AUSTRALIA’S SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESS STORIES 2014 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

Sustainability Awards 2014 SUPPORTERS

The Banksia Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support we receive from our partners and supporters.

Environment Minister’s The Richard Pratt 2014 Banksia Award for a Cleaner Banksia CEO Award International Award Environment

Category Award Supporters

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Friends of Banksia Media Supporters Good Environmental Green Lifestyle Choice Australia (GECA) EcoVoice The GPT Group Making Environmental RACV News AUSTRALIA’S SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESS STORIES 2014 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

Sustainability Awards 2014

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Editorial Editor: Izabella Kobylanski Planning Results www.planningresults.com Artwork, Art Direction and Layout: Michael Trovato Michael Trovato Design www.michaeltrovato.com

The finalists’ content has been supplied by the various finalists. The Sponsors have provided the sponsors content. The Banksia Foundation takes no responsibility for accuracy of this material. Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. CONTENTS

WELCOME 03 THE JUDGING 46 BANKSIA 92 PROCESS SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR 2014 BANKSIA 04 LOCAL 47 ROLL (2007-2005) GOLD AWARD GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD INNOVATOR OF 93 THE YEAR ENVIRONMENT 05 AWARD MINISTER’S SD 2014 56 AWARD FOR A CLEANER BANKSIA 102 ENVIRONMENT INNOVATION 57 SUSTAINABILITY IN SOCIAL AWARDS HONOUR INFRASTRUCTURE ROLL (2004-2002) 2014 BANKSIA 12 > $100 MILLION INTERNATIONAL AWARD AWARD EDUCATION 103 FOR THE BANKSIA 66 SUSTAINABILITY A MESSAGE 14 WHITE PAPER AWARD FROM THE BANKSIA FOUNDATION CEO LEADERSHIP IN 67 BANKSIA 118 CITIZENSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY THE RICHARD 15 COMMUNITIES AWARDS HONOUR PRATT – BANKSIA AWARD ROLL (2001-1999) CEO AWARD BANKSIA 80 PRODUCT 119 THE BANKSIA 24 SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY – FOUNDATION AWARDS HONOUR THROUGH DESIGN, ROLL (2013-2011) MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD LARGE BUSINESS 25 SUSTAINABLE 81 SUSTAINABILITY WATER SPONSORSHIP 132 LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT AT BANKSIA AWARD AWARD 2014 BANKSIA 38 INDIGENOUS 133 JUDGES BANKSIA 86 LEADERSHIP SUSTAINABILITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR AWARD SMALL TO 39 ROLL (2010-2008) MEDIUM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY NATURAL 87 LEADERSHIP CAPITAL AWARD AWARD WELCOME

From the Banksia Foundation Board innovation from industry into other non-aligned groups and vice versa is exciting and should be Now in its 26th year, the Banksia Foundation encouraged if we truly embrace the notion of a continues to provide a positive platform to clever country. showcase the best in Australian invention, innovation and ingenuity. There is no question we live in challenging times on many fronts (economic, societal, The Foundation reinvents itself on an ongoing environmental) and Banksia is not immune basis by continually reviewing the award to these conditions. 2014 has challenged the categories for relevance and resonance in the staff and Board to create an improved awards community and by engaging new advisors, recognition program and this is on display board members, sponsors, judges and interns through the extensive program developed for This changing and vibrant landscape means the awards day and presentation. This new that the organisation acts as any other living expanded format demonstrates the resilience organism shedding and renewing to reflect the of the Foundation and the creative people and challenges we face in society today. partners within it.

Moving forward the Foundation seeks to Once again the Foundation thanks the many expand its relevance through the introduction supporters of Banksia: The staff, advisors, allied of new programs and initiatives. These will organisations, volunteers, judges and sponsors. build on the amazing array of innovative You are what makes Banksia a strong and initiatives we as an organisation are exposed vibrant organisation. to on an annual basis, through the awards program. Any new initiatives will always be examined through the lens of providing a positive platform for change in community. Board Members Charles McNena Co Chair Richard Evans Co Chair The resounding message received from Rick Finlay Treasurer participants of the Banksia awards is the Graz van Egmond Chief Executive Officer diversity and leading edge innovation Jo Cain showcased through this program. Ellen Connor Our extension programs will seek to leverage Andrew Petersen this further. The potential of cross pollination of Peter Woods

03 2014 BANKSIA GOLD AWARD

The Banksia Sustainability Awards It is awarded to the individual or have earned a reputation as the most organisation which, in the judges’ opinion, prestigious environmental sustainability has made the contribution most worthy of awards in Australia. From all the category extra recognition and acknowledgement. winners, only one will receive Banksia’s highest honour, the Banksia Gold Award. The Banksia Gold Award was first presented in 1993 and has an illustrious The Banksia Gold Award Winner aims history of winners from various sectors of to represent the most significant issues our community. facing the environment industry and the organisations and projects that are focusing on those issues. The recipient is selected from the winners of the Banksia Category Awards. Previous Winners 2013 Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), 2008 QLD WWF Australia - Earth Hour Australia

2012 2007 Target 100 - Meat & Livestock Australia, Westpac: Unlocking Value NSW 2006 2011 Visualising our Environmental Footprint - Gippsland Water Factory - A New Way to Australian Arrow Pty Ltd , VIC Care for Water - Gippsland Water, VIC 2005 2010 Different cars, same colour. mecu Yellow Crazy Ant Management Project - goGreen® Car Loan Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, NT 2004 2009 Visy Industries: “we make it, we take it” Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, VIC

04 THE INAUGURAL ENVIRONMENT MINISTER’S AWARD FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT

In 2014 this award recognises outstanding contributions by Australians working at a local level towards achieving a cleaner, healthier environment and a more resilient and sustainable Australia.

Sponsored by

This year the Australian Government is sponsoring the inaugural Environment Minister’s Award for a Cleaner Environment to recognise outstanding contributions made by Australians towards achieving a cleaner, healthier environment.

The Australian Government’s Plan for a Cleaner Environment is central to its vision for a stronger Australia. The plan rests on four pillars - Clean Air, Clean Land, Clean Water and national heritage protection. The Minister’s award is for outstanding achievement against one or more of the plan’s three environmental pillars:

Clean Air - The Australian Government will tackle climate change and reach its emissions reduction target through efficiently and effectively sourcing low cost emissions reductions and improve Australia’s environment. Clean Land - The Government is delivering practical solutions at the local level to achieve long term results across the continent with initiatives like the Green Army and the National Landcare Programme. Clean Water - The Government’s Clean Water Plan has community-based and practical environmentalism at its core. It incorporates a sustainable plan for the Murray-Darling Basin, a Water Security Plan and protection of the Great Barrier Reef.

The award recognises Australians working at a local level towards these national objectives.

For more information www.environment.gov.au

05 ENVIRONMENT MINISTER’S AWARD FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FINALIST

EMIRATES WOLGAN VALLEY RESORT & SPA, NSW

Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa (EWVRS) is an ultra-luxury conservation-based resort located 2.5 hours drive from Sydney within the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains region of NSW, Australia. Set on its own private 7,000 acre carbon-neutral conservation and wildlife reserve, the secluded resort intertwines absolute luxury and comfort with a quintessentially Australian rugged bush experience. EWVRS has a strong commitment to the environment (biophysical, cultural and social), to conservation, to guests, the local community and to Australia. The resort is nestled between two very special protected reserves that form part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area; the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Parks. EWVRS is the only resort in recent history to receive permission to be built adjacent to a World Heritage Area.

06 Over the last five years EWVRS has built its and the restoration of habitat to support a broad success upon operating at the highest level of range of threatened species. environmental credibility and integrity. The resort’s Conservation work routinely undertaken on the philosophy centres on creating a delicate balance property includes the revegetation of wildlife between growth and preservation. From the outset corridors and stream bank areas for wildlife habitat it was EWVRS’s vision to be a conservation-based and erosion control, with over 200,000 native resort by protecting the natural environment as a species planted so far. priority. The revegetation work includes the reintroduction Where possible, the resort was built using of the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia Nobilis), which was sustainable, locally sourced materials and thought to be extinct, until it was rediscovered in incorporated as many Ecologically Sustainable 1994 deep in the bordering Wollemi National Park. Design principles as possible, including rainwater Its rediscovery is considered to be ‘the botanical collection, full recycling of all domestic water, find of the 20th century’ and is akin to finding a heat exchange technology to reduce electricity live dinosaur. consumption and the use of solar panels for all hot A continuous program of assisted natural water systems. regeneration is also undertaken, with significant During the construction phase of the resort, all investment in weed control and removal of invasive contractors received extensive training on how species to benefit the resilience and diversity of to prevent environmental damage and protect regional native species. The resort also funds a the local fauna and flora. All waste material was program of feral animal control and management, removed from the valley, and disposed of via including comprehensive monitoring of foxes, dogs municipal safe sites. All vehicles were washed and feral cats. to prevent the transmission of invasive plant When guests stay at the resort, they immediately seeds into the reserve, and not a single tree was become more aware of their environment destroyed during the construction of the resort. because they are surrounded by it, they feel it and To further reduce its environmental impact and to experience it. Guests are immersed in the resort’s support local businesses, the resort is committed conservation work during the various nature based to sourcing regional, seasonal and where possible activities on offer. When guests leave the resort, organic produce from within 100 miles (160km), they leave feeling enriched. It is this enriched including from its own Kitchen Garden which experience that inspires people to continue supplies the kitchens with fruit, vegetables and travelling, and to travel with an environmental and herbs. social conscience. When the resort opened in October 2009, within EWVRS has gone above a beyond the three months it became the first hotel in the conservation responsibilities considered “normal” world to achieve carbon neutral certification from for a land owner located in the geographical an internationally accredited Greenhouse Gas position it lies in. What makes EWVRS a best Certification Scheme, carboNZero. The process practice role model is that it meets all of the was science based, rigorous, transparent, aligned necessary requirements and then goes beyond, with international best practice and in step with further than any other tourism business of its the Australian National Carbon Offset Standard. kind. As the first carbon-neutral hotel in the world EWVRS has been recertified as carbon-neutral for EWVRS is an industry leader in nature based the past five years in a row. conservation and proves every day that it is The 7,000 acre reserve is being actively managed possible to combine a high quality luxury tourism for biodiversity conservation outcomes. The resort business and a wilderness area, and get a positive undertakes wide-ranging conservation practices outcome for both. focusing on the protection of regional biodiversity

07 ENVIRONMENT MINISTER’S AWARD FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FINALIST

MILLICENT MILL KIMBERLY-CLARK AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, SA

Kimberly-Clark (K-C) is a global health and hygiene company and proud Australian manufacturer. Globally, K-C is leading the world in providing essentials for a better life and is committed to doing it sustainably to help create a better world for future generations. With our strong manufacturing heritage, we have a proven history of proactively measuring and managing our environmental impact and performance and have robust internal environmental measurement systems, policies and procedures in place. Our largest Australian manufacturing facility is our Millicent Tissue Mill in the South East region of South Australia, home of our KLEENEX®, KLEENEX® COTTONELLE® and VIVA® brands, and is an iconic identity of the region. As this mill accounts for nearly 90% of the Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) environmental footprint, a key environmental focus has been to minimise the impact our operations have on the surrounding communities and the environment.

08 For 55 years KCA’s Millicent Mill has been a key our carbon emissions by up to 80,000 tonnes each contributor to the South East region of Australia year, and nearly diverting all manufacturing waste by utilising local resources and workers to supply from landfill. the Kleenex range of tissue products to the people These achievements are not only a source of pride of Australia and New Zealand. Today, the mill for our employees, but also the SA government, proudly employs 400 local people, which makes Environmental Protection Agency, local Wattle KCA the region’s largest single employer, a leader Range Council and the community at large. This in environmental stewardship and a significant work demonstrates that manufacturing can survive contributor to the communities and economy in South Australia while achieving best practice within the South East. and leading in sustainability. Over the past decade alone, KCA has invested A testament to KCA’s sustainability commitments more than $370 million into the mill to ensure our and achievements, we are proud that in 2013-14 manufacturing systems and practices allow us to we have been acknowledged for being a leader deliver quality products that our consumers love, in sustainability, winning five of Australia’s most while also reducing our impact on the environment prestigious sustainability awards including: and the surrounding community. Much of this investment has gone into improving the mill’s 2013 FSC Excellence Award for Supplier of the wastewater quality, reducing greenhouse gas Year emissions, and minimising waste to local landfills. For our strong leadership in the procurement In order to realise KCA’s sustainability vision of and supply of FSC Certified products and creating a more sustainable future for the region, using the power of our well-known brands in a number of programs and initiatives have been partnership with FSC, WWF and the Love Your implemented at the mill that have contributed Forests Program to promote responsible forest significantly to three key areas: management. 1. Clean Water: For many years, we have been working collaboratively with the Environmental 2013 Banksia Foundation Award – Leading in Protection Authority (EPA) in SA to improve Sustainability for Large Organisations our wastewater quality and reduce our impact For being an industry leader with the Our Essential on Lake Bonney, in the lead-up to the transition World sustainability strategy that holistically from a 50-year Indenture to a licence. covers the key elements of sustainability – people, 2. Clean Air: Significant investment has gone planet and profit (products). into finding innovative solutions to make the mill more energy efficient and reduce carbon The 2013 Australian Business Award for emissions. Environmental Sustainability 3. Clean Land: A ‘Green Team’ was formed at the For our commitment to driving environmental mill to drive towards zero waste in landfill. and social sustainability practices and initiatives throughout the entire business value chain. Our ambitious goals have led to significant improvements, particularly in the mill’s wastewater The 2014 Australian Business Award for quality meeting Australian Drinking Water Innovation Guidelines before being discharged into nearby For leadership through application of innovative Lake Bonney, contributing to the reopening of solutions resulting in commercial, environmental Lake Bonney for recreational uses. They have and/or social benefit. also led to us taking a proactive approach to transitioning the mill from operating under a 50 The 2014 Australian Business Award for year Indenture established by the SA government, Technology implementing our $33 million cogeneration facility For application of technological solutions resulting which is helping improve air quality by reducing in commercial, environmental and/or social benefit.

09 ENVIRONMENT MINISTER’S AWARD FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT FINALIST

TERRACYCLE AUSTRALIA TERRACYCLE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND LTD, NSW

TerraCycle is an innovative recycling and upcycling company with the goal to eliminate the idea of waste. To do so, we create programs, called Brigades with the purpose to recycle ‘unrecyclable’ waste streams that others deem challenging, impossible or unsavoury, breaking down the localisation and limitedness of traditional recycling and diverting waste from landfill.

On March 2014, TerraCycle launched a nationwide program called the “Cigarette Waste Brigade” with the drive to collect and recycle cigarette butts – one of Australia’s top littered items. The 2014 Clean Up Australia Day Satchel Program to collect cigarette waste from over 5,000 Clean Up Australia day locations was a joint project with Australia Post and Clean Up Australia Day and saw the delivery of thousands of satchels to local bush care, land care and anti-litter groups to collect cigarette waste to be recycled for the first time in Australia. The purpose of this initiative was to tackle an unmet environmental need to make recycling accessible and easy.

10 Any individual or group can now start collecting 1: Oral Care: used toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, cigarette butts and other unrecyclable waste floss containers and outer packaging (including oral care waste, cleaning packaging 2: Cleaning and beauty packaging: nozzles, and coffee capsules) that can’t be placed in the triggers, on cleaning, beauty and laundry products, kerbside recycling bin at home or within their beauty wipe packaging community and then ship it to TerraCycle via our 3: Coffee Capsules partner Australia Post using a pre-paid shipping 4: Cigarette Butts label. The program also rewards consumers as for every piece of waste collected they earn two TerraCycle is transforming the way manufacturers cents which TerraCycle donates to their nominated view recycled plastic. By providing more charity or not for profit organisation. sustainable options without a premium, as we expand we hope to provide a sustainable Significantly, in just six short months, TerraCycle option for major plastic companies and local has collected over three million cigarette butts manufacturers to consider the commercial and saving these from landfill and litter on our beaches, environmental viability of recycled plastics linking streets and oceans. with the concept of “closing the loop”.

Our innovation is unique to Australia. There is no TerraCycle is in constant drive for innovation with other organisation offering the ability to recycle plans for expanding the range of waste streams we the waste streams we work with, namely cigarette accept in Australia and to introduce other industry waste, oral care waste (toothbrushes, toothpaste changing products and services such as “zero tubes, outer plastic packaging etc), cleaner waste boxes” for businesses and any consumer packaging, and coffee capsules. looking to make any waste stream recyclable. A number of small and large companies, litter TerraCycle has not received any funding unlike groups, community groups, local clubs, schools, many other non-profit environment schemes; we councils and many other individuals and groups are a social business with a triple bottom line of are highly engaged with the program and continue “People, Planet and Profit”. TerraCycle’s General to ship their waste to TerraCycle via Australia Post. Manager, Anna Minns brought this recycling model to Australia. Ms Minns has also addressed Our programs are not a one day a year or one off a number of sustainability and green business event; they are continuing and ongoing programs events including a public community address with for participants. TerraCycle’s legacy is that we TerraCycle’s CEO, Mr Tom Szaky at Sydney Ideas, have an engaging approach to tackling waste and University of Sydney, Queenland Small Business making recycling accessible and convenient, as week as well as other forums including UTS well as engaging the community around resource Industrial Ecology Forum, Sustainability in Business conservation and sustainability. The programs Conference, Sydney Greenups event, and talks have also garnered significant nationwide media at local schools including Cronulla Public School attention appearing on radio, print and television and St Aloysius Mosman in NSW and Manchester to talk about our recycling program. We hope Primary in Victoria this, along with the benefit to the environment and impact on litter is a legacy we hope future TerraCycle works with many CPG (consumer generations can benefit from. Small steps lead to packaged goods) companies like Colgate, Natures big change! Organics, Dolce Gusto and Nespresso so far in Australia. TerraCycle Brigades have achieved great results since our launch! At the moment in Australia we recycle the following waste streams:

11 2014 BANKSIA INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER

SEAN WILLMORE SEAN WILLMORE, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL RANGER FEDERATION (IRF), MANAGING DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, THE THIN GREEN LINE FOUNDATION

This award was established in 1995 to recognise extraordinary individuals or organisations that have made, or are making a significant contribution to improving our environment on a global level. The Banksia Board is proud to recognise Sean Wilmore, with the 2014 Banksia International Award. Sean is far more than an inspiring Australian. His achievements are forged from Sean’s unwavering vision and leadership, entwined with his infectious drive and passion to combat a sometimes-unconceivable real world problem, the human toll of poaching. His determination has meant despite economic, political and geographical boundaries he has leapt unthinkable hurdles and connected the unlikeliest of organisations, NGOs, corporates, governments and grass root supporters to tackle this issue at its coal face and support park rangers and their families, working on the dangerously thin green line. The IRF is an alliance of 64 associations on six continents. The IRF’s charity arm, The Thin Green Line Foundation, is the world’s only NGO solely dedicated to protecting endangered species and threatened ecosystems by supporting park rangers and the widows and orphans of rangers killed in the line of duty. In the past 10 years it is estimated that over 1,000 rangers have been killed in the line of duty, 75% of them by commercial poachers and armed militia groups.

12 Sean has worked with rangers and partner Sean has garnered the support and attention organisations on the frontline of conservation in of worldwide figures including Dr Jane Goodall, over 50 countries worldwide. From working in war The Duke of Cambridge – Prince William, and zones in the Congo to Colombia he has himself Bill and Hilary Clinton. At home in Australia, he has faced the dangerous reality many rangers face is supported by renowned writers, artists and every day. musicians. After initially selling his car and re-mortgaging his A recipient of numerous awards including being house in 2004, Sean travelled around the world nominated for Australian of the Year for six years for 12 months to make a film, the Thin Green Line, running, he is also the Recipient of The Royal about his inspiring colleagues. Three years later, on Humane Society Bravery Medal for a rescue the simultaneous release of the film in 35 countries attempt in his time as a ranger. and 328 locations, he started the foundation of the Sean has recently returned from the Clinton same name to support rangers and their families. Global Initiative in New York where he was able His supporters refer to him as a social entrepreneur to highlight the work of rangers and the Thin for rangers and frontline conservation. A modest Green Line Foundation and International Ranger Sean responds, ‘I’m just doing what I can for Federation by speaking directly with Hilary and rangers and conservation, that needs doing – Chelsea Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sting and desperately. Richard Branson. There’s an amazing group of people behind me, Hilary Clinton said during the launch of the latest and others that work behind the scenes to support commitment, ‘….improving the effectiveness of these heroes of conservation’. antipoaching efforts. This includes supporting Park Together with The Thin Green Line team, partners Rangers and guards through equipment, training… and supporters, Sean has to date supported over These rangers are so brave and over the years 100 widows of rangers with new farmlets, business hundreds of them have been murdered by the set ups, school fees and with that 400+ children, poachers leaving their widows and orphans. It’s a equipped and trained hundreds of rangers via dangerous occupation’. collaborative partnerships, helped to rebuild Sean believes the world’s problems, especially rangers houses burnt down by poachers, provide from a humanitarian and environmental standpoint, first aid training and equipment, invested in fresh can be very overwhelming. His philosophy is water purification and TTGLF has given emergency simple: ‘Don’t be overwhelmed - none of us can aid in times of war and conflict. TTGLF has do it all – but what’s your piece of the puzzle that protected over 2500 rangers. needs doing?’

Sponsored by

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, We give our passengers the opportunity to offset Qantas has grown to become Australia’s largest emissions from their flight, through our voluntary domestic and international airline, an iconic brand Fly Carbon Neutral program, and we harness the with a global presence. skills of our employees through our internal Green Environmental sustainability is a guiding principle Team. for today’s Qantas Group – it’s about our It was an honour win a Banksia Award in the commitment to innovation, our drive to build a corporate leadership category in 2012 - and we more competitive business and our role in the are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Banksia Australian community. International Award. Environmental sustainability Qantas is an industry leader in fuel efficiency is ultimately a global challenge, which is why it’s so initiatives – such as smart air navigation important to recognise examples of best practice technology - and, looking to the future, we are from overseas. investigating the next generation of sustainable After 26 years, the Banksia Awards continue to aviation fuels in collaboration with the Australian set the standard for environmental achievement in Government and Shell. On the ground, we are Australia. Qantas is proud to be associated with using clean trigeneration technology to power our this wonderful Australian initiative. Sydney office and operations complex. 13 A MESSAGE FROM THE BANKSIA FOUNDATION CEO

In the last two years we have moved strategically from recognising environmental excellence to sustainability. This has been an eye-opening experience in seeing how the environmental movement has evolved into a more main-stream, inclusive sector. Through the award entries we are seeing a real difference over this time. What difference – a broader approach incorporating social and financial aspects into various initiatives. Its looking forward, planning the changes to a greater extent, taking into account fiscal and community impact in securing that all important sustainable future. We have noticed how business is coming to the forefront, in the number of entries in both the Large Business and SME categories. Also the diversity of the business sectors – we see sustainability slowly spreading its tentacles across new sectors that were not traditionally known for its sustainability – a new and exciting era. This leads me to our relationship with Sustainable Business Australia. I would like to thank Andrew Petersen, the CEO of SBA for his amazing compatriotism and support. It has been an exciting journey working together and the development of Sustainable Development SD2014 – and we have a lot more on the horizon. I would personally like to thank my Board and especially my Co-Chairs in having the trust in supporting me. Constructive Not-for-profit Board Members are a key to a successful organization. Their commitment and selflessness in continually spending their free time in supporting such an organization is a real tribute to all of them. Many thanks to my amazing Board and especially to Rick Finlay who was part of the Original 44 who formed the Foundation, The wonderful individuals who take time out to judge all the entries are definitely the heart of Banksia. Each year their enthusiasm and their support allows Banksia to conduct this inspirational program. My thanks extend to each and every one of you. Each year you inspire me with all your knowledge and expertise, and I thank you also for your constant encouragement for the Foundation. The Banksia Team is only small but we try and provide Australia with a continuing Awards platform that is improving and evolving. So we must thank the unending marketing communication support provided by Izabella Kobylanski principal Planning Results as well as EAwards who enabled us make the entry process go paperless and made it far easier for our judges scattered around the country. Our unique trophy has stood the test of time and has become an icon that symbolises the awards. The credit for its design and meaning go to Dr. Charles Billich who has been a great supporter of the awards over the years. I would like to thank anyone that has worked with Banksia over the last 12 months, your contribution to the advancement of a sustainable future for Australia will always make a difference.

Graz van Egmond Chief Executive Officer

14 THE RICHARD PRATT – BANKSIA CEO AWARD

Banksia is very proud to be working with the Pratt Foundation in conducting The Richard Pratt Banksia CEO Award for 2014. This Award was created in 2013 to commemorate 25 years of the Banksia Foundation, and has been named in honour of Richard Pratt, who was seen as one of Australia’s leading change agents in the environmental business sector. Richard Pratt was a life-time Member of the Banksia Foundation and a great friend. The Banksia Board are delighted to announce the support of the Pratt Foundation in continuing this prestigious award. This award recognises, and further encourages more Australian leaders to take on innovative practices that will make a difference to our future as Richard Pratt has done. The Richard Pratt Banksia CEO Award recognises an individual Chief Executive’s outstanding contribution to sustainability through her/his leadership in implementing change to achieve improved environmental, economic and/or social outcomes. The award also acknowledges the broader impact a Chief Executive has had in influencing and inspiring others to adopt more sustainable practices

Previous Winners 2013 Ravi Naidu, leadership for a cleaner planet Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, SA

Sponsored by

The Pratt Foundation takes pride in supporting the Banksia Foundation’s Richard Pratt Award. The late Richard Pratt was one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, a generous philanthropist, and a builder of educational and arts institutions. But he was also ahead of his time in understanding why sustainability and protecting the environment were not just desirable concepts to be tacked on to the business sector, but intrinsic to their growth and success. Having grown up in a fruit-growing family in country Victoria, Richard had a farmer’s appreciation of the importance of land, water, and conserving nature. But he adapted that understanding to Visy’s development as a technology-driven manufacturing enterprise. Long before the idea of “the green factory” emerged in the environmental literature, he had envisioned Visy’s state-of-the art new pulp and paper mill at Tumut in New South Wales. He ensured the plant would be a world leader in meeting the highest environmental standards.

When the project’s Stage One opened in 2001, it attracted international attention and commendation from “greenies” and “economic rationalists” alike, as a pioneering example of how innovative solutions to such problems as air and water pollution made sound business sense. Since Richard Pratt’s death in 2009, and under Anthony Pratt’s leadership, Visy has extended the Richard Pratt legacy. The company has taken its sustainability planning in to new territory by working out how to produce clean energy from waste. Visy and The Pratt Foundation hope the Banksia Awards in general, and the Richard Pratt Award in particular, will encourage a new generation of Australian business leaders to put sustainability at the very heart of their enterprises.

15 THE RICHARD PRATT – BANKSIA CEO AWARD FINALIST

BEN BURGE MERIDIAN ENERGY AUSTRALIA AND POWERSHOP AUSTRALIA

Ben’s nomination for this award was backed by the personal statements of 14 different people who have worked with him in his role as CEO of Meridian Energy Australia and Powershop Australia ranging from television personalities to the National Director of Australia’s largest campaigning organisation GetUp! Their descriptions of him included: “we need more people like him”; “there aren’t many CEO’s who would be prepared to put themselves out there in the way that Ben does”; “Ben’s a visionary and risk taker”; “I hope others will follow his example”; “we all think he’s totally awesome”; “he brings a combination of his intellect, commitment and humanity to everything he does”; and “he’s a brave leader who isn’t afraid to take risks, to say what needs to be said and to challenge what he thinks isn’t right.”

16 Having recently turned 40, Ben has achieved a lot made the vital connection between the RET and in the space of his short career. His achievements lower wholesale energy prices and lower bills have included being CEO of a merchant bank for consumers at a time when the big energy before he was thirty, being the founding CEO of companies, AGL, Origin and Energy Australia were eMitch, a listed ASX company, at 24 and being all winning the propaganda war with the myth that headhunted by IBM Global. renewable energy was driving up power bills. Four years ago, Ben a proud father of two, decided Ben has been tireless in his efforts to support he wanted to put his experience and skills behind the RET and over the past six months has lent a cause that he cares passionately about. He took Powershop’s support to the GetUp! Better Power on the role of CEO of Meridian Energy Australia so campaign to protect the RET, a partnership that he could do something that would have a lasting has led to thousands of Victorians switching their impact on the environment his children would power over from AGL, Origin and Energy Australia grow up in. and hundreds of thousands of Victorians being Since his arrival, Meridian and Powershop have urged to use their consumer power to show their both experienced significant growth. During his support for the RET. tenure, Meridian has invested over $1 billion in renewable energy projects in Australia including, As part of the campaign Ben led a Powershop staff the Mount Mercer wind farm in Victoria and the team of 23, and was joined by 40 Better Power development of Powershop Australia, a new campaign switchers, at the recent People’s Climate electricity retailer focused on empowering its Mobilisation in Melbourne where Ben addressed customers and giving them the opportunity to the crowd of 33,000 urging them to show their reduce their electricity consumption and support a support for the RET. multitude of renewable energy projects. Ben recently made the decision to make Powershop Australia the first carbon neutral Under Ben’s leadership, Powershop has become energy company at no extra cost to customers one of Australia’s fastest growing energy retailers stating: “We believe that a commitment to recruiting approximately 25,000 residential renewable energy is demonstrated by deeds and business electricity customers in Victoria not words, and we know that our customers are since its launch in February 2014. Since taking looking to make their support for renewable on the role of CEO, Ben has also overseen the energy real. Following the repeal of the Carbon development of Meridian’s Mt Mercer wind farm in Tax, we know that customers are asking “What Victoria with capacity (131megawatts) to supply can I do to help reduce global emissions?” From 1 energy equivalent to the needs of over 100,000 September, the answer is “join Powershop.” households. Powershop was recently ranked Australia’s Critically Ben has driven Meridian and Powershop’s greenest power company by Greenpeace in their unstinting support for the Renewable Energy Green Electricity Index. Expect more innovation Target (RET), a policy critical to securing soon as Ben and his team explores what it means Australia’s renewable energy future. He led the to make a better power company. Put most simply, team that drafted and submitted a detailed more Powershop customers will mean more submission to the Expert Panel reviewing the investment in renewable energy generation and RET that explained the benefits of the target and more informed consumers using less electricity - a the need to keep it unchanged. That submission massive win for the environment and Australia.

