body of the NSW Government under the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act 2001. Its charter is to manage and promote the 640-hectare Sydney Olympic Park site, including protection of its 425-hectare parklands. 8 Under the Sydney Olympic Park The 2003-04 State of Environment The Report covers four key Authority’s Act, Sydney Olympic Report describes the environmental performance Park Authority is required to environmental and ecological areas: produce an annual report on the programs, educational • Biodiversity state of the environment in opportunities, operational Sydney Olympic Park in relation to: management functions and • Resource Conservation land, air, water, biodiversity, waste, events at Sydney Olympic Park • Site Impacts noise, Aboriginal heritage and during the reporting year, 1 July non-Aboriginal heritage. 2003 to 30 June 2004. • Involving People Consistent with Sydney Olympic and their sustainable outcomes. Park Authority’s holistic approach It also includes an Environmental to best practice sustainability, Compliance Report. this report also identifies future Electronic copies of the 2003-04 environmental, social and State of Environment Report economic directions for Sydney are available from the corporate Olympic Park Authority section of the Sydney Olympic and highlights continuing Park website: improvements in its operational www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au management of Sydney Olympic Park. 9 2 Triple Bottom Line Sustainability Sydney Olympic Park Authority’s framework for sustainability strives to balance economic, environmental and social factors in a way that will ensure resource conservation and protection of the environment now and for future generations. This interface between environmental, social and economic sustainability is referred to as the ‘Triple Bottom Line’. 10 Framework for Environmental Sustainability Sydney Olympic Park Authority’s requirements of the Sydney Policy, Sustainability Strategy, corporate framework for Olympic Park Authority Act and Operational Compliance environmental sustainability the Environmental Guidelines Procedures and an Environmental draws