17 THE RICHARD PRATT – BANKSIA CEO AWARD FINALIST

DAMIEN WALSH BANKMECU, VIC

Damien Walsh has had a 20-year career in the cooperative banking sector gaining in-depth knowledge and experience about how the business of banking can have positive social, economic and environmental benefits and how it can contribute to sustainability thought leadership. Damien’s motivation to continue to lead the bank’s sustainability agenda is borne out of a belief that the bank has a primary responsibility to deliver value to its customers who also own the bank, while at the same time meeting their expectations that the bank will contribute to a fairer, more equitable and sustainable world.

18 Starting in 2003 when mecu Limited embarked The Landbank allows the bank to offset the on its sustainability journey, Damien has built a biodiversity loss associated with the construction broad and deep understanding about the power of of new homes financed and the greenhouse banking to bring about a more sustainable world. gas emissions from cars under finance. It also He has led bankmecu’s involvement in range of contributes to bankmecu’s carbon neutral status. international programs where the company has The bank’s operations became fully carbon neutral been a trailblazer for small to medium business, in 2011 and will remain so. embedding sustainability into its core business Damien’s advocacy and leadership in sustainability while continuing to achieve strong profit and has extended beyond the bank to the customer financial results. Testament to this leadership in the owned banking sector in Australia as well as more early days of this journey was Damien’s invitation broadly to the corporate sector. This is particularly in 2005 to present to the Global Roundtable of the evident in the area of Integrated Reporting United Nations Environment Program – Finance where bankmecu has been able to have a level of Initiative in New York about the credit union’s influence and impact well above its relative size advances in sustainability reporting. and market share. bankmecu was one of three Australian companies As Managing Director and previously as General involved in an international pilot project run by Manager Corporate Services, Damien has overseen the International Integrated Reporting Council the reorientation of mecu Limited to a leading and to develop and test an IR framework. The other recognised thought leader in values based and companies were large corporations, NAB and sustainable banking. Stockland. Damien committed the bank to the Damien has led the engagement of staff to project because it gave bankmecu an opportunity embed sustainability principles into all aspects to represent the views of cooperative enterprise of the business from product design and and bring the bank’s expertise to this international procurement through to business operations, forum. reporting, branding and organisational culture. The As the only Australian member of the Global approach has been dual – to ensure the business Alliance for Banking on Values and recognised minimises its own footprint while also encouraging leader in Integrating Reporting, bankmecu is an customers, suppliers and stakeholders to adopt active contributor to the global conversation about more sustainable practices. the role of private finance in solving the world’s intractable social and environmental problems. As an example the bank was first to market with In 2014 bankmecu renewed its Strategic Plan with a range of GoGreen loans (home, personal and a strong focus on growth and continued leadership car) that provided incentives for customers to in sustainable development. Damien, along make more sustainable choices such as the energy with the Board of the bank have committed to efficiency of their new homes or emissions of their increasing the scale of the bank in order to allow it new motor vehicles. In 2005, mecu won the Gold to not only provide banking to a larger number of Banksia Award for the development of its GoGreen Australians but to also have a greater capacity to Car Loan. have positive social, economic and environmental Under Damien’s leadership the bank has been impacts. developing a world-first solution for a financial As part of this agenda, Damien is currently institution to the question of carbon neutrality pushing the bank to identify the next sustainability through its Conservation Landbank. Since 2008, frontier and new partnerships that will help bankmecu has purchased 927 hectares of land advance sustainable development into the future. spread across five properties situated in Victoria’s Through these partnerships the bank is exploring west Wimmera region. This land has been set aside innovations in the areas of renewable energy to help protect remnant natural forest and restore generation and social return on investment degraded farmland. measurement as well as cooperative models for public service delivery and socially inclusive banking solutions. 19 THE RICHARD PRATT – BANKSIA CEO AWARD FINALIST

KATY BARFIELD SPADE AND BARROW, VIC

The last 10 years of Katy’s career have been about connecting people and food, and reducing unnecessary food waste. As the founding CEO of fresh food rescue organisation SecondBite Katy lead the team through an intensive growth period from 2006 – 2012. From a volunteer led grass roots start-up moving a few hundred kgs of fruit & veg to this year collecting and redistributing six million kgs of fresh produce to over 1000 community organisations in every state and territory in Australia.

20 At SecondBite Katy met number farmers who Concern, and Trinity Hospice and led a fundraising were struggling to harvest their produce due to campaign for the relief of Poverty for Children in extreme financial hardship. She also realised that Afghanistan that funded a Street Child clinic for when they did harvest, up to 30% of the crop three years. Katy was also the Marketing Director was rejected based on aesthetics. So she started of Corporate Catering Company, with 46 venues Spade & Barrow - Australia’s first social wholesale then the largest independent hotel company in fruit & vegetable business committed to keeping South East England. On arrival in Australia in 2001 Australian Farmers on their land by purchasing all Katy started up Eye Marketing creating identities of their crop, big, small, wonky and straight. From for hospitality venues in Melbourne which led to a standing start in April 2013 Spade & Barrow her opening her own venue in the CBD. While now employs 12 people and is already selling fruit running this successful small business she became & vegetables to over 120 businesses and 300 appalled at the level of food waste in both the households direct from Australian farmers every sector, and the community. week. Spade & Barrow calls this produce Natures Recognition Grade because it is food as nature intended – after In 2008 Katy was awarded the Tattersall’s all not every carrot can be a super model! Enterprise & Achievement Award and was selected by The Age as one of Melbourne’s 100 Most Katy has put Natures Grade on the map and has Influential people. trademarked the term as a non-profit to prevent In 2011, Katy was awarded the Stanford Australia it ever being exploited for commercial gain. It Foundation’s Scholarship for Not for Profit Leaders signifies that the farmer has been paid a fair and completed Stanford University’s Executive price for their produce, the crop has not been Program in Social Entrepreneurship. discriminated against and there is transparency as to who grew the produce and it what region it was Under Katy’s leadership SecondBite received grown. the Lord Mayor’s Melbourne Award 2008 for Contribution to Community, 2010 Premier’s The aim is to put value back into the food system Sustainability Award, 2010 Victorian Government by compensating farmers fairly for fabulous fresh Community Development’s Innovation Award, and produce that would otherwise not be harvested, the 2010 Banksia Community Grant Award. whilst providing affordable fresh nutritious food Katy is a board member of SecondBite and of the wholesale to the public and community sector. non-profit Community Pop-Up Markets – which aims to increase access and affordability of fresh Katy joined the non-profit sector in the UK 18 years produce and provide training opportunities for ago working for Children in Crisis with the Duchess residents living in public and social housing. of York. She worked for SCOPE, Colon Cancer

21 THE RICHARD PRATT – BANKSIA CEO AWARD FINALIST

MEGAN HOUGHTON BRISBANE GREEN HEART CITYSMART (CITYSMART), QLD

CitySmart Pty Ltd is a Brisbane City Council subsidiary responsible for partnering with industry and governments to design and deliver innovative sustainability initiatives that benefit Australian cities. As CEO, Megan leads a fresh approach to sustainability, facilitating collaborations that deliver economic and environmental benefits to businesses and households, commercial returns for corporate partners and sustainability benefits for cities and regions. Working in the energy and water sectors most of her career, she has been a close observer of the increasing use of energy, chemicals and production of waste without traditional approaches challenged, as engineers liked to build more power lines and businesses made more money from building another coal fired generator, versus influencing customers to use less.

22 In her own words: “I’m not against consumption $530m in economic benefits for Queensland and easy lifestyles. I just believe that there is a with 590 jobs and is planned to reduce building smarter, more sustainable way to do it. We can energy costs up to 30% and 21,000t emissions operate communities, businesses, industries and • making it easier for 1,000 low income young governments in a way that doesn’t compromise adults to use less energy through taking a the environment or sacrifice commercial outcomes; digital gamification approach to behaviour there are real business opportunities in pursuing change sustainable outcomes to current challenges.” • establishing an electric vehicle charging station In CitySmart Megan saw an opportunity to deliver trial to determine barriers to market growth and on Brisbane’s sustainability targets by adopting a how to overcome them new innovative approach. It involved using proven • engagement with businesses of a Hemmant technologies but applying different commercial Lytton precinct for an innovative eco-precinct models and getting more partners involved from trial. industry and government to solve traditional CitySmart has had great success in influencing sustainability challenges across energy, water and partners and stakeholders to engage in innovative waste - driving change through the development approaches to solving sustainability challenges, of the commercial business case that would also mostly across energy to date. The impact it deliver environmental outcomes. has had on Brisbane is notable, and the funding In 2009, when Megan took the challenge of required from the Council to achieve this has building CitySmart, it was a start up with three been minimal due to the leverage achieved from desks from Ikea and delivering a few community collaboration. The company now has established events per year that engaged around 500 Brisbane capability in program delivery, particularly digital, residents in total. Now in 2014, CitySmart is stakeholder engagement and commercial models a team of 20 delivering over $25 million in with proven approaches that deliver real results. sustainability projects, developing a further $230 This capability can now be expanded to help more million in projects, and educating over 110,000 Australian cities at relatively low marginal cost. Brisbane residents on sustainably each year; all As most of our corporate partners operate on a through collaboration with 45 corporate partners national basis this will also support my vision for and all levels of Government. Citysmart to roll its program out to help other CitySmart now operates on a national basis and Australian cities, starting with Queensland and key results delivered over the last five years NSW, and make an impact across other industries include: starting with waste management. • annual turnover growth to $5m p.a. Megan has extensive experience in the energy, • engaging and working collaboratively with 45 water and sustainability sectors with previous roles corporate partners. as Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers and head • 110,000 residents engaged in living more of strategy for Energex. Megan is a non-executive sustainably through the EzyGreen residential director and chair of the environment committee program and biannual Green Heart Fairs that for Unitywater which provides water distribution now attract 20,000 attendees. and retail services to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, • 61,000 residents now saving over $10 million and Urbis, the national planning and property collectively on their energy bills each year with advisory firm. emission reductions of 42,000 tC02e. In 2010 Megan was named Telstra Queensland • assisting 300 small business find energy savings Business Woman of the Year and in October through the Watt Savers program. 2012 was named by Australian Financial Review • developing the feasibility of a central district and Westpac as one of ‘Australia’s 100 Women cooling system for Brisbane (an Australian of Influence’. Megan was also selected as one of first on the CBD scale), procuring a globally two Australians for the US Department of State’s established utility partnership to fully fund and Visiting Leaders program, focusing on climate deliver the $230m infrastructure that will create change and renewable energy. 23 THE BANKSIA FOUNDATION

The Banksia Foundation is a not-for-profit Australia’s environmental best. organisation that has been operating since 1989 to inspire sustainable development through Over the past 26 years there have been over 360 positive reinforcement. The Foundation’s leading winners. These winners have overcome great program is the Banksia Sustainability Awards challenges and learnt great lessons that could be that recognise Australia’s innovative examples shared with others who are at various levels of of sustainable research, practices and services. their road to environmental sustainability. Through our award categories we are able to seek out Australia’s inspirational case-studies and Accessing this fountain of knowledge and energy promote them throughout Australia. This enables behind the pursuit of innovation and excellence organisations to see the benefits and positive can be instrumental to making all the difference outcomes in adopting a sustainable path. between success and failure for those others who The Banksia Foundation (Banksia) is a well- could be floundering or losing their way. established organisation dedicated to working The Banksia Foundation opens the door of a with industry and community to create an array of myriad of opportunities to make a real difference. platforms to focus attention on the recognition of Core Values environmental excellence and sustainability. • Banksia elevates the awareness of our natural The Banksia Foundation was founded in 1989 by environment and its connectedness amongst a diverse group of 44 Australians who shared mainstream Australians and beyond; a common goal to do more to support and • Banksia uses positive recognition as our method recognise members of the community for their in engaging our audience; positive contribution to the environment. Banksia is a strong and expanding brand, based Banksia ensures we maintain our leadership on the integrity of the Banksia Awards and its in identifying new areas in the environmental activities. sustainability arena that need to be promoted to Our continued success is based on the the general public. partnerships developed with our sponsors, and the ability to be able to provide our sponsors with a practical and valuable marketing platform through recognising leadership and innovation amongst

24 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

This Award recognises a large business that has demonstrated leadership by fully integrating sustainable principles and practices into operational business activities, reducing the organisation’s footprint and adding value to society. This award was first presented in 2009 and has played an important part in the Banksia Sustainability Awards ever since.

Sponsored by

By collaborating effectively with their peers, While results depend on a company’s own efforts, government and local communities, large the program provides expertise, training and businesses can have a profound impact on business tools such as: sustainability. They can act decisively to reduce • practical workshops and a comprehensive their own ecological footprint, but also to share range of guides, case studies and templates. their sustainability knowledge and lead the • one-on-one specialist support. transformation of their industry sectors. • an extended network of like-minded organisations. For individual businesses, an ongoing commitment Sustainability Advantage also includes a to sustainability delivers well documented benefits. recognition scheme to reward environmental It boosts resilience and productivity, reduces costs improvements. and provides a distinct competitive advantage. Energy Saver Energy Saver provides practical guidance and Businesses with an eye on their triple bottom line training on energy efficiency, helping deliver - their environmental, social and financial impacts substantial savings on power bills to businesses - are able to make better decisions, compete throughout New South Wales. effectively, build a more loyal customer base, and Energy Saver helps organisations identify attract and retain staff. opportunities to reduce electricity and gas usage, The NSW Government’s Office of Environment and implement technical projects and measure and Heritage is committed to supporting businesses verify savings. It also provides assistance with on their sustainability journey. Technical advice, accessing the NSW Energy Savings Scheme and training, business tools and networks are provided other financial support. through leading programs such as: NABERS Sustainability Advantage. The National Australian Built Environmental Rating Open to medium-sized and large businesses, not- System (NABERS) is a national program that helps for-profit organisations and government agencies. organisations rate the environmental performance Now in its ninth year, Sustainability Advantage is of commercial buildings on a six-star rating scale recognised as an incubator program for innovation, for energy efficiency, water efficiency, waste collaboration and continuous improvement. management and indoor environment quality. Over 550 organisations have saved a combined Since 2010, with the introduction of the $85 million each year through sustainability Commonwealth Building Energy Efficiency initiatives. Disclosure Act, a NABERS Energy rating assessment has been mandatory during the sale or lease of offices with floor space of more than 2000 sqm. 25 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

KFC AUSTRALIA YUM! RESTAURANTS AUSTRALIA, NSW

Kentucky Fried Chicken Pty Ltd (KFC Australia), a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., serves over 2 million customers every week and is one of the largest restaurant systems in Australia. KFC Australia operates in a multi-stakeholder environment; we have a complex structure with a multitude of internal and external stakeholders with whom we have consulted throughout our sustainability journey.We recognise that for our sustainability strategy to achieve significant impact, we require the support and participation of not only external stakeholders such as our suppliers, but the cooperation of our employee and franchise network that includes more than 600 restaurants; 30 000 employees and 60 franchisees. Kentucky Fried Chicken Pty Ltd (KFC Australia), a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., serves over 2 million customers every week and is one of the largest restaurant systems in Australia. KFC Australia operates in a multi-stakeholder environment; we have a complex structure with a multitude of internal and external stakeholders with whom we have consulted throughout our sustainability journey. 26 We recognise that for our sustainability strategy to emissions for both company-owned and franchise achieve significant impact, we require the support and stores. participation of not only external stakeholders such • Reducing Waste – KFC Australia is the first Quick as our suppliers, but the cooperation of our employee Service Restaurant to have consumer bottle and and franchise network that includes more than 600 can recycling in store; a further 98% of KFC stores restaurants; 30 000 employees and 60 franchisees. recycle cardboard back of house and canola We have a responsibility to build a sustainable cooking oil is recycled at more than 560 stores and business that supports the Australian community used to create biodiesel and animal feed. and we are conscious of the environment in which • Introduced the first Australian LEED Certified Quick we operate and proactively look for opportunities to Service Restaurant in East Maitland – recycling improve the lives of those we impact. As such, we are up to 720kg of food and general waste a week, committed to making investments in sustainability achieving up to 70% reduced lighting energy research and initiatives - meeting the needs of the consumption and 35% water reduction. A model present without compromising the ability of future for future business, KFC Australia aims for all generations to meet their needs. To date, we have company owned restaurants to be LEED certifiable aggressively reduced our environmental impacts by (or equivalent) from 2015, with a second LEED pioneering a number of environmental initiatives in certifiable store currently being built in Lidcombe, the Quick Service Restaurant industry. KFC Australia NSW. is also recognised as a leading Yum! market in Sustainable supply chain sustainability and a leader in terms of Yum!’s global We believe that by influencing and working in environmental goals. Sustainability Strategy in Action partnership with our suppliers we can significantly Yum’s Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy reduce our impact on the environment, some centres on four key pillars: People, Food, Community initiatives include: and Environment. Locally, we align with those global • Farm-to-Fork study – partnering with our supply CSR pillars, implementing a strategy that delivers chain in an industry-leading study to identify and against our goals. assess the environmental and social hotspots across our supply chain KFC Australia’s sustainability strategy aligns to • An innovator in industrial ecology – in 2014 we the Environmental pillar of the Corporate Social faced the problem of disposing of approximately Responsibility framework, which is governed by an 60,000 old staff uniforms as we switched to new executive level Steering Committee. This Committee ones. KFC Australia collaborated with produce meets monthly to: suppliers, Cut Fresh Salads and Unifresh to set goals and strategy to transparently report its commence the sustainable transfer of uniforms to progress to stakeholders; Pacific NonWovens, a fibre technology company prioritise efforts and identify opportunities and that will convert them to 25,000 m2 of Superfelt challenges; and develop and implement programs. carpet underlay, to be sold commercially. To build the sustainability strategy KFC Australia Industry Sustainability Working Group – we conducted a Life Cycle Assessment approach. We convene industry experts to understand crossovers, used industry-leading methodologies to ensure opportunities and best practice initiatives across our our focus was in the right areas and founded on supply chain. real insights and data.As a result, our Sustainability Operational context Strategy has two key focus areas: sustainable stores In Australia around 80% of KFC restaurants are and a sustainable supply chain. Across these two owned by a franchisee, the remaining 20% are areas, KFC has undertaken a number of sustainability company owned. The Restaurant Service Centre initiatives including: (RSC) i.e. headquarters, is tasked with consulting, Sustainable stores providing guidance and communicating change to • Reducing our carbon footprint, saving KFC the franchisees. In relation to sustainability, we work Australia more than $2 million across stores, extensively across our network of stores to drive through a number of initiatives such as installation awareness of the social and commercial benefits that of new energy efficient equipment and energy sustainable practices can achieve and implement management training for Restaurant General recommended initiatives. Managers at store level. KFC Australia is the only For more information about KFC, please visit www. Quick Service Restaurant that reports carbon facebook.com/KFCAustralia or http://www.kfc.com.au. 27 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

IKEA PEOPLE & PLANET POSITIVE, NSW

IKEA Australia, NSW At IKEA Australia, our business vision is to create a better everyday life for the many. For us, sustainability is at the heart of how we’ll achieve this, focusing on the small steps that make a big difference and positive impact to our business, our customers and their environment. Over the next 3-years we will build four new stores in Australia, welcome an estimated 15 million visitors per year and employ around 3,500 co-workers. Whilst this growth offers us great opportunity, it also brings the potential for more environmental impact, so it’s all the more imperative for us to strive for sustainability and act as a responsible retailer.

28 We recognise the need for real, transformational • iCare, our workplace giving program is now change. From addressing the higher price of the largest corporate program of its type in raw materials, to driving down emissions, to Australia. The program raises funds for UNICEF creating consumer products that save energy, Australia, with 36% or our co-workers regularly our ambitious long-term People & Planet Positive contributing about $75,000 a year strategy sees us commit to the cause. The drivers Influencing change from within of our strategy centre around: Our strategy begins with the empowerment of • Inspiring and enabling millions of customers to our co-workers and we’re pleased to report they live a more sustainable life at home are with us on our journey. Our recent employee • Striving for resource and energy independence survey reported that 83% of our co-workers are • Taking a lead in creating a better life for the proud of the way IKEA works with sustainability, people and communities impacted by our whilst 78% of employees say they feel responsible business for supporting the cause. Over the past year, we’re proud to report results of Within our Australian stores, IKEA Richmond is our sustainability initiatives: a corporate Ambassador to the Yarra Project • 18% reduction in CO2 emissions from our retail Zero. Developed by the Yarra Energy Foundation, operations through smart technology, behavior IKEA Richmond is helping empower and inspire change and the installation of commercial LEDs 8,000 small and medium businesses in the City • Installing 16,000 solar panels across all our to build a zero carbon future and switch to stores and external warehouses in Australia, solar or LED lighting at work. On a corporate we plan to generate 5,495MWh of electricity level, IKEA Australia has taken an active role annually contributing regular editorial to subscribers of • This year, the IKEA catalogue was printed ProBono Australia in additional to presenting our using renewable sources in Australia and was approach on responsible sourcing and IWAY at the the largest ever production on 100% Forest Australian Sustainability Conference, and similarly Stewardship Council Mix Credit paper. It carries at the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the FSC logo, meaning the entire production Sustainability Commitment Forum. chain, from forest to printer, is FSC-certified to Influencing change through strategic partnerships. ensure a more sustainable origin of the wood We’ve developed long-term partnerships, with • In addition to separating 22 different waste goals ranging from increasing the supply of wood streams for recycling, we introduced organics from responsibly managed forests to raising cotton recycling within our restaurants, and giving farming standards and creating opportunities for away coffee grounds each week to local green the development of children. thumbs. This helped resulted in a 29% increase Our key partners include FSC, Better Cotton in diversion from landfill over the past year Initiative, WWF, UNICEF Australia, Save the • A partnership with GoGet over the last year Children, Australia for UNHCR, HeartKids has resulted in a permanent fleet of 24+ GoGet Australia and Sustainable Business Australia cars and mini-van pods stationed at all IKEA (SBA). We are always reviewing and building on stores, with free GoGet membership for IKEA our People & Planet Positive strategy, to identify Family members. On average over the past year, new partnerships to achieve our goals. New 440 trips originate from our vehicle pods every partnerships this year include; The Climate Group, month, and 38% of these were new to the car working towards the Clean Revolution Campaign share scheme and also a new collaboration with the Ellen • We strive to be a ‘good neighbour’. In 2013 our MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy 100 - Co-worker Enterprise Agreement was modified where we’ll be working alongside other companies to include an entitlement to a community to help lead the practical transition towards a volunteer leave day for every co-worker for the restorative, circular economy. next four years. In the past eight months our co-workers have donated 826 hours to local communities in need 29 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

SIMPLOT AUSTRALIA WORKING TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Simplot Australia is a leading food manufacturer in Australia and home to many iconic food brands including John West, Leggo’s, Chiko, Birds Eye, Edgell, I&J and Lean Cuisine. We are a family owned business that employs more than 3000 Australians at our nine manufacturing sites. Our products include nutritionally balanced meals, convenient frozen vegetables, rich pasta sauces, tasty seafood and fun snack foods. We are passionate about Bringing Earth’s Resources to Life in a sustainable way so Australians can continue enjoying our products for generations to come.

30 We’ve always considered it common sense to use resources sustainably—it’s part of our history, it’s good for our business and it’s simply the right thing to do. When the young J.R “Jack” Simplot established his one-man farming operation in 1929, he grew the company by creating new and innovative ways of doing business. Today we recognise many of his instincts as “green” thinking: he adapted emerging technology to improve products, made processes more efficient, and devised uses for material that others considered waste. We’ve continued along this path. Our commitment to doing business sustainability is supported by our three pillar approach: • Respect for Resources: A sustainable approach to growth in all aspects of our business • Spirit of Innovation: Constantly driven to discover, create, improve and inspire • Passion for People: A responsible partner to all of our stakeholders, large and small The Company pillars help guide all of our efforts and ensure that sustainability remains a core focus for our business and our people. We have delivered some encouraging results including: • diverting 1,460 kg of Birds Eye packaging from landfill since the launch of the RedCycle program • 12% reduction in energy used per tonne of production since 2008 • sourcing more than 300,000 tonnes of Australian grown vegetables from Australian farmers each year • 27% reduction in carbon intensity per tonne of production since 2008 • 85% of all manufacturing waste is recycled • saving more than 1,500 tonnes of packaging through redesign since 2008 • partnering with WWF, the world’s largest independent conservation organisation, to assist us in sourcing sustainable seafood • committing to directly sourcing cage free eggs • removing more than 15 tonnes of salt from our Leggo’s products since 2011 • donating more than 360,000 kilos of food to Foodbank in 2013 that provided 480,000 meals and achieved an $8.3 million social return on investment. We will continue to respect natural resources, remain committed to our partners in the production of good food, and care for the communities within which we operate. We believe that’s what a sustainable future is all about.

31 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

WOOLWORTHS SUSTAINABLE RETAILING, NSW

Woolworths is Australia’s largest retailer, so we have an obligation to demonstrate and promote sustainability in everything we do – transforming the market and promoting sustainable living to our 198,000 staff, our 29 million customers each week and the communities in which we work. We build sustainability into every level of our operations. Our CEO and Board are ultimately responsible for sustainability and they get support from all our senior executives. We are constantly seeking ways to cut our carbon emissions, improve our energy and water efficiency and reduce the waste we send to landfill. We do this because it’s good business and because it’s the right thing to do.

32 What we’re proud of this year We’ve also changed our meat trays on 18 products We’ve strengthened our commitment to ethical to use a minimum of 90 per cent recycled PET sourcing in our supply chain by signing the plastic. Bangladesh Accord for Building and Fire Safety, Our Fresh Food Future program promotes and by introducing processes to eliminate from our sustainable farming to grow more with less supply chain Uzbek cotton that used child labour. and nurtures young talent in agriculture. We’ve In November 2013, we announced ambitious invested more than $10 million in 180 projects in animal welfare targets and we are well progressed this program since 2007. For example, Queensland in achieving these commitments. vegetable grower Ray Bertinazzi used his grant to Since 2011, our Fresh Food Rescue program has install a hydroponic-water sterilising system to cut delivered 10.2 million meals to Australians in need. his water and fertiliser use by one-third. He now About two-thirds of our supermarkets collaborate uses one lot of bore water to produce up to three with local farmers to collect produce and bakery crops, saving water, electricity and fertiliser – and waste for stock feed or composting. Last year, this reducing his carbon footprint. diverted more than 26,000 tonnes of food from All these achievements have been noted in landfill and saved more than $8 million in waste the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, in which service costs. Woolworths Limited was recognised – for the The waste we sent to landfill decreased by 18.4 second consecutive year – as the global leader in per cent and the amount of waste we diverted the food and staples retailing sector. to recycling and reuse rose 10.5 per cent. Of this, recyclable cardboard was 0.96 per cent of the Future directions and aspirations waste stream and recyclable plastic film was 1.24 • To make responsibly sourced everyday products per cent. available to all our customers at affordable We’ve cut our carbon emissions by 18.7 per cent prices (810,000 tonnes) this year, thanks to investments • To reduce waste and pass on those savings to of $113.4 million in energy efficiency since 2009. By customers next year, this is expected to generate savings of • Increase recovery of recyclables from our $163.1 million. operations to 99 per cent Nine new projects this year cut energy use by • Improve packaging design and materials for 32,644 megawatt hour and carbon emissions by Own Brand products through design criteria 29,844 tonnes. We’re focusing on refrigeration, such as reduction, recycling and clear labelling. air conditioning and lighting. At petrol sites, we • No cage-laid eggs in our stores or used in our generated 84,500 kilowatt hours of electricity Own Brand products by December 2018 from solar photovoltaic panels. • Source all seafood from sustainable sources. We reached our water efficiency target in 2010 All our Own Brand canned tuna is now either (200 megalitres of water saved each year) and pole-and-line caught or caught without fish have now turned our focus to rainwater harvesting aggregation devices –significantly reducing by- – we harvested 13 megalitres of rainwater at our catch Sydney and Wyong regional distribution centres • Net zero deforestation by 2020 in our Own this year. Brand products. Source all timber, paper and We’ve reviewed the packaging of more than 3,300 board from certified sustainable sources by Own Brand products against our sustainable 2020 packaging guidelines and we are improving • Use 100 per cent certified sustainable palm oil the packaging for our products. For example, in all Own Brand food products by 2015 Woolworths Select 600mL bottled water changed • All new stores will be 25 per cent more efficient to a bottle that’s 16 per cent lighter and made from per square metre from our base year of 2007. 50 per cent recycled PET plastic.

33 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

THE GPT GROUP THE GPT GROUP, NSW

The GPT Group is a property group with broad access to capital invested in quality assets which, through proactive management, creates great customer experiences and superior returns. The Group owns, and has created, some of Australia’s most iconic real estate assets including Melbourne Central in Victoria, Rouse Hill Town Centre in New South Wales and One One One Eagle Street in Brisbane. GPT aspires to be an overall positive contributor to our communities, people and the environment. We aim to manage our sustainability performance in a way that invites our stakeholders to hold us to account. Our purpose is to maximise the financial potential of Australian property with solutions that fulfil the aspirations of our investors, tenants and communities.

34 With sustainability integrated into GPT’s strategy, 4.5 star NABERS Energy across office portfolio. we recognise the importance of underpinning our business objectives with an aligned organisational This target was exceeded in 2013, to 5.0 stars with culture, effective stakeholder engagement, sound Green Power, 4.6 stars without. governance and business processes that embed Our ongoing target will be to continue to improve sustainability practices into our day-to-day our environmental performance at a faster operations. rate than the average of the Global Real Estate GPT is proud to benchmark sustainability Sustainability Benchmark – equalling Green Stars performance by participating in the Dow Jones in all relevant environmental categories while Sustainability Index (DJSI) and the Global Real continuing to strive to meet our aspirational Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). GPT has targets as fast as commercially viable. been named the global sector leader in real estate Our sustainability strategy directly aligns with our on the DJSI for 2014/15. This is the fourth time in corporate strategy, recognising that the value we six years that GPT has been recognised in this way. deliver to our investors and customers is deeply GPT believes that looking after our environment to connected to our environmental performance, meet the needs of current and future generations engagement with our stakeholder communities is essential to our ongoing business success. We and accountability to deliver what we have set recognise that we need to continue to reduce out to achieve. These communities include all our environmental impact and progress to a GPT stakeholders, ranging from employees to point where resources are sustainably used and construction workers, centre guests and the emissions are at or below levels that can be greater community within which we operate. reabsorbed without harm. In late 2013, GPT entered into a partnership with Since 2005 GPT has: Career Trackers. As a result, GPT implemented an • reduced water intensity by 43%* Intern Program involving the mentorship of five • reduced energy intensity by 34%* high performing indigenous students for 12 weeks • reduced carbon emission intensity by 42%* over the course of a year. • improved recycling from 29% to 45%* The Group also continues its partnership with The University of Western Sydney (UWS). This year the Further to this: Group offered two students striving to enter the • $17.4 million of electricity and $402,895 of gas property sector a $10,000 working scholarship. related avoided costs* in 2013 • 112,247 tCO2e greenhouse gas emissions Other highlights from 2013 include: avoided in 2013* • $2,361,508 in community investment • 62% of GPT employees volunteered their time at *compared to a 2005 baseline. 12 community organisations In addition to substantially reducing our • Signatory to the Australian Employment environmental impact, in 2013 we avoided Covenant and the introduction of an Indigenous $25.4 million in costs when compared to our 2005 baseline. This means had GPT been using Mentorship program energy, water, and landfill at 2005 levels per • Signatory and contributing member of the UN square metre of managed space, overall costs Global Compact in 2013 alone would have been $25.4 million • Continued development of a Shared Value higher. This demonstrates that sustainable utility model improvements have benefits both environmentally • Expansion of the GPT/SecondBite Food and commercially. Recovery Program to all Victorian retail assets In 2013, GPT recorded 155,455 tonnes of CO2e resulting in the collection of approximately emissions, which is 35% lower than 2005 levels 120,000kg of food despite 12% growth in the size of our portfolio. GPT set a target of achieving a weighted average 35 LARGE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

TEACHERS MUTUAL BANK WE BELIEVE PROFITS SHOULD DO GOOD IN THE WORLD

‘Since we became a Mutual Bank in April 2012 we have evolved our business. We understand that we need to drive growth, build value and create competitive differentiation. To Teachers Mutual Bank, being sustainable is in fact our core purpose, it’s not an add-on or a fashionable extra we have discovered. It’s how we define success as a business. In fact sustainability is the natural way to describe mutuality. We believe sustainability is about the whole bank. It is embedded in who we are as a bank, what we do and why we do it’

- Steve James CEO, Teachers Mutual Bank.

36 Teachers Mutual Bank is the leading Australian • Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) results: bank servicing the education sector. We exist for Despite a tougher criteria this year, we the mutual benefit of our members, which means achieved a score of 91%. A significant factor everything we do is to ensure our members have in the score has been the banks’ strong a brighter financial future, and we are dedicated human resources and employee development to providing financial products and services approach. exclusively for teachers and their families. • Strategic direction: We set and report on 97 We were established by teachers for teachers. sustainability targets each year to help meet Since our humble beginning in 1966 as the our strategic business goal –‘sustainability Hornsby Teachers Credit Union, operating out is integrated throughout our business and of a tennis shed, we are proud to have grown embedded in polices, procedures and to become one of Australia’s largest mutuals practices’. with over 160,000 members and $4.4 billion in • Leadership on climate change: This year we assets. Our core values are Advocacy, Passion published our climate change policy which and Sustainability. Teachers Mutual Bank is a states, ‘we don’t use members’ funds to purpose-driven bank; we believe profit has finance large-scale greenhouse-gas pollution, a purpose. Ethical business practises and and don’t use members’ deposits to directly sustainability are at our very heart. We are lend to, buy equity or debt in, any large-scale committed to creating a better world for our greenhouse polluting activities from fossil fuel members, the teaching community, the planet exploration, extraction, production and use’. and the people on it. • Engaged members and Staff: Our metrics Sustainability is not part of our business, it’s why for members and employees satisfaction are we do business. Sustainability is integral and world class; integrated in to what we do every day. Employee engagement score is 88% We’re continuing to strive to live up to being an Employee satisfaction is 88% ethical and sustainable business, and to lead by Member Satisfaction is consistently around 90% example. We believe business should be driven • Education community investment: We by ethics. collaborate with a wide range of education Sustainability performance community partners and provide financial We have worked hard to improve our support through sponsorships, partnerships, performance in the last two years. Our grants, scholarships, donations and charities, performance results are measured across including; hundreds of indicators in three of the world’s Support to over 150 teacher development leading sustainable business rankings; conference and events • the WME (World’s Most Ethical Companies Arts Unit initiatives including Schools list). Spectacular NSW • the CRI (Corporate Responsibility Index); WA Education awards • the LBG (London Benchmarking Group) Teachers Environment Fund (TEF) - this year we We are a leader in 3 global sustainability indices provided $56,783 to support eco-projects at 36 of 400+ companies worth $2 trillion dollars, of schools across the country. which 50+ are banks/financial services. Future Teachers Scholarship (FTS) -$175,000 Some of our recent highlights include: awarded since 2009, to help education students • World’s Most Ethical Companies 2014: We on their journey to becoming a teacher. were honoured to be named as of only three • UNAA Sustainability Leadership award: Australian organisations on this list, and one Awarded by the United Nations Association of only five banks globally. of Australia in support of the UN World • Benchmarking Group (LGB) results: The LBG Environment Day, this award recognised is the internationally recognised standard Teachers Mutual Bank as a leader in for measuring a corporation’s community sustainable business practices. investment. Our investment of 4.1% of pre-tax profits is 12 times the A&NZ finance services average, and 2.4 times the Global LBG average. 37 THE BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS JUDGES

The Banksia Judging Process is heavily underpinned by the dedicated individuals that give up their time and expertise in order to access each entry. These individuals have been selected for their expertise and their commitment to Banksia’s ideal in identifying and celebrating leadership in this country for others to emulate. The Banksia Foundation would like to thank our judges - over 90 of them - based right around Australia. These judges are independent to the Banksia Board and Staff. It is of the utmost importance for the Foundation to maintain the independence of the judging process and this is fundamental to the integrity of the Banksia Awards. The judges are all specialists in their field and the judging panels are organized for each category to match their expertise. All potential conflicts of interest are declared from the outset and these judges do not take part in that particular entry’s assessment. Banksia would like to acknowledge our Chair of Judges, Mike Juleff and the Head of the Audit Panel, Terence Jeyaretnum. Their commitment and support is invaluable and ensures that we maintain a viable, efficient and reputable judging process.

On behalf of the Banksia Foundation we would like to thank the following individuals who have provided their time and expertise in judging the 2014 Banksia Awards:

Bobby Ali-Kahn Greg Hunt Michael Parks Nick Alsop Liz Hurst Rob Pascoe Anne Astin Carolyn Ingvarson Graeme Pearman Katy Barfield Terence Jeyaretnam Claire Penniceard Nicholas Bernhardt Jaap Jonkman James Porteous Rosemary Bissett Mike Juleff Horrie Poussard Andrew Block Alex King Candyce Presland Janet Bolitho Sue King David Rako Jaroslav Boublik Izabella Kobylanski Stephen Reardon Simon Boughey Nadya Krienke-Becker Steph Rich Chris Bourke Tim Langdon Jeff Robinson Tamara Boyd Geoff Mabbett Mark Rodrigue Heather Campbell Cam Mackenzie Kerryn Schrank Rob Catchlove Fran Madigan Claudio Senese Brett Cheatley Sue Marriott Wendy Spencer David Collins Sheree Marris Deb Spring Jane Doolan Russ Martin Peter Stewart Paul Edwards Gabrielle McCorkell Francois Steyn Susannah Eliott Helen Millicer David Telford Chelsea Ford Joel Morris Mark Thompson Helen Gibson John Morse Andy Trott Mary Gibson Nicola Murphy Gary Veale Ian Gunn Peter Netchaef Katie Ward Nick Harford John Newton Desley Ward Zena Helman Oona Nicolson Niki Willand Dr Kim Hobbs Richard O'Byrne Jon Womersley David Holman Mike O'Neill Ross Wyatt Caitlin Howlett Aaron Organ 38 SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

This Award recognises a business that demonstrates leadership by fully integrating sustainability principles and practices into operational business activities and reducing the organisation’s footprint. Also demonstrating societal value adds through its practices. This award was first presented in 2009 and has played an important part in the Banksia Sustainability Awards ever since.

Sponsored by

For over 200 years we have been serving the community. We have always sought to help citizens, businesses and government. Not just some, but everyone, everywhere, every day so that communities work better, and can prosper. Having partnered with the Banksia Foundation for the past six years, Australia Post is again proud to sponsor the Small to Medium Business Sustainability Leadership Award, recognising those small to medium businesses (SMBs) that are leading in environmental sustainability. And last year’s winner Australian Ethical, was a great example of the type of success and commitment required to become a leader in this competitive space. Australia Post plays an important role in supporting these types of organisations by helping them connect with their customers across Australia and the world. We do this by providing access to e-commerce platforms and through our network of Business Hubs. We understand the importance of providing commercial services and initiatives that deliver real value for our business and the local community. We describe this approach as the creation of “shared value” between Australia Post and the community. Our opportunity today is to enable positive environmentally sustainable outcomes while delivering exceptional value for our customers, our workforce and our community.

39 SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

PSAROS LEADING BY DOING, PSAROS WA

Psaros is a mid-tier Western Australian property development company leading in the construction of environmentally sustainable apartment buildings. With a 30- year track record in construction of various buildings, Psaros has delivered over 700 apartments in Perth, with an additional 350 new apartments under construction and a further 650 in various stages of approval. Psaros have an in-house team of specialists spanning the whole development process to provide a complete turnkey solution. Being both developer and builder gives Psaros the advantage of being able to set new industry standards in environmental performance by integrating sustainability initiatives and technologies into their apartments. Psaros have pioneered Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for multi-residential buildings in Australia. They believe LCA philosophy, enables them to understand performance-based results and make changes to design and construction where possible.

40 Their team assesses each building design based carbon emissions from business as usual. Psaros on the embodied energy, through to operational has committed to measure and minimise their energy for the life of each building. They ecological footprint annually, implementing energy collaborate with consultant teams including LCA efficiencies and offsetting the remaining carbon specialist and ESD consultants eTool® to improve footprint. This has made them the first mid-tier the performance and deliver better quality, future- developer in Western Australia to operate a carbon proofed, affordable and more comfortable places neutral head office. to live. There has been a big focus on cultural change Over the life cycle of their LCA eTool® certified within the Psaros organisation over the past 18 developments to date, the expected carbon months and staff from each department have been savings is equivalent to a massive 1,442,387 native engaged and educated on Psaros policies and trees planets or 32,486 houses powered for a year sustainability initiatives in- house. Psaros work as a or 66,777 cars off the road for a year. team to optimise the sustainability outcomes and The ethos within Psaros is towards continuous are continuously learning how to do things better. improvement. To effectively do this, they start Psaros have also implemented a number of by understanding the true impact and cost unique educational and behaviour change their organization has on the planet; financially, initiatives that have included their staff and other environmentally and socially. Psaros believe in tenancies in the building. In 2014 they undertook taking responsibility for reducing their ecological their second carbon footprint assessment and footprint by changing and improving the way they offsetting project as well as gained their first operate. accredited NABERS tenancy rating, which was 5 Psaros are being recognised as leaders in stars. Psaros is involved in a number of industry delivering sustainable and affordable apartments. leading committees including the Property This includes exceeding regulatory standards Council Sustainable Development Committee and (Building Code of Australia Star Ratings), Sustainable Energy Association Built Environment implementing management plans for construction Reference Group. Psaros representatives also and demolition waste that exceed best practice, present at a number of industry events to share supporting large scale renewable energy insights and shed light on the journey taken. generation by incorporating these systems By the very nature of their business, Psaros for individual apartments and common areas, continuously engage with the consumer base recharge capabilities for electric vehicles to and the market at large. Their scale allows them support a the future increase in demand, education to develop and deliver marketing strategies that and awareness building campaigns, and other extend beyond online and paper media and unique infrastructure and community initiatives advertising streams but also to the social media to help empower and enable people to live realm. Psaros pride themselves in educating sustainably. Psaros recently won an international the consumer and market place on sustainable award in design for one of their largest apartment lifestyles and choice through educational developments in the City of Perth. information, blogs and articles on sustainable In early 2013, the Psaros Property Group living, promotion of alternative sustainable (PPG) made a commitment to reduce the transport options, supporting local business and environmental impact of their business. They sustainable infrastructure. They also work with employed a dedicated Head of Sustainability consumers at point of sale to better inform them to develop and implement an Environmental of the benefits of sustainable apartments and and Sustainability Policy with a plan to achieve green buildings. continuous improvement goals to 2020. The Psaros believe they have a very unique and organisation undertook the first carbon footprint valuable role to play in educating the market to of their head office and completed an energy drive demand for environmentally considered audit that provided a snap shot of their existing dwellings and influence the industry to implement change. 41 SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

SAFFRRON SAFFRRON, NT

Saffrron is an award-­winning, eco-­accredited Darwin restaurant putting sustainability on the table most prominently with a highly authentic yet unusually innovative Indian cuisine menu, and a calendar of delicious events, designed to show off the produce of the Top End and get people excited about “eating local.”

Supporting our local producers means a lot to us. It means helping keep our farmers on the land and our local fishing industry in business, in turn helping to ensure future food security. And it means fresher, tastier, healthier eating that also delivers a real sense of place.

You won’t find any imported seafood on our menu and we celebrate this with our now annual 4-­day Saffrron Seafood Festival.

42 Imagine fresh-off-the-boat, succulent local red Toward reducing plate waste (a major source of emperor marinated in a paste of Rapid Creek waste in the hospitality industry) we Market mint and coriander, wrapped and steamed encourage doggie-bags. With our bagasse in banana leaf from a Humpty Doo banana farm – a tableware, it’s as easy as putting on a lid. highlight of our seafood festival menu this year. Our takeaway packaging right down to our straws Or from our vegetarian festival menu, hearty and is all plant-­‐based and genuinely biodegradable. nourishing yellow lentils cooked with Territory - Thanks to BioPak we offset our carbon emissions grown green elephant mango and white radish, by 2-2.5 tonnes each year. Having a function? We finished with crushed garlic, dried chillies and use traditional tiffin carriers in place of throwaway coriander seeds. aluminium trays.

We haven’t forgotten the kids – our Kidz Menu Other environmental initiatives at Saffrron include includes Golden Paneer Lollipops (homemade our cooking oil sent to award-­‐winning Fryer cottage cheese dipped in breadcrumbs and lightly Fuels where it is recycled into bio-diesel, annual fried). And every Sunday is South Indian Sunday participation in Earth Hour with lights out for at Saffrron, with dosa, idli and vada on the menu – the whole night and Australian beeswax candles traditional Indian items that are nevertheless rare throughout the restaurant, and of course water-­ on menus in Australia. and energy-efficient appliances and recycling systems in place. The people’s choice is still the Butter Chicken, but we’re not your usual Indian restaurant. Enjoy your Saffrron was the first restaurant in the NT to NT-inspired Indian feast with Aussie wine from a receive Green Table Australia certification, and the sustainable vineyard, a signature cocktail (yep, first of only two restaurants in Australia to receive that’s made with local produce too!), a carbon- Climate Action Certification. neutral beer or perhaps an organic green chai tea – and top it off with a house-made Indian We’d love to see you at Saffrron! dessert, such as our Saffron Kulfi, an Indian ‘ice cream’ flavoured with rosewater, saffron and local pistachio nuts.

Other Saffrron events include local produce master classes, cooking demonstrations and special seasonal ingredient menus, all with Chef Sel Kandasamy.

While we’re talking about Saffrron doing things a little differently, we’d like you to know that your meal will be served on BioPak bagasse tableware – zero-waste, one-use tableware made from a by-product of sugarcane and bamboo processing. This replaces the bog- standard industry tableware which, throughout its lifecycle, is energy-intensive, requires a great deal of water and is highly polluting.

43 SMALL TO MEDIUM BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD FINALIST

THE UGLY DUCK OUT THE UGLY DUCK OUT, TAS

The Ugly Duck Out is a popular restaurant located in Swansea, on the East Coast of Tasmania. This cheerful diner caters for dietary requirements and for those that wish to reduce their environmental footprint. The “ecotarian” menu promotes the benefits of this style of dining, exploring the link between the food we eat and its source. Ethically and environmentally sustainable produce are the foundation for honest, award winning preparations that are in harmony with the season. Conceived in 2004, this eating house is an innovative project that shares information about sustainable living and waste reduction, and the practical means to achieve it, through a unique dining experience. The aim is to make sustainable cultural change that will produce an improved, more meaningful lifestyle – with the emphasis on fresh, healthy cuisine and creativity.

44 The Ugly Duck Out, (TUDO), has evolved to does business. become a leader in sustainable business practice The Ugly Duck Out has been participating in the and the promotion of ‘mindful’ dining. There is EC3 EarthCheck assessment since 2009. Energy a well-informed team and a visitor information and water usage and waste sent to landfill are stand that features exciting products, services and recorded in an online data entry system. From the activities that are carbon‐neutral, ethically sourced data, comparisons are made and benchmarked. or demonstrate sustainable business practice. TUDO is EarthCheck ‘Assessed’ and has achieved At 10 ½ years old, The Ugly Duck Out is truly a Best Practice. Recently as part of the EarthCheck sustainable venue to share information and enjoy ‘Evaluate’ initiative, The Ugly Duck Out has regional food and beverage. TUDO has established been invited to be one of the first Tasmanian a unique brand as an ethical eating house and Environmental Leaders in the Tourism Industry. ‘information’ café. Robyn Klobusiak attended the Global Climate As an award winning dining destination in Reality Training in Melbourne, June 2014. Being Tasmania, TUDO attracts visitors of all ages, accepted for this international event, and professions and cultures from around the world. trained by Al Gore as part of the Climate Reality TUDO bottles local harvest rather than freezing Leadership Corp, is an indication of TUDO’s or purchasing outside of season or importing level of environmental achievements and ethical tinned alternatives. This substantially reduces commitment in transitioning towards a ‘low environmental footprint whilst reducing expenses carbon’ future. Good for both the environment such as stock, power, freight and handling. and the economy, there is a great deal of Happily, it also produces a healthy, Tassie taste and hope and opportunity available for those that supports regional producers. want to take advantage. Some individuals and The TUDO project identifies that the concept businesses have already recognised the numerous of waste, chemical pollution and food miles is opportunities that climate change has opened up not only a management issue but also a global to improve quality of life. By understanding the climate change mitigation issue, and thus needs challenges and solutions we can minimize risk and to be sincerely challenged. The TUDO project maximize opportunities. Governmental policy and can aid in that debate and has made a significant participating in its formation is now priority, and difference to the outcome with community waste this strategy will give TUDO greater resilience and management projects for both the region and the competitive advantage to inspire change. state. Not only is TUDO influential and at the forefront Recent awards (past 12 months only) include: of the Hospitality and Tourism Industries, but, • State Winner “Sustainable Tourism” - East Coast through partnerships and projects, has successfully Regional Tourism Awards 2013 and 2014 initiated responsible change within the greater • State Winner “Best Environmental Practice” community to reduce waste. TUDO is a vehicle Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) to inspire the conversation for the transition to a Awards 2014 (4th year). sustainable future. • State Winner “Best BREAKFAST” – THA Awards Chef/owner, Robyn Klobusiak has 38 years’ of Excellence 2013 experience in hospitality, a keen interest in diet, • State Winner “Best Energy Efficiency” – THA natural medicine and, in recent years, the effects Awards of Excellence 2013 of climate change on global health and food • Category Finalist for Leading in Sustainability security. Through education, Robyn has achieved for Small-Medium Business – Banksia a holistic approach to hospitality. Consideration to Environmental Awards 2013 (3rd year). individuals’ dietary needs, community vigour and • Category Finalist QANTAS Excellence in environmental health, has produced the way TUDO “Sustainable Tourism” Tasmanian Award 2013

45 THE BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS JUDGING PROCESS

Maintaining the reputation and integrity of the Banksia Awards is a fundamental principle of the judging process. It is underpinned, in the first instance, by the dedicated individuals across Australia who give up their time and expertise in order to assess each entry. These individuals have been selected for their knowledge, experience and commitment to Banksia’s ideal in identifying, acknowledging and celebrating leadership in sustainability across the country for others to learn about and emulate. The judges are independent of the Banksia Board and staff.

They are all specialists in their field and the judging panels are organised for each category to match their expertise. All potential conflicts of interest are declared from the outset. Where there is a conflict judges do not take part in the assessment of that particular entry. Each judge signs a confidentiality agreement regarding divulging specific information about the judging process and the content of submissions.

Our judging process incorporates a number of layers in seeking out our ultimate winners. It begins with a first round of preliminary judging in a group environment to select the finalists. Then another group of judges evaluate the finalists independently and submit their scores and comments to our Audit Panel. The Audit Panel, headed by Terence Jeyaretnam, reviews the process against the criteria for each award category and identifies the winners in the light of the judges’ scores and comments. Addition they also selects the Banksia Gold Award Winner.

The Banksia Board of Management takes no part in the judging process other than to review the finalists and winners as a final check to ensure there is nothing in the outcome of the judging process which would impact adversely on the reputation and integrity of the Awards and the Foundation. Any concerns the Board may have are referred back to the Audit Panel.

Each year the Chair of Judges, Mike Juleff will head a review of the process and provide Banksia with valuable feedback on how the process can be enhanced. This whole process involves over 90 individuals who volunteer their time to continue a 26 year old tradition of acknowledging innovation and leadership in environmental sustainability.

46 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

This Award recognises demonstrated leadership and innovation in removing climate, wastes and water impacts through the development and application of innovations that use new approaches, technologies and/or energy systems for business and community benefit. This award was first presented in 2013, to acknowledge the significant role that Local Government plays in contributing to a sustainable country.

Sponsored by

EY is proud to support the 2014 Banksia Foundation Local Government Sustainability Award. We believe that local government has been central to providing leadership, continuity and community-level support to tackling the environmental and social challenges of the future and these awards give us the opportunity to recognise leaders in this area.

The recent integration of Net Balance has seen EY Australia’s national dedicated Climate Change and Sustainability Services team grow to more than 90 people and become Australia’s leading advisors in the areas of sustainability strategy, reporting and assurance, social impact, carbon, energy, health, safety and environment. In each of these areas we combine strategic advice with rigorous technical capabilities. Examples of our work with local government have included climate adaptation strategies and prioritisation tools, sustainability and environmental strategies, waste management advice, sustainable procurement strategies, energy audits, stakeholder engagement, carbon neutral and reduction strategies, sustainability training and strategies and economic development strategies.

EY provides dedicated resources to ECO-Buy, a membership based group with a focus on sustainable procurement. ECO-Buy has over 60 local government agencies as members. In many ways, the Banksia Awards and EY have shared a similar sustainability journey. Beginning with a focus on environmental sustainability both organisations have now embraced the whole sustainability value chain.

We are proud to be the sponsor of the local government award. These awards recognise local government agencies setting tomorrow’s agenda through fully integrating sustainability principles and practices into their strategies and operational activities.

47 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

ACT SOLAR AUCTION ACT ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING DIRECTORATE, ACT

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government recognises climate change is one of the most challenging issues any community faces now and into the future. In response, the Territory is actively working on both reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and preparing for current and future climate change impacts to the community. The ACT’s climate change strategy seeks to reduce the Territory’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, from 1990 levels and ultimately achieve zero net emissions by 2060. Electricity currently accounts for 61 per cent of the ACT’s GHG emissions. An important component of meeting our GHG targets is therefore improving the eco-efficiency of our energy supply.

48 Large-scale solar is a key part of the Government surrendered to the ACT, helping to cut our city’s strategy for renewable energy with 40 megawatts carbon emissions and achieve verified abatement of large-scale solar renewable energy generating additional to the national renewable energy target. capacity planned to come online by 2015. Further The Solar Auction process has delivered solar investments are under development for wind and power at the lowest possible cost. The average bioenergy generation contributing to a renewable FiT price is around $183 per megawatt hour with energy target of 90% by 2020. the Territory paying the difference between this The ACT’s Solar Auction process has been the price and prevailing wholesale electricity prices. flagship for renewable energy investment. It was Importantly the FiT rate is fixed over 20 years, so developed under the Electricity Feed-in (Large- it declines in real terms and as wholesale energy scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011 (the prices rise over time. Costs to households of the Electricity Feed-in Act) which was passed on 8 output from the three solar farms are expected to December 2011, and enabled the Minister to grant, peak in 2016 at around $0.44 per week and decline through a competitive process, Feed-in-Tariffs to around $0.27 per week in 2021. This decline will (FiT) to large-scale renewable energy generators continue over time. for up to 550 megawatts of generation capacity. A Review of the FiT capacity release was This approach was the first of its kind in Australia completed by Sinclair Knight Mertz (SKM) in and has proven effective in ensuring the Territory October 2013, and concluded that the Auction can access proven technology at the lowest Process had been highly successful - effectively possible cost to meet its ambitious targets. By achieving all of its targeted outcomes, resulting taking a calculated risk with this novel approach in a competitive process that provided the ACT the ACT Government has set a new national Government with a number of high quality standard for feed-in tariff allocation and affordable proposals to select from that offered relatively low renewable energy. FiT rates (thus providing value for money). The ACT Government has worked in close Three separate large-scale solar projects were collaboration with the Canberra community – and successful under the auction process: is proud to have community support in taking • the 20 megawatt Fotowatio Renewable action on climate change. An independent survey Ventures (FRV) Royalla Solar Farm, on community views found that 87 per cent of commissioned in late August 2014 and officially respondents were supportive of the government’s opened by Minister Corbell on 3 September plan to invest in large-scale renewable energy 2014; sources such as solar and wind energy. • the 13 megawatt Zhenfa Mugga Lane Solar Park; As a result, 200 megawatts of wind is currently and being auctioned through the tested reverse- • the 7 megawatt Elementus Energy OneSun auction process. It is anticipated this will deliver Capital Solar Farm. around 24 per cent of the Territory’s total electricity needs by 2017. Proposals are also The now operating FRV Royalla Solar Farm is the being developed to extend the scheme to next largest solar power facility in Australia. When all generation solar (with storage) and energy- 40 megawatts are commissioned it is anticipated from-waste. These projects underpin Canberra’s 71,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy will emergence as a renewable energy investment hub be produced each year. This is enough to power and support the continuing improvement of our approximately 10,000 Canberra homes in 2020. eco-efficiency and the growth of clean technology industries. The three projects will cut greenhouse gas For more information visit emissions by 1.4 million tonnes over the 20 year www.environment.act.gov.au feed-in tariff entitlement period. All renewable energy certificates associated with the projects are

49 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

CITY OF YARRA AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ONE PLANET COUNCIL

Yarra is Victoria’s first carbon neutral council and the first local government in Australia to receive ‘One Planet’ certification. Council has achieved a sector leading 30% reduction in its gross emissions since 2001 and has since introduced programs and practices that will see it approach a 50% reduction by 2015.

Council chooses to take a leadership role on sustainability to maintain the liveability of our culturally, historically, and environmentally rich community, show leadership to others, and embrace our responsibility to our next generation of Yarra citizens. Council believes that its legacy should be a sustainable municipality supported by innovative advocacy, policies and practices.

50 Sustainability highlights have included: been widened between Dights Falls and Turner • With support from the state and federal Street and a new priority crossing installed on governments, Council has developed an Yarra Bend Road. Additional bicycle hoops were unprecedented $3.4m Energy Performance installed in several key locations, including the Contract (EPC) to improve its approach Brunswick Street and Queens Parade business to audits and retrofits. The EPC is funding precincts. The innovative ‘Lock, Shop and implementation of new sustainability measures Latte’ promotion encouraged safe riding and and guaranteeing significant greenhouse engagement with local businesses. gas savings, as well as considerable financial Strong community consultation is at the heart savings, at no fewer than 17 of Council’s largest of Council’s approach to sustainability. For buildings. Actions associated with the EPC are example, in December 2013 Council adopted its expected to result in a further 15-20% reduction Environment Strategy 2013-17. This concluded in carbon emissions over the next 12 months. six months community engagement, which • Enhanced the open space network by included a four part workshop series comprising converting paved areas into green open space. 35 community members with varying interests Four new parks have been created, including and areas of expertise, a four hour forum open Peel Street Park in Collingwood (formerly to the entire community, a widely publicised a car park site) Oxford Street Park, also in survey resulting in 75 valuable responses, and Collingwood (formerly road space), Richmond the establishment of the Environment Advisory Terrace Park (formerly an intersection) and Committee, a community based body designed Lennox Street Park (formerly a vacant plot to support formulation and implementation of the of land). This year, Council plans to convert strategy. We continue to trial new technologies a disused freeway ramp in Church Street, and processes, learn from our experiences, and Richmond into a new park. share our knowledge with organisations like the • Developed new mechanisms to encourage Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action and the greater consideration of environmental impacts Council Alliance for Sustainable Built Environment. in the planning process. In June 2014, Council Following the success of the Food Know How resolved to incorporate a new Environmentally program, Council was invited to share its learnings Sustainable Development amendment into at the International Solid Waste Association’s the Yarra Planning Scheme. This builds on the World Congress in São Paulo, Brazil. Council success of a program that has already seen provides funding to the Yarra Energy Foundation, 90% of all medium and large development an independent organisation working towards a applicants submit Sustainable Management carbon neutral municipality. Council also works Plans or Sustainable Design Assessments for closely with community groups such as Yarra their proposed projects. Climate Action Now and provides a range of • Partnered with Cultivating Community and grants to individuals and organisations committed the Metropolitan Waste Management Group to sustainable outcomes. Council has employed to deliver Food Know How. This innovative a Local Sustainability Facilitator to support these program provided 585 households, cafés and groups and coordinate their activities. offices with guidance on smart shopping and Our actions are driven by an active and engaged storage, menu and meal planning, as well community willing to contribute time and energy composting and worm farming, all with the aim to achieve ambitious outcomes. Council has of diverting food waste from landfill. established two new positions to harness this • Yarra is committed to encouraging enthusiasm and provide support to residents and environmentally friendly modes of transport businesses. In partnership with the community, that also help community members stay healthy Council is achieving sector-leading results and and active. About 8.5% of Yarra residents cycle proving just how much can be achieved with a to work, more than six times the average of strong vision, innovative thinking and hard work. Greater Melbourne. The Main Yarra Trail has 51 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

DAREBIN CITY COUNCIL DAREBIN CITY COUNCIL’S SOLAR $AVER PROGRAM

Darebin City Council is making solar power more accessible to low income residents through the Solar $aver program. It’s the first program in Australia enabling households to install solar PV systems and pay them off through Council rates over 10 years. Darebin has committed through its Community Climate Action Plan not only to reduce emissions, but to support those most vulnerable to climate change impacts and increasing energy costs. With quality solar systems from Energy Matters, as well as home visits and energy advice provided by Positive Charge, this well rounded program is enabling 294 pensioner households to save money, save energy and better understand their energy bills. Households are expected to save an average of $120 per year, over their rate payments, rising to over $400 savings per year after 10 years. The Solar $aver program has minimal costs to Council, with initial funding to be paid off over 10 years.

52 The Solar $aver program has inspired many in residents speaking a language other than English our community to consider installing solar, so we at home, communication has been a key factor. are also offering a Solar Bulk Buy available for all households and businesses with great value Innovation prices to complement it. Combined the program The Darebin Solar $aver program is the first is expected to create over 10 million kWh of solar initiative of its kind in Australia. The simple step energy over the 10 year period – equivalent to over of incorporating payments for solar PV systems 14,700 tonnes of greenhouse emissions. into the participants’ rates over a 10 year period eliminates the upfront cost; one of the biggest Research and Engagement: barriers to installing solar systems. It also ensures The Solar $aver initiative is a result of substantial that the costs are linked to the property, removing research and strategic planning by the City of concerns about moving before obtaining the full Darebin. benefits of such a long term purchase. Both Preston and Reservoir have been identified This project also provides a unique combination as areas of high heat-stress risk through the of climate change mitigation and adaptation by Darebin Heatwave Strategy 2013 -2017, with many assisting those most at risk from climate change to residents threatened by the increased frequency better protect themselves from extreme weather. of these events due to climate change. Many of Through its involvement in a Victorian Adaptation the at-risk residents are also unable to access and Sustainability Partnership (VASP) with the sufficient air conditioning during these events state government, Darebin Council is investigating due to the high cost of electricity. The Solar the effectiveness of solar PV systems in improving $aver program, designed specifically to supply access to cooling during heatwaves. pensioner households with solar PV systems, will enable pensioners to operate their air conditioners Replicability cheaply on days of heat stress. As part of this pilot program we are creating a The procurement and innovative special rate model that other municipalities can easily adopt. scheme pay back components of the program Results will be monitored and reported. The scope were developed in response to research by the to replicate the Solar $aver program is significant, Australian Solar Institute and the CSIRO, which both within the Darebin municipality and on a identified the major barriers to solar systems as: Victorian and even national scale. The program can • the up-front cost for low income households; run at little or no cost to councils through inclusion • uncertainty over choosing a good quality of administration and interest costs, with net system and installer; and financial benefits to residents retained. • lack of trust in the market. Replication has indeed already begun, with The Solar $aver program has been designed to Moreland City Council announcing that they overcome these barriers: will implement their own version of the Solar • removing the upfront cost; $aver program with 500 households in 2014-15, • providing quality, independently assessed PV expanded to an additional 1,200 households in systems and installers; 2015-16. Darebin City Council has also received • building confidence through Council requests for program details by 2 Victorian management and communications; and, metropolitan greenhouse alliances, 1 regional • obtaining the best price through a bulk order Victorian regional alliance, a NSW council alliance and Council’s purchasing power. and numerous individual councils.

The program has had a large community engagement platform, with over 8,000 low income homes contacted directly, as well as advertising, social media and forums. With 40% of Darebin

53 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

SHIRE OF BELLINGEN CONNECTED, SUSTAINABLE, CREATIVE

Bellingen Shire Council is a small regional council located on the Mid North Coast of NSW. The Bellingen Shire’s community vision is to be “Connected, Sustainable and Creative”. To achieve this, Bellingen Shire Council has, and continues, to examine the values that we collectively hold and determine how these values or principals can be embedded into all that we do. In order to help achieve this, Bellingen Shire Council has created a Sustainable Environment and Waste business unit to develop, support and implement innovative projects to achieve these strategic directions, outcomes and aspirations in partnership with our local community, including our indigenous community. The key focus areas include;

Invasive plant management; Sustainable food production; Biodiversity management; Climate change adaptation and mitigation; Coastal and river ecosystem management; Resource Recovery.

54 The Sustainable Environment and Waste business systems on community facilities. Council continues unit comprises of 10 dedicated indoor and to look for ways to sustainably improve our outdoor staff. The sustainability policy, agenda infrastructure and assets to meet our target. and objectives have strong executive leadership Estuary Health support and is championed by Council’s Bellingen Shire Council partnered with the General Manager. Over the past three years, the Local Land Services, NSW Soil Conservation Sustainable Environment and Waste business Service, NSW Department of Primary Industries, unit has focused on driving cultural change to NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, NSW Office make Bellingen Shire Council a more sustainable of Environment & Heritage, Bellinger Landcare, organisation as well as strategically partnering with the private sector (Lend Lease and Holcim) and the community and key stakeholders to deliver the community to deliver the Rock Fillets for innovative sustainability projects and services. Fish Fillets project in the Bellinger Estuary. This Bellingen Shire Council believes that the $400,000 project was an Australian first covering nominated projects demonstrate leadership and 1.87 hectares. Bellingen Shire Council contributed innovation in the areas of resource recovery, to estuary bank revegetation (1800 plants climate change, estuary health and social established), the installation of 520 metres of rock wellbeing. fillets (groynes utilising rock, reef balls and wooden Resource Recovery pin groynes) and 150 artificial reef structures Working collaboratively with our inspired covering 210 metres, to protect the river bank from community and valued partners, the Bellingen erosion, improve mangrove growth and develop Shire has been able to divert approximately fish habitats. This project has also contributed to 81% of its kerbside collection waste from landfill Council’s social sustainability agenda by increasing which has contributed to Coffs Coast Waste the recreational fishing experience for local anglers Services being the highest recycler in NSW. This in the community. has included setting up the Bowerhouse Reuse Social Wellbeing Centre, the only council run reuse shop on the Mid Bellingen Shire Council is focused on achieving North Coast of NSW. Bellingen Shire Council has social and economic sustainability. In collaboration also explored further increasing landfill diversion with Employment & Training Corporation, targets by implementing kerbside bin clothing Blackfoot Environmental Warriors (Dorrigo recycling trials. Aboriginal Green Team) and dedicated community Climate Change members, Council recently constructed a labyrinth Bellingen Shire Council is committed to reducing at Dangar Falls Reserve in Dorrigo. This winding its contribution to climate change through the paved pathway provides a recreational facility to implementation of the Bellingen Shire Emissions the community with benefits for mental health. Reduction Program (BERP). Council has set an The project included the construction of 60 metres ambitious target of reducing its greenhouse gas of raised wooden boardwalk to improve access to emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by the year the falls. Ongoing bush regeneration and weed 2020. In the last 12 months alone, Council has control continues in this Antarctic Beech Forest reduced 240 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. (endangered ecological community). Council is currently investing in community events Collaborative Partnerships focused on climate change (such as hosting an The projects outlined in this proposal all required Earth Hour film utilising 100% renewable energy), innovative practices, technology and a new energy data software, renewable energy and way of thinking. Forming collaborative and energy efficiency. Initiatives already implemented supportive partnerships is critical to delivering include conducting detailed energy audits, our sustainability agenda. Without the support of upgrading Council’s street lighting, installing these partners, these projects and more may not energy efficient (LED) lighting, mover sensors and have been possible. varible speed drive (VSD) blowers, and installing extensive photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot water 55 SD 2014

Sustainable development is not a fantasy or an • Launched the annual Fiona Wain Oration, to unattainable aspiration. It can be a practical guide honour SBA’s immediate past CEO. The 2014 to the daily business of government, corporations address : “Making our own Luck” given by Greg and wider society. Australia has the opportunity to Bourne, Chair, ARENA stamp its leadership on the sustainability agenda • Showcased over 400 member activities focused towards the business solutions that can be (transactions, achievements, events, reports) via developed and deployed across our country and the SBA website and social media. exported throughout the world.

That business action has now been given a new SBA is once again delighted to be celebrating its expression in Australia. The World Business alliance with the Banksia Foundation. In its 2nd Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) year, this alliance aims to bring the best of our announced earlier this year that SBA was worlds - SBA’s action, advocacy and awareness appointed as its Australian global network of the business solutions for a sustainable world, partner to drive the national business leadership while Banksia celebrates through reward and and action agenda on sustainable development. recognition of sustainability endeavours of the Throughout the year SBA has also maintained community, business, academia and government. commitment to increase its relevance and impact And in 2014 the Banksia Foundation and delivering on agreed member initiatives and Sustainable Business Australia present this maximizing opportunities to bring SBA member multifaceted business focused, community insight and issues to international and domestic engaged, Sustainability Events and Engagement policy makers. Key amongst the highlights were: Program including bringing the national, highly • We welcomed 15 new members including respected Banksia Sustainability Awards to Sydney. Brickworks Limited, David Jones Limited, LJ Called SD2014, the program forges new ideas, Hooker and IKEA. new relationships, and new networks, Showcases • Founding partner of the Australian Business and how business, community and government are Biodiversity Initiative. collaborating and acting responsibly, builds • Led SBA Member Consortium to secure $1M in confidence for corporations to understand and Federal Government funding to run the SBA embed sustainability into their operations. And Our Green Home Project (part of the Low it begins to attract the ‘best and brightest’ of the Carbon Communities Program). national and international sustainable business • Co-developed and launched the Future community, making it an unsurpassed strategic Economy Group Report, with Environment networking opportunity. Victoria. So we hope you enjoy this discussion and • Launched the Smart Business in Action Series celebration of Australia’s Sustainable Future! 2014 and supported the Banksia Foundation in the launch the 2014 Banksia Sustainability Awards. • Led a 3 organization delegation to COP19, Warsaw, including Banksia Foundation CEO, Graz Van Egmond. • Provided the Secretariat role for the Businesses for a Clean Economy and rolled out a key information program designed to educate State Andrew Petersen and Federal Government representatives on CEO the critical economic, social and environmental Sustainable Business Australia implications of climate policy In Australia. November 2014

56 INNOVATION IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE > $100 MILLION AWARD

This Award recognises the entry that best demonstrates leadership and innovation by integrating sustainable principles and practices in the design, construction and retrofitting of buildings and infrastructure projects. This is the inaugural year for this award in recognition of the importance social infrastructure has on creating sustainable communities. It is fundamental to ensuring people are safe, healthy and productive in the community.

Sponsored by

Thiess is proud to be a part of this year’s Banksia Sustainability Awards and sponsor the program’s Innovation in Social Infrastructure Award (>$100M), recognising leadership and innovation in environmental sustainable development. Over the past 80 years, Thiess has been one of Australia’s most pre-eminent construction, mining and services contractors, employing more than 15,000 people. In that time, it has developed a large and diverse portfolio of work across Australia’s urban and regional centres, Indonesia, India and New Caledonia. Founded by five Thiess brothers on the Darling Downs in 1934, a start in agriculture and earth moving set the foundation to deliver some of the country’s largest and most complex infrastructure and resources projects. Innovation and sustainability are key to realising our vision of “Creating a brighter future, together”. We strive to achieve outcomes that deliver better results today and in the future for our projects, our clients, our workforce, the environment and the communities in which we operate. We endeavour to consider sustainability options at the earliest stages to ensure they are integrated into a project from tender through to delivery. Our green buildings, such as the award- winning King George Central in Brisbane’s CBD continue to set industry benchmarks. Our road infrastructure projects, such as the Hunter Expressway in New South Wales, which traversed the environmentally-sensitive Sugarloaf Range, demonstrate our commitment to minimising our footprint. In 2013, we recycled 71 per cent of total waste with six of our projects recycling more than 90 per cent of their waste; more than 65 per cent of our water needs were met through recycling or re- using water; and more than 630 hectares of land was reshaped at Thiess mine and construction sites across Australia and Indonesia. With many of these practices now becoming business-as-usual at Thiess, our challenge is to continue finding new ways of realising a more sustainable future. This requires leadership and innovation – the type of leadership and innovation being recognised by the Banksia Foundation’s Innovation Award. We congratulate all our finalists and thank them for their ongoing commitment to keeping us focused on what’s important to safeguard our future.

57 INNOVATION IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE > $100 MILLION AWARD FINALIST

TRANSPORT FOR NSW THE NORTH WEST RAIL LINK

Sydney’s $8.3 billion North West Rail Link is Australia’s biggest public transport project currently under construction. Key features include:

• A train every four minutes in the peak on Australia’s first fully-automated rapid transit rail network; • Eight new railway stations, five upgraded stations and 4,000 new commuter car parking spaces; • 14 million fewer car trips a year, or 12,000 fewer trips in an average two-hour weekday morning peak;

Tunnelling started in early September 2014 with the launch of “Elizabeth”, the first of four tunnel boring machines.

58 The project’s operations contract was also baseline electricity demands. awarded in September, confirming the North West Climate risk management approach which Rail Link will open in the first half of 2019 using a interrogated our designs and generated contract new generation of rapid transit trains and a level of requirements. Our climate risk is now largely customer service and safety never before seen in mitigated. Australia. The reuse of all clean material arising from our The North West Rail Link is being delivered via excavations (more than 2,000,000 m3 of crushed three major contracts: rock) and mandated 90% waste recycling targets. Tunnelling– Thiess John Holland Dragados Development and implementation of a workforce consortium development strategy and a multi-stakeholder Skytrain and surface civil works– Impregilo Salini NWRL Skills Employment Advisory Group Operations contract – Northwest Rapid Transit targeting and promoting a skills legacy. Targets (MTR Corporation, John Holland, Leighton have included employing a significant number Contractors, UGL Rail Services and Plenary Group). of apprentices across the project as well as local Our sustainability commitment employment and diversity targets. Since inception the project has had a clear vision A pre-employment training program in partnership on how to set new benchmarks in infrastructure with TAFE. delivery, and during the early stages of the Design changes around non-Indigenous heritage project in 2011 the NWRL was challenged by works have been made to avoid the remains of a the International Peer Review to be exemplar in previously undiscovered hotel (dated 1830). delivering sustainable outcomes. The project also uncovered more than 10,000 What this has meant for the NWRL is being at Aboriginal artefacts, some over 4,500 years old. the forefront of best practice initiatives including Biodiversity offsetting ratio of ~4 to 1 of removed delivering environmental, social and economic vegetation communities. improvements across the project. This underpins Influence the core project program and has been integrated The North West Rail Link being the first stage across all project stages. Sustainability is not an of Sydney Rapid Transit, the city’s new rapid afterthought or an add-on. transit rail network, has potential to influence Our commitment is to “contribute to sustainability outcomes at a larger scale. environmental, social and economic sustainability The Environmental and Sustainability objectives by improving liveability, minimising our impact have helped inform and shape the corporate on the environment and the community, and Transport for New South Wales Environmental delivering value for money”. and Sustainability Policy and their under-pinning Delivering and innovating objectives. The NWRL project team has also The NWRL developed a Sustainability Strategy provided ongoing support and advice to other that ensures the project delivers and promotes projects including Sydney Light Rail, NorthConnex sustainable infrastructure in terms of objectives, and WestConnex. targets and measurable outcomes which are This support has also extended to projects marked against key policy themes across the in Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland. project life cycle. The team is also an active member of the Sustainability contract requirements (including Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia targets) have been built into major work packages where the project is targeting three Infrastructure to drive improvements and innovation. The breadth Sustainability ratings before July 2015. of coverage of our program on this project is Partnering unique and provides plenty of scope for innovation In order to deliver on the commitments made in policy development, design and delivery. Key above the project team has partnered with examples include: relevant stakeholders including both State The application of a full suite of sustainability and Commonwealth agencies as well as targets. industry associations, and importantly major A carbon policy which requires 100% of our delivery contractors. Key relationships have operational emissions from electricity use (~80 - been established to ensure the successful 100 GWhr PA) be offset. implementation of the carbon policy and Performance incentives to maintain or lessen workforce development strategy. 59 INNOVATION IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE > $100 MILLION AWARD FINALIST

UMOW LAI MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF DESIGN

The University of Melbourne’s new state-of-the-art Melbourne School of Design (MSD), also known as the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning was the first development in Australia to be awarded the maximum 10 innovation credits in Green Star reflecting the University’s commitment to innovation and sustainable development. Designed to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Education v1.0 rating to meet the University’s policy for 5 Star Green Star ratings for all new buildings, the Melbourne School of Design achieved a 6 Star rating upon final application - including 10 Green Star innovation credits - an outstanding result. The project has delivered an exceptional, centrally located, campus building that will benefit the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. Additionally, the building includes the University of Melbourne’s largest lecture theatre which has a separate entrance to enable independent use. A central concept for the new building was to support the effective delivery of integrated planning, design and construction practices in teaching and learning at the University of Melbourne. 60 The architects, John Wardle Architects and The building was recognised for the following NADAAA (USA), proposed the concept of the innovative design features: ‘Built Pedagogy’, whereby students could learn A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) completed for from the building itself. This concept is present at the project representing a holistic view of carbon various levels of the building design which features emissions including embodied carbon. This level of exposed services and structural elements, various detailed analysis is world leading and considered finishes, information screens and learning spaces of all of the building’s materials, transport, throughout. The Built Pedagogy theme was a key maintenance, energy, demolition and construction strategic driver which also saw the development activities. and adoption of various sustainability initiatives. Testing of cross laminated timber (CLT) concrete These have been communicated with the public, composite slabs including stress testing of staff and students throughout the design and prototypes. Despite the technology being value construction process through a diverse range of engineered out at the tender stage, the research innovative tools such as the Sustainable Campus completed was considered invaluable in advancing Centre, a smart phone ‘app’, seminars, construction the industry and adds to the case for using the site and building tours and an online blog. innovative material on future projects. The core philosophy guiding the sustainable A pre occupancy survey of staff and students design initiatives integrated into Melbourne was carried out to understand the previous School of Design were: building’sneeds and problems; this study was then • Extensive external shading systems to limit solar fed into the building design. A post-occupancy gains, minimise glare and still achieve excellent survey will be carried out following completion and daylight levels. occupation of the building as part of the ongoing • A large atrium in the centre of the building learning process. driving the naturally ventilated perimeter offices Restoration and incorporation of the existing when feasible and providing excellent daylight heritage-listed Joseph Reed façade into the new levels building. • High performance, double-glazing to limit The building also features a prominent learning thermal heat transfer. display which shows the building’s energy • Rain water storage for use in toilets, performance compared to a benchmark for urinals, landscape irrigation, cooling water occupants along with other useful information. heat rejection and fire test water systems Such innovations will make substantial reductions significantly reducing potable water demand. to the building’s environmental impact. They also • internal thermal comfort through HVAC systems establish a model of sustainability and achieve one and the building’s passive performance levels. of the University’s goals to be recognised as an • Sustainable materials selection for building industry leader in environmental sustainability. fabric, floors and furniture. The building was designed to save approximately • Restoration and inclusion of the existing 900 tonnes of CO2 per year in its operation heritage-listed Joseph Reed façade, compared to a business as usual reference formally the Commonwealth Bank façade in building, representing a 40% reduction. Collins Street. In terms of water use, the building is designed • Extensive use of timber, including Laminated to save approximately 4,000 kilolitres of potable Veneer Lumber (LVL) beams and timber clad water, representing a 90% saving. hanging studio in the atrium. Architectural design features, such as the • Using the building as a “Learning Platform” perforated zinc shading that shrouds the building, through the use of sub-metering and building publically accessible lower levels and landscaping, energy management displays. open up the creative and collaborative activities • Maximising proximity to public transport to the wider campus. The building showcases best options and cycling facilities with limited access practice sustainability principles to the public, staff to car parking. and students. 61 INNOVATION IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE > $100 MILLION

UMOW LAI MELBOURNE WATER HEADQUARTERS, 990 LATROBE STREET

990 Latrobe St was completed by builder Equiset in 2012, early in the design process Melbourne Water was signed up as the major tenant. Commensurate with the high calibre sustainability performance aspirations set for the Docklands Digital harbour precinct, the building was always intended to be an exemplar in its class with a 6 star Green Star office design rating targeted from the outset. With the major tenant on board, the developer and design team began to modify the base building design to accommodate the some of the desires of Melbourne Water; this is a rare occurrence for a major tenant to help shape the design of the base building.

62 The completed building now features a number relying on buy-in from both the tenant and base of key innovative technologies including; vacuum building for financial viability. This collaborative toilets, underfloor air conditioning system, approach is essential but commonly difficult to water collection through porous footpath achieve successfully in the property market. Due to pavement and a trigeneration system. In order the overall energy efficiency of the base building to ensure successful delivery of the targeted design, the owner enjoys operational cost savings sustainability performance measures during its of approximately $40,000 per annum compared to operation, the facility owners and managers a conventional building. committed to a dedicated monitoring, tracking The tenants and the facility staff have sought to and tuning program that has helped to not only educate staff and interest groups on the operation deliver but to exceed the intended performance and environmental performance of the building by outcomes. The building has now achieved proven hosting site tours over the past 18 months. Tenants operational performance in its first year of are extremely proactive in the building separating operation with a 6 star Green Star interiors as- waste streams, monitoring water usage, minimising built fitout rating, 5 Star NABERS base building energy usage, and using task lamps and laptops in rating and 5 Star NABERS water rating. It is now lieu of desktops. currently performing at a 5.5 Star NABERS base The benefits of this project can be translated to building energy level. Further, the water saving other projects through continued knowledge performance of the building is now among the transfer and through proven results. best in Melbourne especially for a building this size. The project offers some important learning The tenant, Melbourne Water helped to push opportunities for the broader buildings market in for some of the innovative technologies in the relation to the following: building including the vacuum toilets. These had not been implemented across such a large Energy management processes; commercial building before. The vacuum toilet Vacuum toilet effectiveness, pitfalls and technology involved considerable negotiation with management; the plumbing authority for approval, making this Vacuum toilet noise issues; project a pioneer in the area. Vacuum toilets use Treated rainwater system integration and pitfalls; around 80% less water than conventional toilets. Achieving success in Trigeneration installations; The building also enables the avoidance of potable The balance between reduced lighting energy and water usage by harvesting rain water off the roof maintained luminance; of the building and stormwater runoff from paved Effectiveness of external shading and internal surfaces around the entry forecourt. The rain water blinds; is treated using a multistage filtration process and Office noise levels where underfloor air distribution reused for toilet flushing, hand basins and showers. systems are used; Another significant innovation included in this Thermal comfort and control building is the grid connected trigeneration In comparison to a 4 star NABERS conventional system. This is a gas fired engine which generates building, the savings delivered through proven electricity and recovers waste thermal energy performance on this building are as follows:- for use in heating and cooling applications in the Energy: 600,000kWh Saved (60% reduction) building. The system provides energy for the base Water: 4,000 litres saved pa (65% reduction) building, tenants and exports to the grid, it is a Co2 impact: 900 tonnes Co2 saved pa (60% lower carbon form of energy generation compared reduction) to Victorian brown coal sources and makes better use of the raw energy inputs. The sizing of the trigeneration system was an important challenge

63 NNOVATION IN SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE > $100 MILLION AWARD FINALIST

MONASH UNIVERSITY 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE

Having achieved Australian best practice including the delivery of 5 and 6 star Green Star buildings, roll out of a broad range of energy saving infrastructure upgrades, installation of onsite renewables, and sustainable transport infrastructure, Monash University is now using its learning to set a path for global leadership in sustainability. Through the development of energy neutral buildings and holistic asset replacement plans to achieve deep energy savings across the University portfolio, we can facilitate an economically viable transition to 100% renewable energy. Monash University is aiming to eliminate its dependence of fossil fuels.

64 Leadership in Social Infrastructure Development – energy consumption. As the first part of the Highlights from the last 5 years asset replacement, the out-dated T8 fluorescent • Implemented the Monash University Sustainable lighting was replaced with LED, which delivered Building Development Policy in 2009, resulting a 60% reduction in lighting power and significant in the largest portfolio of 5 and 6 star Green reduction in summer cooling. It is anticipated that Star certified buildings of any higher education the proposed $1.1 million investment in the building provider will pay itself back through energy savings with in • Onsite solar power generation reached 1 million ten years. kilowatt hours in July 2013, with an overall solar Sustainable campus growth: photovoltaic peak capacity of 563 kW. Positive Energy Office Building, Building 56: The • Environmental upgrades - including building redevelopment of a two-storey office building tuning, controls upgrades, and lighting and using Passive House principles aims to use around chiller replacements, delivering total building four time less energy than a typical office building energy savings greater than 30%. and allow it to generate all of its annual power • Implemented Australia’s first major Bike Share requirements through the roof top solar array. By program, providing over 200 bikes for both applying previous learning and a holistic design staff and student use. approach, this building is aiming to redefine how • Constructed the first dedicated Bike End-of-trip campus buildings are developed at equivalent facility of its scale outside a CBD location. or lower cost per square meter than a standard • Conducted a holistic sustainable office retrofit office building redevelopment. Once completed project, The Yarrawonga Building– delivering the building will be used, as a living research Australian best practice for energy consumption laboratory for teaching programs and project and material re-use. learnings will be made available to help encourage Innovation – Creating global leadership in social the broader community to redefine how we build. infrastructure Ten year transition plan to 100% renewables; Utilising the data collected from its Environmental research led by a group of undergraduate Programs and new buildings, in collaboration environmental engineers conducted a with its teaching and research programs, Monash comprehensive review of how energy is used undertook a detailed assessment of its emissions at the University and where the energy is abatement activities. The analysis revealed that sourced. The study concluded that through a the majority of abatement activities were either mass rollout of proven reduction initiatives that cost neutral or provided a financial return for the the University could achieve a 59% reduction in University and that through holistic integration energy consumption and eliminate natural gas of the various opportunities, transition to a consumption. sustainable energy future is technically and Further research into alternative market financially achievable. mechanisms to sourcing renewable energy Peninsula Library, Energy Neutral Building asset revealed that the University could source up to 9% renewal program: of its energy through onsite solar energy in a cost The library is a two storey, student-focussed neutral contract, and that the remainder of its (all building, which at 15 years of age is entering electric) energy requirements could be sourced into its first asset replacement cycle. Through through the establishment of a power purchase careful analysis of the building’s energy agreement that would see the development of new requirements, a holistic asset replacement wind infrastructure and provide grid renewable and building enhancement program has been energy to the University at a small cost premium. developed to guide the transition of the library Financial analysis of the proposed program to energy neutrality. To establish the energy concluded that by aligning efficiency investment budget of the building the roof was covered in with the Universities asset placement program, solar panels, hosting 135kWp, with the potential 100% renewables could be achieved with a net to deliver approximately 150mWh per year, present saving in the order of $10-40 million over approximately one quarter of existing building the 15 year analysis period. 65 THE BANKSIA WHITE PAPER

Towards 2020 - Innovative Adaptation for Australia’s Sustainable Future

Banksia is pleased to announce that we intend to produce a White Paper on each of our Banksia Award Categories under the umbrella topic of Towards 2020- Innovative Adaptation for Australia’s Sustainable Future. The Banksia Sustainability Awards have collected a wealth of knowledge over the years and brought us into contact with many exciting new initiatives. We believe we should be making better use of this information, to the benefit of the Australian community. We concluded the best way to make this type of information accessible to the broader community is by producing a White Paper based on the experiences of the winners and finalists in our various categories. The White Paper will provide relevant and down-to-earth information in relation to an area of current concern which we can learn from and apply more broadly. We will be working with Banksia’s winners and finalists to investigate how these leaders and innovators have become just that. In addition, we will identify how they envisage going forward towards 2020, adopting innovative approaches to promoting sustainability in their particular areas. The Banksia White Paper concept is an extension of the Banksia Sustainability Awards program. It is aimed at more effectively utilizing the amazing and inspiring pool of leaders and innovators that we see in the Awards program. It allows us to continue our relationship with our finalists and winners encouraging them to continue their outstanding work, passing on their knowledge and experience to others. We see it as a relationship where both parties work to ensure that we produce an informative, practical and innovative piece on how we should be going forward. We would like to thank Thiess and The GPT Group as our initial supporters in this endeavour and we look forward to working with you, our finalists and winners, in producing an informative and inspirational report on Innovative Adaptation Towards 2020 for Australia’s Sustainable Future.

If you are interested in working with Banksia on the White Papers please contact Graz van Egmond, CEO, Banksia Foundation on (03) 96844667.

Supported by

66 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD

This Award recognises a group or individual that has demonstrated strong local capacity building and implementation of locally relevant solutions, measurably enhancing the long- term social, economic and environmental status of their community. Since the very beginning in 1989, the Banksia Sustainability Awards has always had an award to recognise work in the community. The first ever community award was won by the Australian Trust For Conservation Volunteers better known today as Conservation Volunteers Australia. Still today, Conservation Volunteers Australia continues their work by partnering with individuals, businesses and governments in the conservation of our unique environment.

67 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

GARAGE SALE TRAIL

GARAGE SALE TRAIL FOUNDATION, NSW

Garage Sale Trail is a national grass roots waste education program and champion of the REUSE movement. We believe that sustainability is best when its fun and social and when it starts in your own backyard! Today the program is supported by138 councils and 7 state government organizations Australia- wide in addition to national media partnerships with ABC Local Radio and News Limited. Garage Sale Trail also enjoys support from GoGet, eBay and Facebook. The idea is simple. By organising communities around Australia to hold garage sales on the same day we aim to promote REUSE, minimize waste to landfill, enable new neighbourly connections, provide a platform for fundraising and inspire creativity in communities across the country.

68 The first ever Garage Sale Trail happened in Bondi at No.10 Downing St) to develop and launch the during May-2010 in partnership with Waverley program in the UK. Consequently Garage Sale Trail Council as an idea to create awareness about the Foundation UK has been incorporated and the UK local illegal dumping issue and enable reuse on Trademark secured too. a broad community-wide scale. It was organized As part of our work in developing Garage Sale Trail using a digital framework and resulted in: in the UK we’ve been asked to present at No.10 • 126 registered garage sales happening on the Downing St and to the Royals at St James Palace, one day, Clarence House. The Garage Sale Trail is set to be • Sydney-wide media coverage about the illegal piloted in the UK in June 2015. dumping, Interest in the Garage Sale Trail concept has • hugely humbling feedback from local further been fielded from San Francisco, New York community members, and and Berlin with a global roadshow scheduled from • interest from other local Sydney Councils December 2014. Garage Sale Trail is a media generated machine. Since its local Bondi debut the Garage Sale Trail In 2013 there were 1,334 media outcomes realised has grown significantly. In 2011 there were 14 over the 6 week campaign period including 632 Councils who supported the program nationally, print articles (5 covers), 253 radio interviews and in 2012 the number of participating Councils grew 171 tv stories in addition to social media of 2.3 to 28 and in 2013 this increased to 112 Councils million. See example of tv coverage from 2013 Australia-wide. below. Public participation has also grown exponentially since 2010 when there was 126 sales registered. In SBS National News (First Ever NSW Parliament 2011 there were 1,613 registered garage sales and in House Garage Sale): www.youtube.com/ 3,023 garage sales in 2012. In 2013 there was some watch?v=9AhCGUfOQhQ&feature=c4-overview&list 7,017 registered garage sales representing 35,085 =UUKVF93CDpuPS7aaJkaO8CUQ participating sellers. Total program participation in 2014 encompassing both sellers and buyers was TEN National News (Waste + Don’t Dump It Sell It): 323,000 Australia-wide. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNg-kxBVOc In 2013 there was 1,574,803 items listed for reuse at a value of $4,543,732. On average household sales Despite being an idea originally conceived for made an average of $273, community groups $723 household program growth has been largely driven and schools $1,997. In addition 77% of participants by schools, community groups, local charities, said they planned to spend their earnings locally cultural institutions and other local community and 33% were fundraising for a charity or local stakeholders. cause. Note that all of the above data was Garage Sale Trail has been mentored by the generated from post event participant surveys following individuals Kim McKay AO (Clean- (39% completion rate). Up Australia Day, co-founder), Travis Garone From an awards and accolades perspective we’ve (Movember, co-founder), Remo Guiffre (TED been humbled to receive several local, national Sydney, Licensee), Rachel Botsman (Collaborative and international awards over the last 3-years Consumption, Thought Leader) and Paul Birch including a prestigious International Green Award (Bebo.com, co-founder). in the UK, Green Marketing of the Year, Community We’ve further partnered with Cool Australia who Contribution of the Year, a Green Lifestyle Award have developed a Garage Sale Trail curriculum and a Green Globe Award amongst others. set for primary and secondary schools to inform Garage Sale Trail has generated international students about the environmental problems of interest and to date we’ve secured funding from wastage and over consumption. leading UK innovation agency NESTA (National This year’s Garage Sale Trail was held on Saturday Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) October 25, 2014. lead by Geoff Mulgan (former head of strategy For more info visit www.garagesaletrail.com.au 69 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

HUME CITY COUNCIL HUME ENVIRO CHAMPIONS

Hume City Council’s Enviro Champions program is cultivating local leaders who inspire and engage their communities to live more sustainably. Over the past three years, the program has built the capacity of 48 diverse leaders from 15 different cultural backgrounds to deliver environmental projects that are making a real and lasting impact in the community. Three years ago, after moderate success with traditional environmental education programs, Council envisaged a community development program that would empower residents to engage their own communities to live sustainably. While there were a few ‘Friends’ groups who continue to conserve and enhance Hume’s natural assets, there was a lack of a visible community group or network with a broader interest in sustainable living. The challenge Council faced in a large, diverse and rapidly growing municipality, was how to inspire lasting, community-driven change. The innovative Enviro Champions program has created a network of community members with the leadership, project delivery, sustainable living and advocacy skills to follow their passions to create change. 70 After recruiting up to 20 participants each year, in Hume’s community planting days the program commences in March with ten • Continuous Growing App: a smart phone app weekly sessions where participants learn more for local gardeners about sustainability issues, develop leadership, • Community Cargo Cycle: building a ‘cargo trike’ communications, project delivery and sustainable for carting large loads living skills. Importantly, the course remains • Compost Club: teaching others how to compost adaptable and content is tailored to the group, effectively with participants guiding the sessions to meet • publishing the To Bee or Not to Bee children’s their learning needs and share their own skills book on bees and teaching local people to build and experiences. They also attend field trips and bee hotels informal MeetUp events with past Champions and • Sunbury Organic Food Co-op other local people with an interest in sustainability. • Fru-Gals: a women’s recycled art and craft Following the training, Champions work in small group. groups for three months to develop their project ideas, with substantial support from Council staff. The vast majority (85%) of participants reported They deliver these projects in their communities, an increase in their knowledge, skills and with many projects continuing to flourish once the confidence to take action. Participants also Champions complete the program. overwhelmingly reported that they felt the focus The program is unique among Council on relationship-building throughout the program environmental programs in both the depth of and establishing a cohesive, connected Champions the relationship with Council and amongst the group gave them the support and confidence they Champions; the level of support provided and needed to take on a project. the ongoing relationship between participants The program also strengthened relationships and with Council. The program fosters deeper between the community and Council, with the vast engagement through working intensively with a majority of Champions reporting a much better manageable number of participants each year. understanding of Council’s work and actively The program has experienced numerous promoting Council’s events and other initiatives. successes: Many of the Champions are now involved in The Champions have developed and are delivering Council’s other sustainability initiatives, contribute 20 projects in the community, and many of these to strategy development and several have become have involved key local partners such as Western members of Hume’s sustainability advisory group. Water, Healthy Together Hume, Men’s Sheds, Several Champions advised they were socially Connections@Craigieburn and local property isolated and affected by mental health issues developers Australand and Villawood. before joining the program. These participants The 20 projects have directly engaged more than have forged new friendships, gained a new sense 1,000 people in the Hume community and many of purpose and contribution to their community. more through festivals and other activities. The They have gone on to strongly advocate for the impact of the projects continues to grow. program and the pivotal role it has played in their The projects include: lives. • establishing communal food growing spaces The Hume Enviro Champions program has (The Lemon Tree Project, Fork the Suburbs, a created a self-sustaining network of leaders, health and natural healing garden, Growing a established new community groups and led to a Future Together, Craigieburn Community Food notable increase in community participation. The Project) networks, participation and positive environmental • Harvest Sunbury: a produce swap outcomes across Hume City continue to grow. • Seed Share: a seed saving network • HumeUs: engaging people from diverse cultures

71 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

MCV CLIMATE CHAMPIONS MCV CLIMATE CHAMPIONS PROGRAM

In partnership with the MCV, GRDC, MLA, CRDC, Econnect Communication Leading farmers connecting with farmers and researchers The Managing Climate Variability (MCV) Climate Champion program supports and trains leading farmers across Australia to communicate with their peers and with researchers about the science and actions of climate risk management. Australia’s variable and changing climate presents both challenges and opportunities for sustainable primary industries. It is increasingly necessary to incorporate climate risk management into long-term and everyday agricultural decisions. Research indicates that most farmers gain new knowledge and adopt new practices through interaction with respected peers. The MCV Climate Champion program increases the capacity and knowledge of participants to adapt to and manage climate risk by using and understanding the best tools, products and practices—and through them, their local and industry peers. 72 They increase capacity of other farmers through tools and practices: Studies indicate that grass-roots, genuine two-way conversations. the program appears to have increased They also talk to researchers about what farmers producers’ understanding of climate change need from climate research to best adapt their and techniques to adapt, and the level of enterprises. The MCV Climate Champion farmers motivation to change and adapt – issues are leaders in their communities who have which are frequently driven by networks of translated climate science into real, effective, people such as the MCV Climate Champion sustainable and financially viable practices on farmers. their farms. Partnership and engagement are key: The The farmers’ successes in leadership farmers have engaged with many local and The MCV Climate Champion farmers have regional people in their communities and improved skills to communicate with their peers industries, and with numerous climate and and with researchers about climate, indicated by: agriculture researchers and organisations. • Building the capacity of themselves and other The influence also extends to wider and specific farmers: The MCV Climate Champion farmers audiences, such as policymakers in industry and are supported and trained to talk to their local government, women, school children and urban and regional farmers and industries about consumers. As well, the model of the program climate risk management. The leadership has been taken up by several other organisations qualities they have developed are valuable to and initiatives. increase industry preparedness and capacity Three key innovations for success: to adapt to climate change. • Compared with many programs, a key point • Improving sustainability, economic viability, of innovation of the MCV Climate Champion and productivity: The program improves farm program is the starring role of the farmers environmental sustainability through better themselves. This takes three forms: on-farm practices, improves industry viability • Linking farmers and researchers: The direct through preparedness, and gives productivity link between farmers and researchers enables gains through promoting improved research researchers to more clearly focus on what resource efficiency. farmers need from climate research. This is • Creating influence: Through the program, critical to the uptake of new practices and the farmers enhance their capacity as products. The MCV Climate Champion farmers facilitators of practice change and increase have significantly influenced researchers, and their effectiveness as providers of information research directions and communication. to farmers. This contrasts with traditional • The peer-to-peer approach: Using well- extension models which mostly do not include recognised peers to increase the knowledge peer-to-peer components for learning and of farmers and to disseminate information is behaviour change. a key difference from many other programs. • Sharing knowledge and networking: MCV This is essential because the most common Climate Champion farmers are in demand to source of information for farmers regarding present about their experiences, particularly practice and technology change is their peers. using their farms as case studies, with • Independent spokespeople with genuine, capacity to promote credible sources of practical solutions: The farmers are free to information. More than 500 media items speak about their enterprises, experiences about participants and the program have and practices; their selection in the program been published since 2010. focuses on recognition in their industries and • Directly influencing research and development their experience. Climate is not dealt with directions, outputs and awareness: The as an isolated issue – but as part of a whole, farmers learn about the latest climate research sustainable management approach. by engaging with researchers, trialling The program began in 2010. It is supported by products and practices, and influencing the Grains, Rural Industries and Cotton R&D how findings are communicated. This helps Corporations; Meat and Livestock Australia; researchers design more effective and and Sugar Research Australia; through the producer-relevant research. Managing Climate Variability program. Econnect • Increasing people’s capacity to adopt better Communication facilitates the program. 73 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

WESTERN METRO REG COUNCIL PLASTIC FREE JULY

Plastic Free July is the brainchild of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council’s Earth Carers waste education program. This environmental initiative was founded in Perth with 40 volunteers in 2011. It has since grown into a major campaign involving more than 14,000 people, schools and businesses in over 68 countries. The aim of the challenge is simple: attempt to refuse single-use plastic during July. If refusing all single-use plastic sounds too daunting people can take on the Top 4 challenge, refusing plastic bottles, straws, plastic bags and takeaway coffee cups. To boost the 2014 campaign, the ‘Bring One, Get One Tree’ initiative was introduced. For every takeaway beverage sold in a reusable cup at the 30 participating Perth cafes during July, a native shrub was planted in the community. As a result 1,540 plastic cups and lids were prevented from landfill and 1540 trees were planted by local bush care and coast care groups.

74 Interest in the project grew during the month involved in plastic-free initiatives including the with baristas and owners reporting customers Hollywood Farmers Market in California, which increasingly remembering their reusable cups went plastic carrier bag free during July. In Raglan whilst others purchased cups to start using for New Zealand, a number of businesses have the first time. Several cafes were inspired to look become involved and meet each week of July for at other waste generated by the business and ‘Plastic Anonymous’ meeting. took steps to reduce it such as one café now The campaign has also been the spring board to serves sugar in their empty jam jars rather than long term changes in organisations. For example, disposable sachets. In Gisborne, New Zealand a Scotch College in Perth stopped using single- participant of Plastic Free July organised three use disposable plastic containers in their staff local cafes to participate and plants to be donated canteen and introduced reusable plates as a by The Women’s Native Tree Project. Together result of their involvement with Plastic Free July. they prevented 480 disposable plastic cups from Students from Perth’s Presbyterian Ladies’ College landfill and planted the same number of trees. succeeding in getting plastic water bottles banned The campaign’s vision is to raise awareness of the from their school. In Victoria, a coalition of 15 global problem of single-use plastic including the environmental organisations joined forces to take problems of plastic pollution in the ocean and to on the challenge. And a series of events were run normalise reuseable products. The philosophy in Berkeley California by Beth Terry, author of ‘My behind it is to empower people and share their Plastic Free Life’. stories and ideas through online media to inspire Although the Plastic Free July campaign focuses others. Promotional material and branding have on reducing plastic waste, people’s efforts in been freely shared for the purposes of further reducing single-use plastic often elicits behaviour extending the campaign. Social media has been changes which contribute to broader aspects of the main tool to spread the campaign, with posts sustainability. The most immediate change for reaching over half a million people in the last week many participants is their shopping habits. The of July this year and over 100 people blogging switch to plastic-free food usually means produce about the challenge. is fresh and so preservative free, local (less food Plastic Free July not only reduces the net amount miles) and purchased from local businesses. of plastic being consumed, it often changes the Plastic-free food tends not only to be healthier behaviour of participants after July. They become but the profits remain and are spent in local more aware of their plastic consumption and communities. discover how easy it can be to avoid unnecessary The innovative campaign strikes at the heart of plastic and find alternatives. By the end of July, ‘Reduce’ in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra. It new habits are formed which often become a way is an example of how thinking globally but acting of life. Community groups, schools and businesses locally can provide leadership to citizens and have embraced the challenge, coming together to communities around the world. run workshops such as making reusable produce bags and preserving. Over 12 councils across Australia and New Zealand are running Plastic Free July initiatives such as plastic-free morning teas, displays, movie screenings, business promotions and reuseable product giveaways. Farmers markets across Australia and internationally were

75 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

COOL AUSTRALIA SMART WAYS TO LIVE

Cool Australia was created in 2008 in response to the growing number of educators interested in teaching about our natural environment, but who felt unable to effectively do so due to a lack of knowledge, limited access to trusted resources and low confidence in their own abilities. The implementation of the new Australian Curriculum means that sustainability is now embedded as a cross-curricula priority across all key learning areas. All Australian teachers are now required to integrate sustainability into their Mathematics, Science, Geography, English and History classes. However, national research highlights that whilst 90 per cent of Australian teachers want to adopt sustainability practices and integrate it into their daily lessons, more than 85 per cent still feel unsure about how to do so.

Cool Australia fills this gap.

76 The core of what we do is simple–we bring the Schools eager to celebrate their positive actions outside world into every classroom. Our resources uploaded over 5000 photos to the Enviroweek are designed for all teachers charged with the website and shared thousands of hopes for responsibility of educating young Australians, but our environment on the ‘We Wish’ tree. (www. especially for those who thought that sustainability enviroweek.org) was not in their brief or was too big to tackle. Cool Australia staff spent time in schools during Cool Australia creates educational content and Enviroweek and were moved by many stories… activities for Kindergarten to Year 10. The teacher “I just did an Enviroweek tour at a primary school lesson plans and student activity worksheets in Adelaide. A teacher came up and told me integrate a range of sustainability topics into about Georgia who has an intellectual disability key learning areas and are explicitly mapped to and didn’t talk at all until they started the garden learning outcomes and content descriptions of the project. It was the catalyst for her to come out of Australian Curriculum. her shell! Georgia gave me the full tour naming All resources are online, free to access and easy each vegetable in the garden! She was so happy to use. They are based in science, apolitical and excited!” Thea Nicholas, Cool Australia and incorporate contemporary issues. They are The scale of Enviroweek’s impact is impressive. The designed to be fun, entertaining and engaging for long-­term positive behaviour and mindset changes students. are astounding. The individual stories of hope are Cool Australia has experienced exceptional growth inspiring. in 2013/14 with more than 16,000 Australian We thank our 16,000 teachers who believe in the teachers using our resources. This is an increase of value of educating for sustainability. We thank our 112 per cent on 2012/13 and signifies a quantifiable 500,000 students for taking responsibility, getting impact on the broader teaching community. We their hands dirty and for immersing themselves in have a presence in four out of ten schools in nature’s playground. Australia and, in 2014, will reach over 500,000 young Australians through our resources and Sustainability is no longer an ‘add-­on’ in Australian Enviroweek projects. schools. It is an integral part of everyday learning. It is learning for life. Our groundbreaking research has shown that Cool Australia is very proud of the role it plays in we are dramatically improving student learning educating and empowering young Australians. We outcomes and the quality of sustainability feel privileged to be a part of this momentous shift teaching across Australia. We save teachers time, in learning that is changing the face of education. improve the quality of sustainability teaching and ‘I don’t know if the Cool Australia team fully dramatically improve students’ understanding and understands what they are achieving. You have at engagement with sustainability topics. least one registered teacher in more than 42% of We are supporting the vital work of teachers in Australian schools. An incredible achievement in educating for a sustainable future. This is our gift just six years. Only UNICEF has a greater schools to Australia. penetration and they had a 50-­‐year head start. We are astounded and moved by the interest, Cool Australia helps teachers become better passion and resourcefulness of students and teachers and for that we are eternally grateful. You teachers across Australia. Whilst politicians are, quite seriously, the good guys in education.’ all over the world debate and politicise ‘climate National President of the Australian Education change’, Australian school students are taking Union, Angelo Gavrielatos charge. Enviroweek engaged more than 180,000 students and 1800 schools across the nation in August 2014.

77 LEADERSHIP IN CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES AWARD FINALIST

CLIMATE REALITY PROGRAM

In 2006, Nobel Laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore got the world talking about climate change with the Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth. It was just the beginning of a climate revolution. Later that year, he founded The Climate Reality Project to turn talk into action. Globally, those trained personally have talked to over 7.3 million people. The Climate Reality Project is an international community of advocates that includes passionate parents, farmers, health professionals, firefighters, tradespeople, investment managers and sports stars committed to building a better future. The Climate Reality Project Australia is the Australian branch of this climate change leadership program, hosted by the Australian Conservation Foundation. Australia was the first country outside the US to receive training from the former US Vice president.

78 Climate Leaders come from all walks of life, but are when needed. united by a clear commitment and responsibility Australian Climate Leaders have talked to 1 in 58 to lead on the issue of climate change. Australians Australians about climate change since 2006. They live in one of the most vulnerable climate zones have placed thousands of media pieces, worked in the world and we are increasingly exposed to with business and government and catalysed angry summers, fire, flood and drought. These action right across the country, from grass roots disasters and the social, environmental and behaviour change to major institutional reform. economic consequences will all be exacerbated Their efforts are grounded in creating a more with a warming climate. informed and engaged public and provide their Australia is also one of the highest carbon emitters audiences the impetus and confidence to work per person and one of the biggest coal exporters towards the solutions to climate change. in the world, which provide strong motivation for Leadership through the Climate Reality Project Climate Leaders to help make Australia play a can be a life changing experience. Many Climate constructive role in a global problem. Leaders have changed careers to align with their Climate Leaders inform their networks and deeper motivations, to see the kind of action that the broader community about the risks and is required. opportunities climate change presents us and what For example after the training sessions: we can do to help solve this crucial issue at local, • Natalie Isaacs founded 1 million women to regional and national levels. help Australian women make better consumer Climate Leaders are identified and formally choices and show how we can cut our carbon inducted into the program at a 3 day training footprint and live better with less. session where they learn from technical experts, • Robin Gunning fostered critical community climate scientists and Al Gore himself. This year support for clean energy policies in regional The Climate Reality Project trained 525 new communities, influencing the vote of a key Climate Leaders from 35 countries. elected representative around the vote for a On participant reflected: carbon price. “The organisation of the event was extremely • Jacqui Remond went on to become Director well thought out and flowed effortlessly. The of Catholic Earthcare Australia and through international participants gave the forum the the activities of research, education, advocacy feeling of greater, worldwide concern, community and outreach, provide ecological leadership for and action. The call to action was always those of Catholic faith. uppermost in all presentations which created a • Jason Kimberley founded Cool Australia to sense of urgency as well as a positive impetus.” educate young Australians for a sustainable Unlike other trainings of this calibre and scale, future and connect school kids and teachers The Climate Reality Project is funded from with the natural world. philanthropic donations. The donor’s generosity • Stephen Posselt will kayak from Australia gives Climate Leaders the opportunity to use their to Paris to emphasise the importance of influence and expertise to work towards a safer, progressive commitments at the 2015 UN healthier future. climate negotiations. Climate Leaders are supported by a small team Climate Leaders have worked to building a based at the Australian Conservation Foundation. national culture that is better educated and They host regular face-to-face catch ups and making more informed decisions around climate provide regular briefing materials and resources change. From starting community groups, to bulk to keep them well equipped with the emergent purchases of solar panels, to changing the DNA of debate and issues, as well as promoting better the businesses they work in, each act of leadership connectivity and collaboration cross the network. bring us closer to the solution. These activities ensure that the Climate Leaders feel part of a team, target their efforts effectively What they do next we’re sure will be unimaginable. and have access to advice and encouragement 79 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR ROLL 2013 - 2011

2013 Category 1: Land and Biodiversity - Preserving Our Ecosystems Gondwana Link: 1000kms of goodwill and good work - Gondwana Link Ltd, WA Category 2: Water - Our Most Precious Resource Restoring the balance - The Hattah Lakes environmental watering program - Mallee Catchment Management Authority, VIC Category 3: Education - Raising the Bar Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park - Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, WA Category 4: Water - Our Most Precious Resource Dewfish Demonstration Reach - The fish are Back! - Condamine Alliance, QLD Category 5: Built Environment - Harmonious Manmade Landscapes Global GreenTag Product Certification System - Global GreenTag Pty Ltd, QLD Category 6: Indigenous Award - Caring for Country Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), QLD Category 7: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Large Organisations Leading in Essentials for a Better Life - Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand, NSW Category 8: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Small to Medium Businesses Australian Ethical: Australia's Only Ethical Superannuation And Investment Fund - Australian Ethical, NSW Category 9: Agriculture and Food - From Paddock to Plate Sustainably From Paddock to Plate to Paddock - Cecconi's Cantina, VIC Category 10: Business and Not-for-Profits - In Collaboration 'Magic Wand' Oiled Penguin Recovery Technology - Phillip Island Nature Parks VIC Category 11: Innovation Yun Liu - The Australian National University, ACT Category 12: Local Government Sustainability Sustainability at Sunshine Coast: It's who we are, it's what we do - Sunshine Coast Council, QLD Category 13: Business and Not-for-Profits - In Collaboration 'Magic Wand' Oiled Penguin Recovery Technology - Phillip Island Nature Parks VIC Category 11: Category 14: Climate Adaptation City of Melbourne's Urban Landscape Adaptation Program - City of Melbourne, VIC Category 13: Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management Climate Wizard - Seeley International, SA Category 14: Waste Minimisation Dunlop Flooring - Waste minimisation - Dunlop Flooring, VIC The GPT Group Community Grant Wadawurrung Dya Baap Ngobeeyt Cultural Heritage Mapping & Management Project - Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation, VIC

2012 Category 1: Education Award - Raising the Bar Target 100 - Meat & Livestock Australia, NSW Category 2: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Small to Medium Businesses Ecoburbia - Ecoburbia , WA Category 3: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Large Organisations Here for the Long Haul, Qantas, NSW Category 4: Water - Our Most Precious Resource Dewfish Demonstration Reach - The fish are Back! - Condamine Alliance, QLD Category 5: Agriculture and Food - From Paddock to Plate Sustainably OzHarvest - OzHarvest Ltd, NSW Category 6: Clean Technology - Harnessing Opportunities SF6 Recycling Plant - ABB Australia Pty Limited, NSW Category 7: Indigenous Award - Caring for Country I-Tracker Initiative: Best Practice Tools and Partnerships for Indigenous Land and Sea Management - North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd, NT Category 8: Built Environment - Harmonious Manmade Landscapes Darling Quarter and Commonwealth Bank Place - Lend Lease and Commonwealth Bank, NSW Category 9: Land and Biodiversity - Preserving Our Ecosystems The I-Tracker Initiative: New tools and Knowledge for Better Conservation North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd., NT The GE Eco Innovation Award for Individual Excellence Professor Veena Sahajwalla - The Eco Alchemist - The University of New South Wales, NSW The GPT Group Community Grant Bookend Trust, Tas

2011 Category 1: Education Award - Raising the Bar The Vortex Centre - Water Wonders in a building that teaches - Gippsland Water, VIC Category 2: Indigenous - Caring for country West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Partnership: a 140% success - Warddeken Land Management for WALFA partners, NT Category 3: Land and Biodiversity - Preserving Our Ecosystems Fox-Free Phillip Island Victoria, Australia - Phillip Island Nature Parks, VIC Category 4: Water - Our Most Precious Resource Gippsland Water Factory - A new way to care for water - Gippsland Water, VIC Category 5: Agriculture and Food - From Paddock to Plate Sustainably Gaia banana farming: for healthy soils, wetlands and Great Barrier Reef - Gaia farms, QLD Category 6: Built Environment - Harmonious Manmade Landscapes Hepburn Community Wind Farm - Hepburn Wind, VIC Category 7: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Large Organisations Sustainability is Good for Business - Fujitsu, VIC Category 8: Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Small Organisations Greening The Wharf - Sydney Theatre Company, NSW Category 9: Clean Technology - Harnessing Opportunities BlueGen - clean power for your home - Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd., VIC Category 10: Transportation - Mindful Movement Making Electric Cars Make Sense - Better Place Australia, VIC Banksia People’s Choice Award Don’t Palm us Off - Zoos Victoria 80 SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AWARD

This Award recognises demonstrated leadership and innovation in assuring continued environment and community access, both today and by future generations, to quality freshwater resources and vibrant marine environments.

Sponsored by

MMG is delighted to again be a sponsoring partner of the 2014 Banksia Sustainability Awards and congratulates the Foundation on its evolved program, as well as this year’s finalists for their outstanding leadership and achievements. MMG is a global resources group that mines, develops and explores and base metal projects around the world. MMG’s operations are located in Australia, Laos and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It has also three significant development projects in Australia, Canada and Peru, and a global portfolio of exploration projects. At MMG, we believe that “we mine for progress”– progress for our people, our investors, our host governments and our diverse communities. Our vision is to be a “next generation” mining company. Sustainability is what really matters to us. Our challenge is to deliver the benefits of our operations to all our stakeholders – whether they are shareholders, employees or the communities in which we operate, while sustainability managing our business. MMG is committed to excellence in sustainability performance through membership of the International Council on Mining and Metals and alignment to the Sustainable Development Framework. Through the framework’s Ten Principals, we balance our economic, environmental, and community priorities to turn business success into the development of local people and local communities. Our Sustainability Report (see www.mmg.com) outlines our annual performance. We are addressing the current environmental priorities across our operations, as well planning for those particular ones being presented by climate change and water resource scarcity. Water – its availability, management, treatment and disposal – presents an increasing challenge for us and the mining sector, whether we are controlling flood waters in North West Queensland, dealing with scarcity, re-cycling and re-use in Western Australia, or providing potable drinking water to local villagers in Laos and the DRC. To meet that challenge, we have developed a robust water management strategy. However, MMG recognises that broader commitments to efficient water use and management are required, and that Australian organisations and researchers are uniquely positioned to fulfil that need through innovation. We have, therefore, chosen to sponsor the Banksia Sustainable Water Management Award to help acknowledge and encourage the innovators and leaders in this critical area for our region. We also want to firmly support the new era of Banksia Awards, and to encourage other potential sponsors to do likewise. Thank you to the Banksia Foundation for the opportunity to be part of the broad and enduring impact being achieved by the awards. 81 SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AWARD FINALIST

LEIGHTON BROAD WATER QUALITY AND DREDGE WORKS ON ELIZABETH QUAY

Elizabeth Quay is a $440 million Western Australian State Government project, which is the centrepiece of an extensive plan to revitalise Perth as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Leighton Broad (a partnership between Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and Broad Construction Services Pty Ltd) is the managing contractor for the construction of this iconic infrastructure project. The Elizabeth Quay development is situated in the heart of Perth, in an area of previously reclaimed land on the Swan River foreshore. The Swan River has a total catchment area of over 100 000km2 and immense community, environmental and cultural significance to the people of Western Australia. The dredging of approximately 12,000m3 of Swan River sediments was one of the significant packages of work completed at Elizabeth Quay in 2014. Leighton Broad, in conjunction with a subcontractor, undertook this work in the most sustainable and economical ways possible, resulting in minimal impacts to the community and river environment. 82 The original dredge methodology presented in By using the backhoe dredger, the spoil was able the project’s Development and Planning Approval to be managed through the use of specifically (DA2) was a cutter suction dredger. During designed mixing bays. The spoil was mixed with preliminary planning of the works, Leighton Broad Portland cement and then transported off site undertook detailed investigations that found an to a local facility for treatment and re-use, thus alternative dredge methodology to significantly eliminating the need for a large on site treatment reduce the impacts to the Swan River environment, plant. Unlike the cutter suction dredge method, as compared to the original cutter suction dredge which required a floating dredge return pipeline, method. an on site treatment plant and large amounts of Leighton Broad initiated an amendment to the space for the management of dredge water return DA2 dredging methodology that changed the were enabled. The addition of cement to the spoil cutter suction method to a more sustainable further reduced the amounts of dredge return method of using a backhoe dredger with an ‘enviro water required to be infiltrated back to the river. bucket’ clamshell attachment. Using a backhoe dredger also meant that the size The case to implement this amendment was of the vessels used to undertake the works could presented to the Swan River Trust (the regulatory be reduced, meaning fewer disruptions to other body) and the Western Australian Planning vessels using the river and existing channels. Commission, who supported and approved the Overall, the amendment to the dredge change in methodology. This was a significant methodology proved to be a significant environmental, economical and sustainability win cost saving to the project and superior in for the project and the Leighton Broad team. environmentally sustainability when compared to The new dredge methodology resulted in a large previously endorsed methods. reduction of dredge water return, a ratio of one Another initiative instigated by Leighton Broad part water to five parts solids (1:5), compared to was the construction of a ‘temporary bund’ from six parts water and one part solids (6:1) associated across the Swan River foreshore, connecting two with the cutter suction method. areas of reclaimed land at the project site. This The alternative backhoe dredger was used in meant the dredge footprint would be significantly conjunction with a high performance silt curtain reduced as the area behind the temporary bund ‘moon pool’, which resulted in a reduction to could be excavated as part of the inlet instead the dredge zone of influence (plume spread) of being dredged. The bund also provides added and suspended solids in the water column. protection to the Swan River from construction Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) activities on site. monitoring was undertaken throughout the dredge The backhoe and ‘enviro bucket’ dredger works and during the entire dredge program the methodology was the first of its kind to be used results from the PAR loggers did not exceed the within a Swan River development project. Due to project’s Tier 1 threshold. This meant that sea its success, Leighton Broad understands that the grass colonies downstream were protected – an Swan River Trust is now pursuing an endorsement outcome that was extremely important to the local of this methodology and to register it as the community and to the ongoing sustainability of preferred method of dredging in the Swan River. the ecosystem of the river. The ‘enviro bucket’ enabled precision dredging, with reduced disturbance to the riverbed and a significantly greater concentration of solids (approximately 70%). Therefore, there was a minimal requirement for the management and treatment of dredge material and return water on site.

83 SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT AWARD FINALIST

PLENARY GROUP THE BARWON WATER BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT

The Barwon Water Biosolids Management Project provides an environmentally sustainable, long- term solution for 100 per cent reuse of the biosolids produced at Barwon Water’s Black Rock and smaller regional water reclamation plants in Victoria. At the heart of the project is a $76 million thermal drying facility that can treat 60,000 tonnes of biosolids a year. It is the first of its kind in Australia and the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. The small footprint, fully enclosed thermal drying facility produces very dry pellets suitable for farm fertiliser and can be applied using standard fertiliser spreaders. The pellets are safe to handle, easy to transport and can be reused as a soil conditioner immediately after processing. The Facility provides a model for Australia of a sustainable solution for managing urban biosolids on a large, regional scale to address the environmental issues associated with biosolids stockpiling, disposal and reuse.

84 Commissioned in 2012, the Facility achieved a 30 produced by Barwon Water each year,” Mr Hay percent reduction in Barwon Water’s wastewater said. treatment emissions in its first year of operation. “The Keppel Seghers HARD Pelletiser drying Subsequently, Barwon Water reported the greatest system technology is most effective in that it decrease in net greenhouse gas emissions for utilises indirect-gas powered heating to dry the 2012-13 of any urban water authority in Australia. biosolids to eliminate pathogens and form stable It has also resulted in a 30 percent reduction in pellets suitable for beneficial reuse.” greenhouse gas emissions and has cut heavy Mr Hay said that the Facility’s co-location with the truck movements by 1,000 a year compared to Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant enables it to the previous practice of transporting wet biosolids use recycled water from the reclamation plant for to Werribee to be stored and air dried over many cooling purposes, reducing potable mains water months. use by up to 1,825 mega litres per annum. The Facility has already received independent To meet local community expectations, Plenary recognition for its contribution to sustainability, Environment designed the Facility with effective taking out the prize for Environmental odour control as a key objective. Also, being Protection at the recent 2014 Victorian Premier’s so close to the coast in an area of significant Sustainability Awards. landscape value and tourism activity, its visual Barwon Water Managing Director, Joe Adamski, impact and physical footprint has also been said the facility closes the loop in the sewage minimised. treatment process. The Facility processes Barwon Water’s biosolids “It will help Barwon Water meet its commitment to to achieve a 90 percent de-watered, T1 Treatment a ‘no waste’ sewerage system where 100 per cent Grade pelletised biosolids; the highest treatment of recycled water and biosolids are committed to grade and maximises potential beneficial uses. sustainable use,” Mr Adamski said. Plenary Environment works with its beneficial The Facility the first of its kind in Australia to use provider, XLPrill, to blend the pellets with a utilise the proven Keppel Seghers HARD Pelletiser number of fertilisers to achieve a C1 Contamination drying system, which indirectly heats the biosolids Grade. As an ‘Unrestricted Product’, the potential with no combustion, minimising emissions and beneficial uses and application of the biosolids maximising safety. pellets is maximised and the benefit of the The project was delivered as a Public Private organic carbon, nutrients, trace elements and Partnership (PPP) between Barwon Water other constituents is able to be readily enjoyed by and Plenary Environment and the Facility was farmers and other agricultural users. designed, built and is now operated by Water To date, more than 75,000 tonnes of biosolids Infrastructure Group under a 20-year contract. have been processed producing over 10,000 Plenary Group Chief Operating Officer, Glenn Hay, tonnes of pelletised biosolids. These pellets have said the PPP model was critical to the facility being been used for fertilising more than 30 broad acre able to utilise technology never seen before in cropping and pasture farms across Central and Australia. Western Victoria. “In designing the Facility, Plenary and its consortium partner, Water Infrastructure Group, scoured the globe for the most reliable and environmentally sustainable technical solution that would effectively treat and pelletise biosolids

85 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR ROLL 2010 - 2008

2010 Category 1: Education Switch Your Thinking! Program -South East Regional Energy Group, WA Category 2: Water Bringing Back the Fish - Industry and Investment NSW Category 3: Land and Biodiversity Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth - a Government / Community Partnership to ensure a Future for the Lower Murray - Department of Environment & Natural Resources South Australia Category 4: Indigenous - ‘Caring for Country’ Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation - Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, NT Category 5: Built Environment Grocon Pixel Building - Grocon, VIC Category 6: Clean Technology Mini-Hydro Project - Melbourne Water Corporation, VIC Category 7: Large Business Sustainability Fuji Xerox Australia - Fuji Xerox, Australia Category 8: Small and Medium Enterprises Business Sustainability A Family Commitment to Sustainability - Taylors Wines, NSW Category 9: Agriculture and Food Project Catalyst - The Coca-Cola Foundation, Reef Catchments, WWF, QLD Category 10: Transportation, Warehousing & Logistics Flexicar - Flexic‑ar, VIC Banksia People’s Choice Award Kids Teaching Kids - Firestarter Pty Ltd, VIC

2009 Category 1: Education The Green Steps Program - Monash University Sustainability Institute, VIC Category 2: Water A Voice for Water - South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership, QLD Category 3: Land and Biodiversity ACT Land Keepers - Greening Australia Capital Region, ACT Category 4: Indigenous - ‘Caring for Country’ Kimberley Toad Busters’ Cane Toad Education Campaign - Kimberley Toad Busters, WA Category 5: Built Environment Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, VIC Category 6: Eco Innovation None awarded in 2009 Category 7: Large Business Sustainability The GPT Group - The GPT Group, NSW Category 8: Small and Medium Enterprises Business Sustainability Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses - Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses P/L, VIC Category 9: Agriculture and Food Giving Vegemite a Sustainable Future - KRAFT Foods, VIC Category 10: Environmental Services Sustainable Events Platform - Sustainable Living Foundation, VIC Banksia People’s Choice Award Food Connect - Food Connect, QLD

2008 Category 1: Built Environment Trevor Pearcy House - Australian Ethical Investment Ltd., ACT Category 2: Climate Addressing Climate Change - Investa Property Group Category 3: Community Kororoit Creek Waterway Rehabilitation - Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek Inc., Vic Category 4: Eco Innovation Dulux Powder Coatings & CSIRO “100% eco-sustainable coatings technology” - Dulux Powder Coatings, Vic (Partner - CSIRO Division of Materials Science & Engineering) Category 5: Education Earth Hour Australia - WWF Australia (Partners - Fairfax Media, Leo Burnett) Category 6: Indigenous “NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project” -North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (Partners - Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Savannas Management, Kimberley Land Council, Northern Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Cape York Balkanu Development Corporation, Torres Strait Regional Authority) Category 7: Land and Biodiversity BIGG - Biodiversity in Grain and Graze - Kiri-ganai Research Pty. Ltd. and University of Tasmania, Tas (Partners - Meat & Livestock Australia, Grains R & D Corporation, Australian Wool Innovations, Land & Water Australia and the 62 member organisations of the Grain & Graze Program) Category 8: Local Government Managing Drought in the City of Parks - City of Melbourne, Vic Category 9: Business Sustainability Award ETIKO Fair Trade - ESP P/L., VIC Category 10: Water Vision for the Broken River Basin - Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Vic Banksia People’s Choice Award Rouse Hill Town Centre - The GPT Group, NSW

86 NATURAL CAPITAL AWARD

This Award recognises demonstrated leadership and innovation in the sustainable management of renewable resources (agricultural crops, vegetation, wildlife) and non- renewable resources (fossil fuels and mineral deposits).

Sponsored by

National Australia Bank Group is a financial services organisation with over 12.7 million customers and 43,000 people, operating more than 1,750 stores and Service Centres globally. At NAB, we know that a healthy environment underpins a healthy economy and that addressing these issues is part of future-proofing our business. Globally, there is increasing competition for scarce and finite resources and this has the potential to constrain economic growth and business operations. As the issue of resource scarcity becomes more apparent, responsible businesses are recognising the need to better manage and account for natural capital.

We are currently Australia’s only financial institution and one of 66 organisations globally, that are signatories to, or supporters of, the Natural Capital Declaration (NCD), a global statement that recognises that natural capital poses significant risks and opportunities to the finance sector. We deliver on our NCD commitments through the implementation of our Natural Value Strategy. The strategy includes thought-leadership to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services and explore, through pilot projects, how we can better measure the contribution that natural capital assets make to our business, to our customers and to our economy. We’ve prioritised our work, starting with NAB Agribusiness (the largest agricultural bank in Australia) and we are learning from the way some of our leading customers manage natural capital risks. We’re also building banker capability and piloting new products and services that support customers investing in their natural capital assets. We also work with research partners to quantify the relationship between good management of natural capital and financial performance over time. No one organisation can address natural capital degradation alone. This is a broad-based societal issue that requires collaboration across all industries and sectors. As such we support solution-oriented networks such as the Australian Business and Biodiversity Initiative (ABBI) to bring government, business and civil society together to raise the profile of biodiversity and ecosystem services as critical to the future success of the Australian economy. Likewise, we are proud to be sponsoring the Natural Capital Category of the Banksia Awards and our sponsorship decision reflects our commitment to encourage much needed innovation and leadership around the management of our natural capital resources. We wish the finalists all the best in the competition but more importantly in their endeavours.

87 NATURAL CAPITAL AWARD FINALIST

BUSH HERITAGE AUSTRALIA TASMANIAN MIDLANDS

Bush Heritage Australia, VIC In partnership with Tasmanian Land Conservancy The Tasmanian Midlands, one of Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots, are home to 32 nationally threatened species and more than 180 plants and animals threatened at state level, including: • Marsupials which are extinct or on the brink of extinction in the rest of Australia • Tasmanian Wedge-tailed eagles • Tunbridge buttercup and pungent leek-orchid • Lowland temperate native grasslands, among the most critically endangered ecosystems in the world. Lowland native grasslands in the Midlands have diminished to approximately 10% of the extent before European settlement. Ongoing threats to the region’s biodiversity include land clearance and conversion to crops, orchards, vineyards and introduced pastures, changes in grazing regimes, climate change, feral predators and Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease. 88 As around 95% of the Tasmanian Midlands is The MCF is also distinctive through its owned privately with properties rarely on the commitment to long-term partnership as the MCF market and low take-up of conservation covenants, members work with landholders throughout the a new approach involving existing landowners was agreed 5 to 10 year span with the intention to required to shift the focus from managing land for extend the duration of the agreement. Farmers production outcomes to managing for long term are in it for the long haul and many are looking ecological outcomes. to diversify as well as protect their property for In 2008, Bush Heritage Australia (BHA) and generations. Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) led the MCF does not rely on instruments such as development of the Midlandscapes Plan to perpetual covenants to “lock up” the land. It conserve 10% (64,000 hectares) of the region by relies on a permanent funding stream and robust 2020. At the time around 5% (30,500 hectares) contractual relationships that give landowners was protected. the confidence to invest effort in long term After consultations with landholders, TLC and BHA conservation management. then established the Midlands Conservation Fund Continuous high conservation condition and the (MCF) in 2011 and launched it in 2013. It offers removal of threats are integral to rolling over farmers stewardship agreements to pay for long- agreements every 5 to 10 years. term conservation management of their land to The MCF has committed resources for rigorous safeguard the last remnant native grasslands and monitoring and reporting including: grassy woodlands. • Annual management reporting from the The MCF has Conservation Agreements with 10 landholder and project coordinator landowners across 2,636 hectares to protect and • Annual site inspections by project officers and manage: ecologist • 1,100 hectares of nationally threatened • Detailed triennial ecological auditing Lowland Native Grasslands representing more These standards closely align with those used than 10% of their known extent across the whole for land that has been specifically purchased for bioregion conservation. Philanthropic funds and private • 24 hectares of state listed threatened wetlands donors expect a high level of accountability to • 16 hectares of Regional Forest Agreement listed ensure their funds deliver conservation outcomes. threatened forest communities The MCF is managed to perpetually fund all • 1,337 hectares of under-reserved grassy conservation agreements it enters into with woodlands landholders, subject to both parties meeting • 444 known site records for 46 state and their obligations. The fund retains a proportion nationally listed threatened plant species of earnings each year for capital growth so that • Large tracts of habitat for threatened and payments in future may be increased to offset priority native animals inflation and remain a relevant factor in farm The area protected exceeds the 2,500 hectares enterprise income returns. Raising an additional originally targeted. Participation rates indicate $6.7 million by 2020 will protect an additional the success of the project and confirm the 5,400 hectares under the MCF program. Around potential of the MCF to secure future conservation half of the participating landholders have management. expressed interest in protecting additional areas The MCF recognises that commercial activities under the program and potential new participants, can play an integral role in the sustainable including landowners who were not supportive management of native grasslands and woodlands. of biodiversity conservation initially, have also Rather than removing land from production, the expressed their support for the MCF. MCF creates an additional income stream and MCF gratefully acknowledges the very generous focus for management – to produce conservation support of the Sidney Myer Fund, The Myer outcomes by improving and maintaining native Foundation. John T Reid Charitable Trusts and the habitats. Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation. This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country. 89 NATURAL CAPITAL AWARD FINALIST

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY THE FLUKER POST PROJECT

Martin Fluker’s innovation for ecosystem monitoring requires little infrastructure beyond strategically placed wooden posts and some bright green paint. But his grand vision harnesses the power of citizen science and the ubiquity of digital cameras to generate crowdsourced, time- lapse photography of ecologically sensitive landscapes. Resources available for biodiversity conservation efforts - human and financial, government and non-government - are limited. It is therefore essential that we measure, evaluate and understand the effectiveness of our biodiversity conservation efforts. This knowledge will help to ensure that our efforts are correctly prioritised and targeted, so that we are investing in efficient actions that will produce the greatest long-term benefits for biodiversity.

90 In response to these needs, Dr Martin Fluker, an The Fluker Post Project is now building on academic from Victoria University specializing in the knowledge-base and established industry nature-based tourism, developed an innovative networks to develop the Fluker Post Schools system that utilises existing web 2.0 technologies Project which will operate continuously over the in a way that has never been done before. Actively next decade. Warrnambool East Primary School, engaging visitors at a range of often-fragile natural Clifton Springs Primary School and Derrimut environments, in a way that they can help monitor Primary School and the first of many schools to be their visual condition over long periods of time, involved. Additionally, a team of 7 academics from an army of previously untapped conservation Victoria University, Deakin University and RMIT volunteers have been effectively utilised. University, with backgrounds in environmental Over the past six years, Dr Fluker has created a science, education and information technology are network of 90 Fluker Posts. Essentially photo- involved. points, each Fluker Post is topped with a camera The Grade 5/6 students from each school have cradle that can support any amateur snappers’ helped select two new Fluker Post sites and will digital camera. Attached to each eponymous have access to these growing collections via a Fluker Post are instructions on where to point, purpose built website. Within this website, and shoot and email the photos in for chronological under the guidance of their science teachers and inclusion in a central website. Most of the Fluker the academic team, the students will be able to Posts are situated within the state of Victoria, annotate and add to the collections with their own three in Queensland, and three in Seagirt, New observations including Youtube videos of field Jersey, USA. trips, scanned drawings, and even audio files of The information provided from over 630 soundscapes. photographic volunteers is now a primary tool for Students, via the website, will have direct blogging land management agencies. These organisations access to the land management agency in charge are concerned with issues including both of the particular environment being monitored so identifying early signs of change and suggesting that they can ask questions about the changes or implementing responses to these changes. This they are observing, alert them to any changes they activity includes recording the gradual decline see, and suggest strategies to improve the specific and subsequent improvements related to beach environment. Students will also be able to chat erosion rehabilitation works, the health of local with students from other schools involved in the waterways, revegetation of specific areas, weed project so that they can compare and contrast eradication, and the general protection of national their findings. With the start of each new school parks and other areas. year, and new group of students will be introduced The result of this leadership is that we now have12 to the project, study the work that has been done LMA’s, 3 primary schools, 4 universities, 2 “Friends by students in previous years, and continue the Of” groups and one business are involved in the project. project consisting in over 21 separate initiatives. Each student involved in the Fluker Post Schools Each of these organisations are concerned with Project will be surveyed at the beginning and issues including both identifying early signs of end of each year to measure changes in their change and suggesting or implementing responses attitudes and behaviours in relation to the natural to these changes. This activity includes recording environment having been involved in the project. the gradual decline and subsequent improvements These measurable social indicators will provide related to beach erosion rehabilitation works, evidence in regards to the goal of changing the health of local waterways, revegetation of the way a whole generation of young people specific areas, weed eradication, and the general relate to, understand and appreciate the natural protection of national parks and other areas. environment.

91 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR ROLL 2007 - 2005

2007 Category 1: Built Environment National Lifestyle Villages - WA Category 2: Climate Mirvac in partnership with GridX, NSW Category 3: Community Kimberley Toad Busters Inc. WA Category 4: Eco Innovation Dulux, Bunnings, Sustainability Victoria and Chemsal in conjunction with Bluescope Steel and Steel Can Recycling Council, VIC Category 5: Education Australian Conservation Foundation, NSW Category 6: Indigenous Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, QLD Category 7: Land and Biodiversity Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), VIC Category 8: Local Government Randwick City Council, NSW Category 9: Sustainability Westpac Category 10: Water Conservation Volunteers Australia and BHP Billiton Banksia People’s Choice Award Ashlorien Management,TAS

2006 Category 1: Built Environment Szencorp, VIC Category 2: Climate Department of Energy Utilities and Sustainability NSW Category 3: Eco Innovation Sydney Water Corporation, NSW Category 4: Land and Biodiversity Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria Category 5: Sustainability Australian Arrow Pty Ltd, VIC Category 6: Water Northern Gulf Resource Management Group, QLD InterGen (Australia), QLD Category 7: Minerals Tiwest, WA Category 8: Community Trees For Life, SA Category 9: Education Village Green Environmental Solutions, VIC Category 10: Local Government King Island Council, TAS Category 11: Media Melissa Fyfe & Simon O’Dwyer, The Age Newspaper, VIC

2005 Category 1: Environmental Leadership in the Community Men of the Trees WA (Inc), WA Category 2: Business Environmental Responsibility & Leadership Sustaining Excellence at Toyota Australia, VIC Category 3: Government Leading by Example for a Sustainable Future Fuelling the Future - Driving Sustainable Transport Energy in Western Australia, WA Category 4: Environmental Leadership in the Rural Sector Sustainability through Open Inquiry at Random Valley, WA Category 5: Sustainable Development Leadership in the Minerals Industry Bengalla Mining Company’s Culture of Sustainability, NSW Category 6: Environmental Leadership in Protecting Bush, Land & Waterways Bush For Life: Training and Supporting Volunteers To Care for Bushland, SA Category 7: Leadership in Protecting Coastal & Marine Environments Living on the Edge, VIC Category 8: Environmental Leadership in Infrastructure & Services SLIVER Cells - a Breakthrough in Solar Technology - ANU & Origin Energy, ACT Category 9: Leadership in Sustainable Buildings The Puzzle of Sustainable Commercial Development: ‘National@Docklands’, VIC Category 10: Leadership in Financial Services and Sustainability Award Different cars, same colour. mecu goGreen® Car Loan, VIC Category 11: Environmental Leadership Education and Training Award The Natural Advantage of Nations - Book and Training Initiatives, SA Category 12: Environmental Leadership in Media Communications Award Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries Media Communications, VIC

92 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

This Award recognises an individual (or team) that has best demonstrated innovation in taking an initiative from a concept, through collaborative research and the quick adoption of the findings, to making the concept a commercial reality. Our future depends on us all acting in a sustainable way and thinking creatively about how we impact our environment and our communities.

Sponsored by

Mirvac’s plan is to continue to work with our staff, clients and partners to help create that future. We’ve come a long way, but we have a lot more to do. In 2014 we launched our plan for a sustainable future, This Changes Everything. This Changes Everything comprises four interconnected areas of focus: Re-imagining Resources, Shaping the Future of Place, Enriching Communities and Smarter Thinking. We have decided upon a mission for each of these key areas. Most are bold, long-term goals, and we’re still not certain exactly how we’ll go about achieving them. But we have made some more immediate, tangible commitments that will help us start the journey. Our journey is built on the understanding that change happens every day and tomorrow’s winners are those who plan today. Urbanisation changes how we build cities, demographics how we use them and innovation changes the pace of change itself. To embrace change is to question how we do everything, always looking for improvements. Mirvac continues to build on a rich history of delivering sustainable property which includes: • The first solar community at Newington, Sydney • The first 6 Green star shopping centres, Orion, Queensland • The First 6 Green star educational building at Bond University • Harmony 9 our first low carbon house • And more recently 8 Chfiley and 699 Bourke both 6 Green star projects.

As you can see Mirvac understands the importance of innovation which is why we chose to support the Banksia Foundation in celebrating sustainable innovation which will allows us all to deliver a brighter tomorrow.

93 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST

BETTER BUILDINGS PARTNERSHIP BUILDING BETTER PARTNERSHIP, NSW

In partnership with City of Sydney, AMP Capital, Brookfield, Charter Hall, DEXUS Property Group, Frasers Property, The GPT Group, Investa Property Group, Lend Lease, Mirvac, Stockland, The University of SYdney, University of Technology Sydney, Colliers International, Savills, CBRE, JLL, Knight Frank, Green Building Council of Australia, Property Council of Australia, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Sydney’s major property owners have carved a reputation as leaders in sustainable management practice, but there are many problems that cannot be solved by individual parties moving alone. The built environment is a complex system with many players and the big wins need alignment of many stakeholders to drive a step change in performance towards the City of Sydney’s target of 70% emissions reduction by 2030. The Better Buildings Partnership is a new kind of collaboration between Sydney’s commercial landlords that is unlocking improvements to building sustainability, performance and value previously thought impractical or impossible. 94 The fresh co-creative approaches of the Australia, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Partnership enable industry and the supply chain and Green Building Council of Australia. http:// to collectively explore and reframe the opportunity www.sydneybetterbuildings.com.au/projects/ and to overcome market failures in leasing that tenant-owner-collaboration/leasing/ historically have limited the ability for landlords The Partnership then created key tools and to collaborate and improve tenants’ comfort, resources to fill gaps identified by industry: productivity and sustainability. Commercial office Why Choose High-Performing Buildings Factsheet buildings are responsible for over 45 per cent - A simple one-page factsheet which translates of emissions in City of Sydney. Of this, tenant the value of more sustainable, high-performing operations make up over 50 per cent within the buildings to an understandable financial figure building. Standard lease agreements have evolved for the C-suite; speaking about decreased over the past few decades with greater specificity absenteeism and increased retention and and continuous de-risking of the contract to productivity, backed by over two dozen local and prevent any intrusion, flexibility or collaboration. international case studies. http://cityswitch.net.au/ This has greatly hindered the ability of landlords choose - who specialise in high performance office space Site Selection Briefs Templates - A template and are experts in the newest innovations and structure for specifying the tenants’ expectations technology for productivity - to provide their for building amenities. Based on existing customers - the tenants - with better amenity industry guides defining the quality of building and technology, lower operating costs, and grades, these ensure that tenants’ sustainability increased productive space. With a standard lease requirements are articulated from the get-go. lasting between seven and ten years, it means http://sydneybetterbuildings.com.au/sites the opportunities to deliver step changes in Model Lease Clauses – Ready to use clauses that performance are limited to a few small windows are commercially grounded; neutrally drafted; of upgrade as leases expire and are renewed. In available in various ‘shades of green’ from best 2012 the Better Buildings Partnership began an intentions to hard requirements triggering lease innovative, concerted campaign to improve the breach for noncompliance; come in basic, standard lease and leverage it as framework for flexibility, and best practice with explanatory notes. Drafted collaboration and iterative improvement in the by Sparke Helmore. http://sydneybetterbuildings. management of materials and energy within com.au/clauses buildings, with significant momentum across the To date, over 10,000 industry professionals have industry now in progress.The project, still ongoing, engaged with the Better Buildings Partnership has engaged 100 senior representatives from all leasing work through conferences, publication aspects of the leasing cycle (lawyers, owners, and use of the tools. Businesses large and small tenants, property managers, leasing agents, are demonstrating that they value, respect and tenant representatives, industry and government) use the work. The clauses have been reflected to unpack the real barriers to green leasing; into the new Green Star Design and As Built and deconstructing and reconceiving the process to Performance ratings. consider the whole occupancy (not just the deal) The Fifth Estate’s companion publication The and understanding why shared sustainability Tenant and Landlord’s Guide to Happiness is its intention slips out of the negotiation and could most downloaded item with over 30,000 reads be better integrated at each step. The Partnership and downloads. http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/ created a Leasing Lifecycle Tool, which collects tfe_ebooks/ the best resources in the industry into one central The Partnership will soon be adding to its toolset location, organised by what value they bring, with a green lease baseline study profiling Sydney to whom, at each stage of the process. The tool company leases to evidence uptake over time. It has been used over 1000 times since launch is preparing to announce high profile tenants who and is regularly profiled with industry news and endorse its clauses and is developing additional conferences. It is included in the standard suites of market signals for maximum exposure. training for 3 industry bodies: Property Council of 95 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST

BIOREGIONAL AUSTRALIA ONE PLANET LIVING IN AUSTRALIA

The origins of the cutting edge and innovative sustainability initiative driven by Bioregional Australia, stems back to a workshop held in September 2011. At that workshop a broad range of representatives from the development and business sector, local, state and federal governments and various universities, gather at RMIT in Melbourne, to explore the possibility of bringing the concept that underpinned the creation of the BedZED EcoVillage formally to Australia. The original concept and model born as a result of the BedZED EcoVillage was a holistic approach to addressing environmental, social and economics sustainability that placed people at the heart of the equation.

96 This model is called One Planet Living. It’s a the use of One Planet Living. We work with our vision for a sustainable world where it is easy, members, by engaging and empowering them, attractive and affordable for people to lead happy to turn talk around environmental, social and and healthy lives within a fair share of the earth’s economic sustainability, into practical solutions resources. and replicable action. In Australia there are three key One Planet Living Feedback from the workshop in September Programs that help make a one planet lifestyle a 2011 identified that a new approach needed reality: to be adopted if One Planet Living was to have a positive impact in Australia – key • One Planet Councils - for local government; recommendations included: • One Planet Communities - for precinct scale It needed to be FREE and EASY to use; property development; and It needed to be an approach that could be used by • One Planet Companies - for organisations and existing networks; and business. It needed to complement existing standards, best practice guidelines and rating tools. Each program uses a set of 10 sustainability This approach has led to the creation of a new principles to assist projects and organisations open source approach for the use of One Planet put in place sustainability strategies and action in Australia, called OPL 2.0. The piloting of OPL plans that help enable people to lead One Planet 2.0 has seen rapid adoption by key sustainability lifestyles. leaders in Australia, supported by Bioregional Australia. Bioregional Australia is a member-based not- for-profit organisation dedicated to making sustainable living a reality for Australians through 97 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST

RHBEEP…ING THE REWARDS TUMUT SHIRE COUNCIL, NSW

The Riverina Highlands Building Energy Efficiency Project (RHBEEP) is an innovative project, as it succeeded in transforming an inefficient, energy intensive, high maintenance circa 1980 building into a thermally efficient, energy efficient, low maintenance, power generating building.

RHBEEP will serve and save the local community for the next 30 years and beyond. RHBEEP a project that should be replicated across the country, to the large stock of existing buildings that require a similar transformation.

98 The Riverina Highlands Building (RHB) is located The Communications Strategy for RHBEEP in Tumut, NSW and houses Tumut Shire main achieved the following: administration office and also provides a base • Demonstrate and encourage smarter energy for State Government tenants such as Forest use, Corporation, Rural Fire Services and Correctional • Encourage better use of energy and energy Services NSW. During emergency periods RHB savings, acts as the Shire and Zone Emergency Operations • Build the capacity of the energy services Centre (EOC). Tumut Shire Council (TSC) sector and support competitive Australian purchased the building in 2008, and engaged manufacturers . consultants to review the condition of the fitted RHBEEP has been hailed as a great success by one Heating Air-Conditioning and Ventilation (HVAC) of the financial institutions that provided funding, plant. by community members in Tumut Shire and by This identified that the system had exceeded the industry manufactures. RHBEEP has been the typical 25 years expected life of HVAC resulting catalyst for behavioural change and provided on in: ground support to educate and communicate the • High maintenance requirements, importance of energy efficiency and environmental • Unable to meet building HVAC requirements sustainability. • Experiencing regular plant failures, greatly After the first 12 months the direct annual impacting staff and tenant’s comfort levels and electricity total cost savings of the project were productivity. ~$117 000 ex GST (66% reduction) with the HVAC In 2011, the approximate annual maintenance and upgrade attributing ~45 % or ~$53 000 per annum. repairs were $80,000 per annum and electricity Additionally (per annum) as of June 2014: costs $165,000 per annum. Following the review, TSC undertook a Level 2 • Electricity consumption savings of 329 MWh - Energy Audit identifying areas of low energy/ (62%); thermal efficiency and resulted in cost saving • Electricity demand reduction of 151 kVA recommendations. From the audit TSC created (75%) with up to 40 % attributable to the RHBEEP and resolved to go ahead and obtained Geoexchange system; funding from Community Energy Efficiency Project • Maintenance reduced by ~$80 000; (CEEP) and a loan from Clean Energy Finance • Carbon emissions reduced by 303t CO2 (62%); Corporation (CEFC). Council took a great leap • Simple payback of 8-9 years, reduced to <3 of faith when they invested in RHBEEP. Council’s years with government assistance; and annual turnover is $33 Million with RHBEEP costing • 10-12 % return on investment, increasing as $2+/- Million equalling 6% of the annual turnover. further efficiencies identified.

RHBEEP included the following: RHBEEP has proved its case. Council now has • Lighting, pilot that can a reference for future projects. • Insulation upgrades, When Council undertook RHBEEP, we knew that • Solar photo voltaic (PV), RHB was one of our assets at risk. The successful • Power factor correction, delivery of RHBEEP has provided Council with • Metering optimisation and, the capacity to undertake new initiatives like • Replace with Geothermal HVAC. Energy Usage Review (EUR) at all Council owned buildings in the Shire. This review involved the The main objectives and purpose of RHBEEP was detailed analysis of past electricity consumption to transform an early 1980’s building with high and present energy purchasing arrangements and energy and maintenance requirements into an network tariff designation for 77 sites. The project energy efficient facility that is a showpiece for the will save on average $73,480 p/a. community and future generations. Council RHBEEP has secured the organisations sustainable practices and will enable us to be fit for the future.

99 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALIST

THE LEAF RESOURCES TEAM LEAF RESOURCES LIMITED, QLD

Leaf Resources’ GlycellTM process is a disruptive technology, with the potential to reshape the economics of using the world’s abundant biomass resources as a sustainable replacement for products currently derived from petroleum. Around the world significant steps are being taken to move from today’s fossil based ‘black’ economy to a more sustainable ‘green’ economy. Much work has been done on converting biomass resources to bio- based materials, bio-plastics and green chemicals, however one key bottleneck remains, the initial breaking down of that biomass to its constituent parts – the pretreatment. Leaf Resources is commercialising a pretreatment (or bio-refining) technology, the GlycellTM process that breaks down this last remaining bottleneck.

100 The GlycellTM Process is an innovative technology level 5 scoping study was finalised, that pointed to that uses a low cost, recyclable, biodegradable the robust economics of the process showing an reagent Glycerol, in a simple process, to break unleveraged after tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) down plant biomass into lignin, cellulose and of 42%. hemicellulose at low temperature and pressure. The capital cost for the study was based on a The cellulose produced by the GlycellTM processes quote from Andritz on a commissioned basis for a can be used directly as cellulose fibre, chemically plant of 20 BDT per hour (small commercial plant) converted to cellulose derivatives or converted to and was estimated at $32.4m. cellulosic sugars using enzymatic hydrolysis. These cellulosic sugars can then be converted to bio- Cellulosic sugars based materials, bio-plastics and green chemicals, Producing cellulosic sugars from biomass is a the markets for which are extremely large and fast two-part process: firstly; recovery of cellulose, growing. secondly; enzymatic conversion of cellulose Leaf Resources has developed the GlycellTM to sugars. Results from the trials show that Process over the last two years spending the GlycellTM process recovered 94% of the approximately $3m and lodged provisional patent available cellulose and the table below shows the applications for the process in July 2014. conversion to sugars.

Competitive Advantage: Feedstock Conversion Time Compared to other pretreatments (such as steam Bagasse 99.4% 6 hours explosion, the current industry benchmark) the Blue gum 98.1% 24 hours GlycellTM process has the following advantages: • Lower temperature and pressure These results are outstanding results within the • Uses a low cost, recyclable, biodegradable context of the current industry benchmarks. reagent Glycerol (waste product from biodiesel Because of the mild conditions of the GlycellTM production) process “clean” sugars are produced (negligible • Continuous, quick process degradation products measured). Globally, • Works with both non-woody and woody feed companies are seeking low cost, “clean” sugars stocks for input to their proprietary processes, for • High cellulose recovery the production of green, renewable, bio-based • Uses standard, readily available, industrial chemicals. equipment, allowing for retrofitting to existing Companies such as: Avantium (PET plastic plants replacement), Myriant and Bioamber (Succinic • Most importantly delivers lower capital and acid), Segetis (Levulinic acid), ZeaChem (Acetic lower operating costs Acid), and Renovia (Adipic and Lactic Acid) and Because of these advantages, the GlycellTM many more all have proprietary processes that process can operate at any scale, which need low cost clean sugars to produce their bio- opens up smaller biomass opportunities for based chemicals for the fast growing market. commercialisation. The total value of the bio-based chemical market Validation is expected to grow by 20% per year between Over the past year, independent testing at now and 2017 and exceed $500 billion by 2017. Andritz’s (a globally leading supplier of plant, Companies that use bio-based products include: equipment, and services for pulp and paper Toyota, Dow, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and industries) large pilot demonstration facility in Johnson, Coca-Cola, Nike, and DuPont, amongst Springfield Ohio, has been done at 5 BDT per day many others. to validate the process. Based on these results a

101 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR ROLL (2004-2002)

2004 Category 1: Environmental Leadership in the Community Saving the Paroo River Category 2: Business Environmental Responsibility & Leadership Visy Industries: "we make it, we take it" Category 3: Government Leading by Example for a Sustainable Future The Great Barrier Reef Representative Areas Program: an ecosystem approach to protecting biodiversity Category 4: Environmental Leadership in the Rural Sector Riverside Sanctuary Category 5: Sustainable Development Leadership in the Minerals Industry Wesfarmers Premier Coal - Leading Sustainable Mining Practices Category 6: Environmental Leadership in Protecting Bush, Land & Waterways Saving the Paroo River Category 7: Leadership in Protecting Coastal & Marine Environments Markwell's Bait Tackles Killer Plastic Bags Category 8: Environmental Leadership in Infrastructure & Services Thiess - Karuah Bypass Category 9: Leadership in Sustainable Product Design Charlie Carp Fertilizer Category 10: Leadership in Sustainable Buildings Darebin City Council - Leading In Sustainability Category 11: Leadership in Socially Responsible Investment Investa Property Group Category 12: Environmental Leadership in Communications Watch Every Drop - Drought Marketing Campaign

2003 Category 1: Environmental Leadership in the Community Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve Category 2: Business Environmental Responsibility & Leadership VicSuper Contributing to a Sustainable Future Category 3: Government Leading by Example for a Sustainable Future Solar in Schools – Sustainable Energy Development Authority Category 4: Environmental Leadership in the Rural Sector Plumbago Station Category 5: Sustainable Development Leadership in the Minerals Industry BHP Billiton – Transforming Policy into Sustainable Outcomes Category 6: Environmental Leadership in Protecting Bush, Land & Waterways Control of the Yellow Crazy Ant on Christmas Island, Parks Australia and Monash University, Indian Ocean Territories Category 7: Leadership in Protecting Coastal & Marine Environments The Marine & Coastal Community Network Category 8: Environmental Leadership in Infrastructure & Services Douglas Shire Council Category 9: Leadership in Sustainable Product Design The Orbital Combustion Process 2-Stroke Motorcycle Technology- Orbital Engine Corporation Limited Category 10: Leadership in Sustainable Buildings 60L Green Building, Spowers Victoria, Green Building Partnership, Lincolne Scott Category 11: Leadership in Socially Responsible Investment Sustainable Investing for a Sustainable Future – VicSuper Category 12: Environmental Leadership in Communications ‘Your Home’ –Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Australian Greenhouse Office

2002 Category 1: Community Group Achievement Central Hopkins Land Protection Association Category 2: Corporate Responsibility and Leadership City West Water’s Path to Sustainability Category 3: Government Leading by Example Landcom Leading by Example Category 4: Small Business Responsibility & Leadership Pacific Hydro Ltd Category 5: Bush, Land & Waterways Greening Australia – Bidgee Banks Category 6: Coastal & Marine Phillip Island, Victoria - Protecting Little Penguins on the Summerland Peninsula Category 7: Buildings City of Melville – Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre Category 8: Infrastructure & Services The Alcoa Portland SPL Treatment Process Category 9: Manufactured Products Visy Closed Loop and Qantas Category 10: Socially Responsible Investment Australian Ethical Investment Category 11: Communications Parks Victoria – Healthy Parks Healthy People

102 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

This Award recognises leadership and achievement in raising awareness and understanding of sustainability issues and promoting tangible change in values and behaviour in support of sustainability. The Education Award was first presented in 2005. Sustainability education develops skills, knowledge and values that promote behaviour in support of a sustainable environment. It is not confined to formal schooling. It also occurs in a wide range of non-formal education settings at work, at home and a myriad of places in between. Even though 2014 sees the end of Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), each of our finalists demonstrates that it will be far from over in the future.

103 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

CITY OF MELBOURNE DEGRAVES STREET RECYCLING FACILITY

In partnership with Melbourne Metropolitan Waste Group, Sustainability Victoria, Ross House Association The Degraves Street Recycling Facility diverts recyclables from landfill using a combination of innovative technology and targeted education and engagement techniques. This unique program works with more than 40 businesses within one of Melbourne CBD’s most visited café precincts, helping them to source separate food waste, cardboard and commingled recyclables.

The project was jointly funded by the City of Melbourne and the Metropolitan Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery Fund.

104 Background graffiti. The laneway is a cleaner and safer public A waste audit of businesses in the Degraves Street space for people to visit and a strong community precinct discovered that 90% of waste being connection has been developed between the produced in the precinct was recyclable. The audit recycling officers and the program’s participants. also revealed that none of the businesses had any In the period March 2013 to March 2014 the recycling systems in place and all of their waste facility: was being sent to landfill. • recycled 70 ton of commingled recyclables The Project • recycled 80 ton of cardboard which is an The City of Melbourne identified the precinct as an estimated increase in diversion rate from 0% to ideal location to trial a shared recycling facility in 94% (approximately 220kgs per day) the central city. The recycling facility is the first of • processed an average of 300kgs of food waste its kind in Australia, a boutique style facility that a day, an estimated 42% of the total food waste enables source separation and on-site processing in the waste stream of food waste in a busy CBD environment. • diverted 2.5 ton of hard plastics from landfill City of Melbourne negotiated a lease agreement • provided waxed cardboard to Queen Victoria with Ross House; a community owned building Market for re-use that abuts Degraves Place. Several cars were • Supplied local community gardens with some of removed to accommodate a retrofitted recycling the biomass created from the food dehydrator facility in the basement car park. free of charge. The facility houses hi-tech machinery including; • Compost the biomass for re-distribution onto • a food dehydrator. The dehydrator processes council parks and gardens. 1.2t of food waste per day. The machine works by macerating the food waste, heating it to Surveys of traders after the first 12 months a very high temperature and reducing the conclude that a vast majority are very satisfied weight and volume of the waste by up to 80% with the outcomes of the project. over a 9 hour period. The end product is a soil Not only has the program achieved behaviour conditioner that is being used on our City’s change through education of businesses, we are parks and gardens. also taking the opportunity to spread to word • a cardboard compactor which is used to bale and broaden our education reach. CoM frequently the cardboard for recycling has visits from schools, universities and industry • commingled recycling bins for plastics and glass groups to view the facility and learn about the An enthusiastic and passionate team of recycling project. The frequency of these requests has led officers were recruited to operate the facility and the facility to develop a tour program that takes educate the participating food businesses about groups through the facility whilst discussing recycling and assist them to achieve minimal waste and sustainable practices that people can contamination. implement within their work or at home. The program has also had a lot of interest from Our Achievements prospective businesses wanting to adopt better The program has achieved tremendous success practices and participate in food recycling. CoM in changing the behaviour of local traders. has engaged several different industry bodies Businesses are highly engaged and consistently including other LGAs who desire to replicate the practice responsible waste management. Bin program. volumes in the lane have declined and the amenity The City of Melbourne now sees the Degraves of the area is greatly improved. A reduction in Street Recycling Facility as a model that not rubbish, odours and vermin has had spin off only has potential applications in other areas of effects such as reduced illegal dumping and less the CBD, but also in other café and dining areas throughout metropolitan Melbourne.

105 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

GARAGE SALE TRAIL GARAGE SALE TRAIL FOUNDATION, NSW

Garage Sale Trail is a national grass roots waste education program and champion of the REUSE movement. We believe that sustainability is best when its fun and social and when it starts in your own backyard ! Today the program is supported by138 councils and 7 state government organizations Australia- wide in addition to national media partnerships with ABC Local Radio and News Limited. Garage Sale Trail also enjoys support from GoGet, eBay and Facebook. The idea is simple. By organising communities around Australia to hold garage sales on the same day we aim to promote REUSE, minimize waste to landfill, enable new neighbourly connections, provide a platform for fundraising and inspire creativity in communities across the country.

106 The first ever Garage Sale Trail happened in Bondi program in the UK. Consequently Garage Sale Trail during May-2010 in partnership with Waverley Foundation UK has been incorporated and the UK Council as an idea to create awareness about the Trademark secured too. local illegal dumping issue and enable reuse on As part of our work in developing Garage Sale Trail a broad community-wide scale. It was organized in the UK we’ve been asked to present at No.10 using a digital framework and resulted in: Downing St and to the Royals at St James Palace, • 126 registered garage sales happening on the Clarence House. The Garage Sale Trail is set to be one day, piloted in the UK in June 2015. • Sydney-wide media coverage about the illegal Interest in the Garage Sale Trail concept has dumping, further been fielded from San Francisco, New York • hugely humbling feedback from local and Berlin with a global roadshow scheduled from community members, and December 2014. • interest from other local Sydney Councils Garage Sale Trail is a media generated machine. Since its local Bondi debut the Garage Sale Trail In 2013 there were 1,334 media outcomes realised has grown significantly. In 2011 there were 14 over the 6 week campaign period including 632 Councils who supported the program nationally, print articles (5 covers), 253 radio interviews and in 2012 the number of participating Councils grew 171 tv stories in addition to social media of 2.3 to 28 and in 2013 this increased to 112 Councils million. See example of tv coverage from 2013 Australia-wide. below. Public participation has also grown exponentially since 2010 when there was 126 sales registered. In SBS National News (First Ever NSW Parliament 2011 there were 1,613 registered garage sales and in House Garage Sale): www.youtube.com/ 3,023 garage sales in 2012. In 2013 there was some watch?v=9AhCGUfOQhQ&feature=c4-overview&list 7,017 registered garage sales representing 35,085 =UUKVF93CDpuPS7aaJkaO8CUQ participating sellers. Total program participation in 2014 encompassing both sellers and buyers was TEN National News (Waste + Don’t Dump It Sell 323,000 Australia-wide. It): www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNg-kxBVOc In 2013 there was 1,574,803 items listed for reuse at Despite being an idea originally conceived for a value of $4,543,732. On average household sales household program growth has been largely driven made an average of $273, community groups $723 by schools, community groups, local charities, and schools $1,997. In addition 77% of participants cultural institutions and other local community said they planned to spend their earnings locally stakeholders. and 33% were fundraising for a charity or local Garage Sale Trail has been mentored by the cause. Note that all of the above data was following individuals Kim McKay AO (Clean- generated from post event participant surveys Up Australia Day, co-founder), Travis Garone (39% completion rate). (Movember, co-founder), Remo Guiffre (TED From an awards and accolades perspective we’ve Sydney, Licensee), Rachel Botsman (Collaborative been humbled to receive several local, national Consumption, Thought Leader) and Paul Birch and international awards over the last 3-years (Bebo.com, co-founder). including a prestigious International Green Award We’ve further partnered with Cool Australia who in the UK, Green Marketing of the Year, Community have developed a Garage Sale Trail curriculum Contribution of the Year, a Green Lifestyle Award set for primary and secondary schools to inform and a Green Globe Award amongst others. students about the environmental problems of Garage Sale Trail has generated international wastage and over consumption. interest and to date we’ve secured funding from This year’s Garage Sale Trail was held on Saturday leading UK innovation agency NESTA (National October 25, 2014. Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) For more info visit www.garagesaletrail.com.au lead by Geoff Mulgan (former head of strategy at No.10 Downing St) to develop and launch the 107 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

SILKWOOD SCHOOL SILKWOOD SEED - GROWING SUSTAINABILITY

At Silkwood School, growing Sustainable Environmental Education is our SEED, offering opportunities for growth, collaboration, leadership and contemporary educational initiatives. Silkwood is a small, independent, co-educational primary and high school situated in South East Queensland. Sustainable and environmental endeavours are immediately visible at Silkwood, from sustainable infrastructure to flourishing produce gardens and native habitats. The site has been carefully planned to blend our natural bush surroundings, wildlife & two creeks, with specially designed sustainable & cultural learning centres. Silkwood School is part of Kombemerri country and the wider Yugambeh language region. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and their capacity and resilience as indigenous custodians.

108 Vision: best-practice sustainable management and A leading sustainable school: providing diversity endeavour. These partnerships are based on of learn-scapes, learning programs and native mutual respect, cooperation and benefit from the habitats, with inspiring educators and students collaboration. engaged in creating sustainable futures. Key achievements include: Mission: • Winning a number of excellence awards • To develop global and environmental citizens including Education in Sustainability equipped with knowledge, skills and attitudes and Innovation Awards through Healthy to impact positively and sustainably upon the Waterways and 5-Star Cleaner Greener School planet. accreditation via Keep Queensland Beautiful in • To build partnerships with other schools, 2013 and Education in Sustainability Award in community networks and big scale initiatives to the Premier’s Sustainability Awards in 2014. expand learning opportunities provided on-site • Authentically embedding SEED initiatives & beyond. into interdisciplinary and practical learning Our SEED initiatives are diverse and Silkwood programs. Including the ongoing development School takes the Cross Curriculum Priorities of outdoor learn-scapes. Sustainability isn’t (CCPs) as per The Australian Curriculum seriously treated as a stand-alone ‘extra’ to curriculum and sustainability is embedded both explicitly in and learning. learning programs and implicitly through school • Having diversity in SEED initiatives and culture and organisational structures. A key leadership opportunities for students, staff and component of our SEED initiatives is the authentic the wider community, including action groups embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and ongoing calendar events. peoples, history and culture. Directives for our • Meeting annual measurable targets for energy, SEED initiatives come from our School’s Strategic waste, water, biodiversity and school culture as Plan, School Environmental Management Plan per the school’s strategic and environmental (SEMP) and Cleaner Greener Schools Action management plans. Plan. We are a Five Star rated and accredited • Building solid community and organisational ‘Cleaner Greener School’ (the only school on the SEED partnerships locally, nationally and Gold Coast to have achieved this rating through globally. We’ve developed a strong sustainable Keep Queensland Beautiful). Creating sustainable educational & community presence through our futures through purposeful learning is a priority at engagement and capacity building efforts. Silkwood School. • We’ve received a number of grants and A feature of Silkwood’s SEED programs is the high extended our reach & influence through being level of student direction, ownership & meaningful promoted via various media networks. engagement in teaching and learning processes • Building a whole school culture of inclusion, that have been integrated, including regular peer integration, innovation and building connections teaching & leadership opportunities. Inquiry through our learning programs, infrastructure & project-based learning principles have been and systems. . embedded in pedagogical processses, with access • Teachers and staff have undertaken formal to mentors and community support to further study and professional development to increase actualise learning. Student input is valued and they professional capacity for developing and are encouraged to share their ideas and explore growing SEED initiatives. opportunities. We aspire to keep on growing our SEED initiatives Crucial to the success of our Silkwood SEED through seeking opportunities for innovation, – Growing Sustainability initiatives are the extending our circle of influence and making collaborations, partnerships, networks and continuous improvement; always keeping the focus mentor relationships established. These ensure on learning and engagement in driving change. the diversity and integrity of our Sustainable What is the Spirit of Silkwood? Environmental Education initiatives are well Be Inspiring, Get Connected and Make a directed and based on current knowledge about Difference. 109 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

BOOKEND TRUST SIXTEEN LEGS

SIXTEEN LEGS is a spectacular and innovative multi-faceted education project that focuses on the sustainable management of caves and groundwater systems. Although overlooked in everyday life, these are sensitive and unusual places that need highly special care across the whole of catchments, and represent significant elements in catchment water health. Rather than being a hindrance, the lesser known and more obscure stories from the world around us should be seen as an untapped asset in engaging students and the public over matters of sustainability and good environmental management. This project publically unveils the results of a 23-year scientific research project, 2 years of filming, and hundreds of millions of years of evolution from the break-up of Gondwana to the present day! It is a place that hides animals surviving from the first age of the dinosaurs, but where insects can drown in the very air itself. Participants enter a world full of weird animals and unusual rock formations, overseen by a still- living, giant prehistoric spider the size of a dinner plate... 110 Using this unlikely hero, SIXTEEN LEGS • SIXTEEN LEGS: A Visit to the Queen of the Dark encompasses a varied range of interactive primary - A coffee-table book of the Production Art school, high school, and community engagement developed for the Sixteen Legs project, with a components - including on- ground learning, online supporting photographic book on the lifecycle interaction, a travelling exhibition, and book and of the animals involved. These books are a film content developed with international best- glimpse of the creative process in progress, selling author Neil Gaiman (Coraline, Sandman, and a fundraiser supporting the overall project. American Gods, Doctor Who). This is already Through Neil Gaiman, this has directly exposed gaining significant global attention. the project to his 2,000,000 followers on Twitter. Project components include: • SIXTEEN LEGS: the Documentaries – Telling • SIXTEEN LEGS: Cave Search - an interactive the story of everything above, the SIXTEEN adventure learning program taking Primary LEGS documentary was recently showcased students around the world into a virtual realm to an audience of global broadcasters and of caves, with real- time expedition links, full media experts in France as one of only seven teacher resources aligned to the Australian ‘in production’ natural history documentaries curriculum, interactive online student activities, selected from around the globe, while a shorter and an expert forum linking students directly ‘making-of’ piece on the filming to date will with relevant scientists. have a dual-hemisphere world premiere on • SIXTEEN LEGS: Cave ART – hands-on November 9 at both the Breath of Fresh Air experiences for high school students (BOFA) Film Festival in Australia and the Banff undertaking real expeditions to caves with Mountain Film and Book Festival in Canada scientific experts, and behind-the- scenes visits to the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) to This unusual multi-faceted approach is part of new see how artists use different methods to convey wave “360 degrees” planning, where SIXTEEN messages to mass audiences. Students then LEGS is not just an education program, not just share their own interpretation of caves online a documentary, and not just entertainment – but and in public exhibition, with the winners being a fresh and compelling mix of all of these. This offered the opportunity to win a trip to see has in turn provided a reversal of the educational Antarctica with their own eyes! disengagement of students in Tasmania, and • SIXTEEN LEGS: Enter the Cave Exhibition - A the underlying project structure is now being showcase travelling exhibition of caves, cave expanded nationally in partnership with the biology and cave research. The Exhibition Australian Government. Significantly, SIXTEEN consists of (i) a giant backlit photographic LEGS has also achieved its own sustainability holy journey into the science and conservation grail: it is already returning income that will assist management of caves and groundwater, (ii) a the long term viability of the program. dark fairytale telling of this story woven through the science in collaboration with Neil Gaiman; Why is this important? As the world faces ever (iii) art works inspired by the exhibition, and increasing environmental problems, we need created by local artists and the Cave ART to inspire upcoming generations to find the students above, and (iv) 2x 18-foot-wide giant enthusiasm, dedication and innovation to deal with spider replicas on a giant web in the roof of the them. Sitting back and giving up is not an option, exhibition area, and a giant egg-sac pulsating and this project is a spark to raise awareness of with spider young.. the untold biodiversity stories hidden away on our planet.

111 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

COOL AUSTRALIA SMART WAYS TO LIVE

Cool Australia was created in 2008 in response to the growing number of educators interested in teaching about our natural environment, but who felt unable to effectively do so due to a lack of knowledge, limited access to trusted resources and low confidence in their own abilities. The implementation of the new Australian Curriculum means that sustainability is now embedded as a cross-curricula priority across all key learning areas. All Australian teachers are now required to integrate sustainability into their Mathematics, Science, Geography, English and History classes. However, national research highlights that whilst 90 per cent of Australian teachers want to adopt sustainability practices and integrate it into their daily lessons, more than 85 per cent still feel unsure about how to do so. Cool Australia fills this gap.

112 The core of what we do is simple–we bring the Schools eager to celebrate their positive actions outside world into every classroom. Our resources uploaded over 5000 photos to the Enviroweek are designed for all teachers charged with the website and shared thousands of hopes for responsibility of educating young Australians, but our environment on the ‘We Wish’ tree. (www. especially for those who thought that sustainability enviroweek.org) was not in their brief or was too big to tackle. Cool Australia staff spent time in schools during Cool Australia creates educational content and Enviroweek and were moved by many stories… activities for Kindergarten to Year 10. The teacher “I just did an Enviroweek tour at a primary school lesson plans and student activity worksheets in Adelaide. A teacher came up and told me integrate a range of sustainability topics into about Georgia who has an intellectual disability key learning areas and are explicitly mapped to and didn’t talk at all until they started the garden learning outcomes and content descriptions of the project. It was the catalyst for her to come out of Australian Curriculum. her shell! Georgia gave me the full tour naming All resources are online, free to access and easy each vegetable in the garden! She was so happy to use. They are based in science, apolitical and excited!” Thea Nicholas, Cool Australia and incorporate contemporary issues. They are The scale of Enviroweek’s impact is impressive. designed to be fun, entertaining and engaging for The long-­‐term positive behaviour and mindset students. changes are astounding. The individual stories of Cool Australia has experienced exceptional growth hope are inspiring. in 2013/14 with more than 16,000 Australian We thank our 16,000 teachers who believe in the teachers using our resources. This is an increase of value of educating for sustainability. We thank our 112 per cent on 2012/13 and signifies a quantifiable 500,000 students for taking responsibility, getting impact on the broader teaching community. We their hands dirty and for immersing themselves in have a presence in four out of ten schools in nature’s playground. Australia and, in 2014, will reach over 500,000 Sustainability is no longer an ‘add-­‐on’ in young Australians through our resources and Australian schools. It is an integral part of everyday Enviroweek projects. learning. It is learning for life. Our groundbreaking research has shown that Cool Australia is very proud of the role it plays in we are dramatically improving student learning educating and empowering young Australians. We outcomes and the quality of sustainability feel privileged to be a part of this momentous shift teaching across Australia. We save teachers time, in learning that is changing the face of education. improve the quality of sustainability teaching and ‘I don’t know if the Cool Australia team fully dramatically improve students’ understanding and understands what they are achieving. You have at engagement with sustainability topics. least one registered teacher in more than 42% of We are supporting the vital work of teachers in Australian schools. An incredible achievement in educating for a sustainable future. This is our gift just six years. Only UNICEF has a greater schools to Australia. penetration and they had a 50-­‐year head start. We are astounded and moved by the interest, Cool Australia helps teachers become better passion and resourcefulness of students and teachers and for that we are eternally grateful. You teachers across Australia. Whilst politicians are, quite seriously, the good guys in education.’ all over the world debate and politicise ‘climate National President of the Australian Education change’, Australian school students are taking Union, Angelo Gavrielatos charge. Enviroweek engaged more than 180,000 students and 1800 schools across the nation in August 2014.

113 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

LJ HOOKER THE LIVEABILITY REAL ESTATE FRAMEWORK, LJ HOOKER

The Liveability Real Estate Property Marketing Framework was developed in collaboration with the sustainable design, construction and assessment industries in order to address a significant shortfall of training and knowledge about selling environmentally sustainable homes within the residential real estate industry. It enables agents to identify and market sustainability features in the previously neglected existing residential homes market (approx. 98% of all residential properties). Agents are now able to acknowledge not just new, but also existing homes that have been upgraded over time to enhance their liveability potential: reduced running costs, increased comfort and reduced environmental impact. The Framework is an integrated system that addresses the four aspects of the real estate property marketing industry: the real estate agent who brings the people and property together through effective online and print marketing.

114 It is not a rating system. It is a property marketing The Liveability Real Estate Framework is framework which enables the real estate industry underpinned by compliance technology that links to simply and effectively identify a new group of the property icon with the trained listing agent. individual property features at the point of sale or This ensures only a trained Liveability Real Estate rent. It integrates these features into the normal Specialist can appraise, list and sell properties with real estate processes in a robust and systematic these features. way. In addition, a prerequisite for the training is the As the ‘real estate moment’ is short but 3Ps Efficiency Program for real estate offices that influential in driving a market it is important that provides a unique dashboard to monitor power, agents are trained to identify these features paper and petrol expenditure and reduce their and know why they are important to liveability overheads. This ensures the Liveability Real Estate potential. Therefore core to the Liveability Real Specialist is also taking care of their environmental Estate Property Marketing Framework is a new footprint. professional pathway in real estate, the Liveability Through the use of a robust framework, the clear Real Estate Specialist. This is a specialisation that messaging of the “language of liveability” and The builds on their existing sales or property marketing 17 Things™, the real estate industry can validate, expertise with skills and resources for this new support and drive a market for the sustainable market. Once graduated, the agents receive design, building/construction, development and regular updates and their training is formally assessment industries. Even more, the message refreshed every 12 months to keep abreast of of The 17 Things™ can be shared by designers, changes in residential building innovation. builders, assessors and manufacturers to provide Within this high-level professional real estate a clear pathway for the consumer through often training, the agent is trained how to use, and has disconnected touch points: from design to build/ exclusive access to, important new resources: renovate to sell. a new appraisal checklist and unique property In addition, the companion consumer portal marketing icons (Liveability Property Features™ Liveability.com.au provides important information icon) to appraise, sell, buy and rent homes with up for renters, owners and investors who are in to 17 Liveability Property Features™. between the buying, renting and selling cycle. These Liveability Property Features™ were Specifically, how to bring these Liveability Property developed in consultation with industry Features™ to life in the way they use their house; organisations in the sustainable design, building/ to create their best home – healthy, efficient, construction, manufacturing and assessment comfortable and connected to community. industries and are endorsed and supported by The Liveability Property Marketing Framework them. We call these features The 17 Things™. was developed over a four year period by the Liveability Real Estate has chosen these 17 Liveability Real Estate division of LJ Hooker Liveability Property Features™ that cover energy Corporate. Dr Chris Reardon was specialist and water efficiency and living locally and can consultant on the project and is co-facilitator be validated at point of sale or rent by a trained of the Liveability Real Estate Specialist training agent. These Liveability Property Features™ program. offer the potential for reduced running costs It was built to share and LJ Hooker Corporate and increased comfort if used correctly by the is currently in negotiation to enable the whole occupant. A property needs a minimum of six framework to be accessible to all real estate selected Liveability Property Features™ to receive brands nationally in the first quarter of 2015. the Liveability Property Features™ icon on a rental For more information visit ljhooker.com.au/ or sales listing. liveability

115 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

THE NEW JONESES TRUMPET, VIC

In their undies and bathrobes The New Joneses are attracting mass media coverage, in their mission to take green from mung bean to mainstream, making sustainable, resource efficient, no- waste living, the new normal. In Feb 2014 The New Joneses returned to Melbourne. Installing Australia’s most energy efficient 8 star rated home onto FedSquare, The New Joneses invited a national TV audience into their home. With Ch7 Sunrise living in The New Joneses eco house for a week, they showed simple ways we can all reduce our carbon footprint and increase our community footprint. Broadcasting 18 national TV stories from the house, The New Joneses promoted smart, energy efficient, resourceful lifestyles, showcasing viewers how to implement simple lifestyle changes that are better for us, our wallets, our people and our planet.

116 Challenged to source everything they needed from Doyle and buddies at a tasty, televised ‘waste not’ clothes to beds and linen, second hand The New and ‘shop local’ breakie. Joneses lifestyle encourages waste minimization Powershop provided energy and money saving and resource efficiency. tips, while LEDified ambassador, Nick Riewoldt, Daily school tours taught kids about consumption explained switching halogens to down to LEDs can and our precious finite resources. save up to 89% on lighting bills. Up-cycling work shops showed how to turn ‘waste’ Our Nissan LEAF, added zero tailpipe emissions to into something ‘new’. Kids were asked ‘when we our air. throw something ‘away’, where is ‘away’. School tours taught kids simple tips about doing Opening their doors to the crowds at Sustainable more with less, asking “when we throw something Living Festival, The New Joneses saw 15,000 away, where is away?” people come through their house over the At Sustainable Living Festival, Positive Charge festival’s Big Weekend. gave advice about retro-fitting, while crowd The New Joneses inspired Aussies everywhere, control was called to manage queues waiting to showing how to live it large, with a lower footprint. get inside! The key achievements of The New Joneses have An estimated 15,000 came through The New been in attracting major mainstream media Joneses with around 50,000 passers-by seeing coverage of traditionally ‘alternative/greenie’ The New Joneses manifesto, however, the beauty lifestyle choices. of The New Joneses is we can never know the Our goals are to mainstream sustainable living, precise impact of their message, or exactly where, making it a no-brainer to chose the lower footprint or how far it will go. options, by providing the why and how, making Our goal is to roll out The New Joneses annually better choices easier. across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, The New Joneses energy efficient pop-up home attracting new audiences each year, creating was installed at FedSquare for a week. The house, more sustainable living champions until The New garden and lifestyle showed how easy it is to Joneses are the new normal. live The New Joneses’ eco-cool, energy efficient, Creating and driving a project like the awarded waste-not life. The New Joneses takes passion, drive, resilience, a Everything was sourced second-hand, giving old little stupidity and the inability to take ‘no’ for an things new life, keeping them from landfill and answer. respecting our finite resources. The strength of The New Joneses is in creating an A Vertical garden showed how to grow edible exciting and inspiring way to showcase sustainable plants in small spaces, while worm farms and living. compost encouraged getting nutrients out of our The New Joneses were selected as a Banksia bins and landfill and back into our earth. finalist for their proven success in making green Products were selected based on reduced enviro choices an obvious, aspirational and attractive impact and increased social impact. choice. Showing in luxurious comfort that there’s nothing Their strength in attracting project partners wrong with second hand, Grand Hyatt reminded onboard to bring this message to life and us in hotels, we sleep in beds and use towels that attracting audiences to look, feel and experience have been used. If we can use a towel someone ‘green living’ is critical to engaging a mostly else has used, surely we can buy a pair of second disengaged mainstream audience and transitioning hand jeans? to the new normal urgently needed to live happy, Ch7 Sunrise’s moved in, living The New Joneses life healthy, fair lives within the energy and resource in-front of a national TV audience. limits of our planet.

Throughout the week, Farmhouse Direct fed the crew as well as Nick Riewoldt, Lord Mayor Robert

117 BANKSIA SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HONOUR ROLL (2001-1999)

2001 Category 1: Outstanding Individual Achievement Ian Lawrence Category 2: Community Group Achievement Useless Loop Community Biosphere Project Group for ‘The Heirisson Prong Project’ Category 3: Corporate Responsibility & Leadership Stanwell Corporation Ltd Category 4: Government/Non Profit: Leading By Example Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Category 5: Small Business Responsibility & Leadership Abbotsleigh Citrus Pty Ltd Category 6: Bush, Land & Waterways National Parks & Wildlife South Australia Category 7: Coastal & Marine WWF Australia, Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation, Conservation Volunteers Australia, NT Department Of Primary Industries And Fisheries Category 8: Buildings The University of Newcastle Category 9: Infrastructure & Services Olympic Coordination Authority Category 10: Manufactured Products AQ Australia Category 11: Socially Responsible Investment Westpac Investment Management/Monash University Category 12: Communications: Promoting Change through Informed Participation Sustainable Energy Enterprise Developments P/L: SunRace

2000 Category 1: Communications CSIRO Publishing VIC Category 2: Community Groups WildCare Incorporated TAS Category 3: Corporate Environmental Leadership Stanwell Corporation Ltd. QLD Category 4: Education and Training Category Water Corporation of West Australia WA Category 5: Environmental Business Practice Riverland Oil Seed Processors Category 6: Flora and Fauna Conservation Olympic Co-ordination Authority NSW Category 7: Innovation Award Bill Hicks NSW Category 8: Land, Bush and Waterways Goulburn Murray Water VIC Category 9: Local Agenda 21 Achievement Award Brighton Council TAS Category 10: Research and Development Baleen Filters Pty Ltd SA Category 11: Resource Conservation and Waste Minimisation The Australian Grand Prix Corporation

1999 Category 1: Community The Superb Parrot Project Category 2: Education/Training Helen Tyas Tunggal Category 3: Environmental Business Practice Pacific Power Category 4: Communication Ian Henschke - ABCTV ‘Landline’ Category 5: Flora & Fauna Conservation Victorian Peregrine Project Category 6: Land and Waterways Management Andrew McLennan Category 7: Innovation Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust.) Pty.Ltd Category 8: Resource Conservation and Waste Minimisation Couran Cove Resort - South Stradbroke Island Category 9: Construction Practices Abigroup Contractors Pty.Ltd. Category 10: Coastal and Marine Environments CRC Reef Research Centre Category 11: Research and Development Award Environmental Solutions International

118 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD

This Award recognises outstanding achievement in improving sustainability through the design, manufacture and commercial application of a product/s. It includes new products as well as improvements in process or design that improve the sustainability of existing products.

Sponsored by

Closed Loop’s approach to resource recovery and waste management is based on the principle of controlling material inputs to maximise recycling and recovery of materials. Therefore minimising waste to landfill whilst greatly reducing your environmental footprint. By viewing waste as a resource from the start, we go about ensuring what goes into the system is something that can be easily taken back out. For example; we provide recyclable packaging alongside a recycling program, appoint a cleaning team that know exactly what they need to collect for recycling or install an on-site food composting machine that creates fertiliser out of waste. Closed Loop helps divert waste from landfill now by; Providing organic waste recycling machines for on-site operation Installing mobile material sorting facilities for events and remote locations Sourcing recyclable packaging that can be easily recaptured and re-used A team of experienced cleaning staff that aim to recycle as much material as possible from any sized site Closed Loop helps reduce future waste to landfill by Undertaking waste audits to identify waste composition and areas for improved diversion Effective resource (waste) management programs that find the best suppliers and divert the most waste Designing staff and stakeholder communications to help engender the right behaviour and outcomes Robert Pascoe is the Managing Director and founder of Closed Loop, where he pioneered the Closed Loop concept. Closed Loop is passionate about improving the sustainability of the built environment and as a business, are currently focusing on ways to capture and compost organic waste on-site for use on farms, roof tops and green spaces. This is just one of the reasons why we are incredibly proud to support the Product Sustainability – through design, manufacture and use.

119 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

PLANTIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMTED COLES MINCE PACKAGING IN PLANTIC ECO PLASTIC

Plantic Technologies Limited is a world leading innovator in bioplastics. Plantic Technologies Ltd is based in Australia, with manufacturing and research and development facilities in Victoria. Plantic Technologies Ltd has achieved a unique place in the world market for bioplastics through proprietary technology that delivers biodegradable and renewable sourced alternatives to conventional plastics based on corn; which is not genetically modified. Unlike other bioplastics companies which utilise organic materials but whose polymers are still developed in refineries, Plantic’s polymer as well as its raw material, are grown in a field. The entire process integrates the science of organic innovation with commercial and industrial productivity in a new way. The result is both a broad range of immediate performance and cost advantages, and long-term environmental and sustainability benefits.

120 In 2012, Plantic set about developing a pack 2014 the environmental impact of using Plantic for retailing meat that can provide the shelf materials by Coles in their fresh meat category, life required for fresh meat products which is compared to traditional plastics were: sustainable and is compatible with the current • Energy Saved: 9,580,071 KwH, the equivalent recycling stream in Australia. of powering 1,492 average Australian homes for Plantic has developed a new material format the same 12 month period. that combines PET and Plantic’s proprietary film • Greenhouse Gases saved: 3,873 MT of CO2, the technology to provide a packaging material with equivalent to the emissions of 1,252 cars for the ultra-high gas barrier properties made from up same 12 month period or Planting 532,367 trees to 60 percent renewable materials. This ground- • In addition the use of Plantic eco Plastic™ R, if breaking innovation has an oxygen transmission recycled by consumers, would reduce land fill rate so low it is virtually undetectable. Remarkable by 17,790 cubic meters or the equivalent of 7.1 barrier effectiveness like this makes light- Olympic sized swimming pools. weighting a real option for every application. Scale of the opportunity and potential impact Coles and Plantic There is a growing need to improve the efficient In 2013, Plantic worked with Coles to introduce distribution of fresh foods and the use of barrier Plantic eco Plastic™ R packs for their market- materials is growing as retailers and produces leading mince range Australia wide. This material look to build efficient supply chains and utilise is now being used for all mince products (which economies through centralised processing. represents over 50 million meat packs sold at According to The Future of High Barrier Coles each year0. Packaging Films to 2019, there is a growing Coles support for this process has been demand for packaging materials that give outstanding. They have provided extensive even greater protection to their contents. This evaluation and testing and have promoted and is especially noticeable in the food, beverage supported innovation particularly from Australian and pharmaceutical industries. As plastics have companies like Plantic. With Coles support and become more and more common, concerns have championing this innovative material, invented, arisen about their ability to allow the exchange developed and manufactured in Australia. of gases and vapours that can compromise The development and commercialisation of the quality and safety of packaged products. Plantic eco Plastic R has provided Therefore, a variety of barrier technologies have • World first ultra-high barrier recyclable meat been commercialised that preserve, protect and pack promote; optimise shelf life, reduce the need for • reduced energy used and carbon footprint preservatives, provide transparency and gloss, of the package through the use of renewable and serve as a printing substrate. Without this materials barrier packaging, perishable goods such as • efficient use of materials ( Renewable and food, beverages and pharmaceuticals would Recyclable materials) be susceptible to a wide range of deterioration Reduction in Waste, litter and supply chain processes. However, barrier packaging is restricted impacts by factors such as susceptibility to degradation, The gas barrier properties of Plantic eco Plastic R recycling problems and cost. © 2013 Smithers Pira. have been independently tested and compared to Plantic eco Plastic™ R addresses many of these other materials Table 1 listed below. concerns, it uses renewable material and recyclable The improvement in gas barrier provides materials. In addition the unmatched barrier consumers with fresher products. This can reduce properties of Plantic eco Plastic™ R mean that you food waste and allows for efficiencies in the supply can light weight packs and reduce the amount of chain. packaging again a trend that consumers respond Environmental impacts too. In the 12 months from 1 July 2013 - 30 June 121 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

GROUNDWORKS ECOBLANKET - HOW TO GROW A FOREST IN TWO YEARS

Ecoblanket is a world-first groundcover innovation that outperforms other methods and achieves unmatched results including immediate erosion and sediment control and long-term, sustainable revegetation and rehabilitation. Ten years ago, Groundworks pioneered Ecoblanket in Australia, adapting it from USA-based technology. Since then, Groundworks has delivered more than 450 Ecoblankets – treating more than 2 million square metres of damaged land. Waste recycling to green infrastructure Ecoblanket is a unique ‘waste recycling to green infrastructure’ innovation that reuses thousands of tonnes of liquid and green waste to form 100% recycled, proprietary organics. It reduces waste going to landfill and converts pollutants into beneficial resources. A unique, one-step application process ‘plants’ native seeds in the organics material as it is blown on to any disturbed surface using state-of-the-art machinery that can treat thousands of square metres daily. Native seeds are selected to match endemic vegetation and each site is individually assessed to amend Ecoblanket to suit its specific context and revegetation goals. 122 Mass designer landscaping United Nations research shows that Australia has Since 2012, the team has developed a new the worst soils globally. The aim of introducing approach for creating designer landscaping Ecoblanket here was to improve Australia’s results by using multiple seed mixes on individual capacity to address short-term challenges such projects. For example, on a major road project, as erosion and sediment control, and long-term vegetation closer to the road was designed challenges of revegetation and rehabilitation. to 2-metre heights, compared to areas further However, it needed significant adaptation to away, which will reach 10-metre heights. This become a true sustainability solution fit for our creates dramatic scope for height-appropriate, country. The Groundworks team launched a multi- sustainable, designer landscaping with the cost year research and development program, bringing and time benefits of rapid, mass delivery. In together leading soil and native seed experts to 2013, Groundworks delivered its most diverse tailor Ecoblanket to Australia’s harsh conditions. Ecoblanket yet, featuring 11 different native seed • Their strategy proves the value of: mixes. • Taking a whole-of-lifecycle approach to product design How to grow a forest in two years • Maintaining an unwavering commitment to Ecoblanket is a dynamic innovation and effective, quality inputs commercially-proven environmental solution. • Emphasising partnership and collaboration Unparalleled results include: rather than the duplication that results from • 100% soil coverage competition-driven, siloed thinking • 90% minimum strike rate of cover crop Groundworks continues to invest in Ecoblanket’s • More than 99% effective erosion and sediment development including expanding interstate control through franchising. Work is also underway • Rapid growth rates to develop a community model designed to • The capacity to sequester 25 tonnes of CO2e encourage a true whole-of-life approach to per hectare on average sustainability – collecting liquid and green waste, Ecoblanket can also hold up to 10 times its own using it in Ecoblanket’s organics, delivering weight in water, providing a major advantage Ecoblanket projects across diverse sites, given Australia’s variable climate. Independent achieving environmental gains and continuing the tests show that Ecoblanket can enable tree growth positive cycle for the economic benefit of local within two years that would normally take five communities. years through direct tree planting. It replaces the O horizon and natural layer of humus, kick-starting Award-winning natural soil producing mechanisms. Where other In 2013, Groundworks won two innovation awards techniques fail to achieve basic root development for Ecoblanket – the 2013 IECA Australasia over time, Ecoblanket integrates with the layers Environmental Excellence Award in Innovation and beneath, reversing degraded soil. Established sites the Waste Recycling Industry Association’s 2013 now show new native germination. Queensland Innovation Award (with NuGrow). In An exciting opportunity is its diversity of 2014, Managing Director Tony Rees was recognised applications. Ecoblanket can be used almost with the Minister’s Award for Leadership in anywhere that soil has been disturbed, denuded Sustainability at the Queensland Premier’s or where construction activity has taken place and Sustainability Awards. temporary or permanent stabilisation is desired – Groundworks showcases the results possible on sites as diverse as road infrastructure projects, through science, passion and collaboration. Its mines, residential developments and water development of Ecoblanket exemplifies product catchments. It addresses sites that are remote, sustainability. Ecoblanket is commercially positive, hard to access and even perilous, including where recycles resources, and converts them into forests traditional direct tree planting and other methods that generate healthier environments for our cannot be used. It creates a no-excuses option communities. for major infrastructure projects to rapidly set the foundation for sustainable, locally-tailored site revegetation and rehabilitation. Behind the scenes 123 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

EARTHCO PROJECTS FOSTERING A CLIMATE OF COLLABORATION

PolyCom Stabilising Aid is a high-performing road stabilisation product distributed in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania by Earthco Projects Pty Ltd. The innovative soil stabiliser is manufactured in Adelaide, South Australia, by BioCentral Laboratories. Sustainable alternative to traditional soil stabilisation PolyCom is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional soil stabilisation, and is used for the construction and maintenance of sealed and unsealed roads, road shoulders, embankments, mining haul roads, transport hardstands, airstrips and other pavements. PolyCom improves the quality of most naturally occurring materials, including silt, clay, gravels and crushed rock. PolyCom is predominantly used by rural and urban local government to maintain unsealed roads, as well as land developers, mining and energy companies, transport operators and industrial operators.

124 Changing the face of road maintenance and 3. Decreased water requirements – up to 80% less construction water required Whilst traditional methods of unsealed road 4. Reduced disruption to traffic and reduced maintenance involve the importation of additional maintenance grading for the PolyCom- treated road gravel from remote locations at great roads and adjacent roads, and increased expense to the environment and road makers, resistance to rain events, resulting in fewer PolyCom allows existing roads to be treated in- complaints from ratepayers and road users. situ with standard road making equipment by the For example in 2013, 240km of roads were existing works crew. treated with PolyCom. In the most conservative This reduces the need to source additional gravel, estimates, the savings achieved over the preserving the environment through a reduction traditional re-sheeting method were: 1,540 tonnes in quarrying activities, and maintaining local of CO2-e emissions, 116,064 kL of water, 216,000 employment. tonnes of crushed material and reduced fuel use PolyCom is sophisticated in its design and and road degradation from 8,640 fewer truck trips. development, with simplicity of use in every facet With around 450,000km of unsealed roads around of its application. Spread with a custom-built Australia, extraordinary benefits can be achieved spreader attached to a site vehicle, PolyCom with PolyCom Stabilising Aid. blends easily with the material so that all that is PolyCom is environmentally inert and does not required is standard road construction equipment leach into soil or leave residue in water run-off. It is (ie water cart, rollers and a grader) to complete listed with ECO-Buy’s green purchasing directory the job. ECO-Find, and the NSW Local Government online One 2kg pack of PolyCom will cover 500m2 at directory Sustainable Choice. 100mm depth, at one simple application rate for The road to sustainability various materials. For example, to stabilise a 1 Dedicated to creating a sustainable system of kilometre long road, 6 metres wide to a depth of road maintenance whilst improving the knowledge 100 millimetres, only 12 bottles are required, which base of the industry, Earthco Projects has recently can be delivered by car. launched the following initiatives: PolyCom is so advanced that its distribution and 1. Partnership with Swinburne University to application involves few, if any, manual handling or research PolyCom’s performance in road other OHS issues. maintenance The soil stabiliser has an immediate effect, creating 2. On-site project support for works officers and a tightly bound, longer lasting pavement that is engineers resistant to water ingress and traffic wear. 3. Sponsorship of a MWOA skills enhancements Saving time, money and resources program for training and mentoring of As a result, PolyCom-treated roads produce less municipal workers dust and less sediment runoff into waterways. 4. Collaboration with stakeholders to review Over the long term, councils and civil road makers reporting practices, sustainability data and which incorporate PolyCom into their road making assist with process changes. activities reduce maintenance interventions by Earthco Projects plans to develop the concept up to six times, saving time, resources and money of sustainable road maintenance beyond a short that can re-directed to other critical infrastructure term road by road approach, to a whole-of-life, projects. network-wide approach to road maintenance and Life cycle assessment construction. This involves introducing procedures A recent life-cycle based assessment in to record the performance of PolyCom treated collaboration with Earthco Projects and roads so that a true evaluation of the benefits of sustainability consultancy, Factor Ten, compared PolyCom can be made. a project using PolyCom and a project using the The Earthco Projects team continues to work conventional method of re-sheeting. The results closely with councils and other road makers, revealed: fostering a climate of collaboration to transform 1. Direct cost benefits – Over 70% cost reduction their road maintenance problems into an by using PolyCom environmentally, financially and socially sustainable 2. Direct environment benefits – 90% carbon solution. emissions reductions 125 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

LUSH HANDMADE COSMETICS: PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

LUSH is the ultimate beauty delicatessen. We consider ourselves a cosmetics grocer with our fresh, handmade, and inventive merchandise loaded with the finest natural ingredients; blocks of soap; a myriad of colourful spheres (the original fizzing bath bombs); chilled counter-style cabinets displaying our unique Fresh Face Masks; prices by weight, greaseproof paper wrapping (if any wrapping at all) and use-by dates so it’s easy to see when your product was made, and by whom. LUSH takes the responsibility of service to the cosmetics industry, consumers, marketplace and wider social environment very seriously. This is done primarily through environmental stewardship. There are many ethical pillars on which Lush is based, that define the company as true environmental ambassadors in the cosmetics industry, and entirely unique to any of our competitors.

126 From our very humble beginnings at LUSH, on the remaining 10%. We aim to have 100% of our our founders have been conscious of how our packaging recyclable or compostable. products and business practices interact with the As recycling for our black pots is not available environment. everywhere, we put our money where our mouth And in doing so we’ve used creative and innovative is and give a free fresh face mask when you solutions to make a positive impact on the planet bring five of them back. In the future, legislation instead. These include: permitting, we would like to start using refills and • Fresh and handmade products to increase the amount of reusable packaging used • Vegetarian / Vegan products to transport products. • Minimal preservatives • Absolutely NO animal testing New initiatives • Active campaigning company One of our most recent initiatives in environmental • Charity support sustainability has been the eradication of plastic • Ethical sourcing of ingredients glitter, which is usually made of non-biodegradable • Responsible packaging and labelling micro-plastic and accumulates in the environment • Encouraging community recycling and in our oceans. LUSH is very excited to be a proud innovator of environmentally friendly Freshness is intrinsic to LUSH. We hand make types of glitter to use in our best-selling sparkly highly effective, 100% vegetarian (and over 81% products. vegan) products for bath, shower, skin, hair and Another environmental initiative Lush has body loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables, undertaken is the elimination of Palm Oil as a gorgeous essential oils and minimal preservatives. base for products. It is common for palm oil to Most products are so fresh that when LUSH be the base for soap formulas, which is extremely products reach the customer, they are literally environmentally destructive as it encourages weeks, days or even just hours old. We also pay deforestation, and destroys the habitats of the close attention to factory waste stream – reduce, endangered Orangutan. reuse and recycle. The Sustainable LUSH fund (Slush) Ethical Buying LUSH’s mission is to go beyond being a company Lush puts an enormous amount of love and care that is harmless or buys ethically; to go beyond into making our products, so it’s important to us Organic; to go beyond Fair Trade; to go beyond to find ingredient suppliers that do the same! Our Ethical Buying. From this vision LUSH created “The Ethical Buying team travel worldwide, personally Slush Fund”. visiting our suppliers to trace the ingredients, The Slush fund was set up to invest in ecological to meet the growers and producers, and ensure growing and raw-material related projects, care for the environment and fair conditions for sometimes where Lush has an interest in raw workers. materials, and sometimes just to give a donation to We believe that what we buy should have a a worthy project doing good work in line with our positive impact on the community from which they ethics. are harvested. Buying from small-scale producer Permaculture is a form of ecological agriculture. groups affords us the opportunity to drive positive Its principles are based on around the harmonious change and form incredible relationships with integration of the landscape with people providing people all over the world. their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. A key Packaging aspect of any Slush supply project is that there We use as little packaging in the shops as possible. should be some sort of mechanism that provides When packaging is unavoidable, we prefer to funding for ongoing training and support in use recycled materials. 90%, by weight, of our permaculture and for further development of eco- packaging material is recycled and we’re working social businesses to support the same. 127 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

ROCKCOTE RESEEK AND DEVELOP

During the late 1990’s ROCKCOTE realised that continued growth just for the sake of it held little interest or motivation for us. We considered the impact our industry was having on people and the planet and realised that building a better company operating with a minimum of resources and providing products that are more nurturing to both people and the planet would be our motivation from that point on. We aim to be the first sustainable and fully regenerative company on the planet. By this we mean our business will be a positive part of our biosphere; to rob nothing from it and abandon nothing to it. This was seen as ridiculous and impossible for a business spanning two of the most noxious industries on the planet – cement renders and paints. So we set a 15 year plan to develop and make commercially available a complete range of healthy architectural coatings that rob nothing from, and abandon nothing to the biosphere. This goal has now been realised with the release of ROCKCOTE’s Natural Materials range of interior and exterior architectural coatings.

128 A snapshot of our industry: longest serving building materials that nature has to offer; clay and lime; to create beautiful interior Cement Render and exterior finishes that don’t compromise our Cement render is used to protect the exterior walls health, the environment or beauty. of a building from the harsh elements. However By returning to these ancient and natural it contains Portland cement which is very high in building materials, we offer positive alternatives embodied energy and its manufacture produces to poisonous paint and Portland cement for all significant CO2 emissions. Cement render also fails architectural spaces. With the right exposure to improve the living conditions of its inhabitants and through strong partnerships, these Natural as it does not ‘breathe’ (positively manage air Materials will revolutionise our spaces to be safer, flow and moisture within the building) in the way healthier, more beautiful and more enjoyable to humans need from their living spaces. live and work in.

Paint With ROCKCOTE Natural Materials we have: Standard commercially available paints are full • Eliminated all VOCs and harmful chemicals of VOC’s and other extremely harmful chemicals • Provided products that clean the air and regular that can cause genetic mutations, headaches, humidity and air flow respiratory problems and cancer, (GECA: A New • Eliminated the need for titanium dioxide Australian Paint Standard Launched; 2012). With • Created a full range of products that can be current sales and production figures available, we returned to our gardens when finished can also estimate that over 100,000,000 litres of municipally provided water is consumed by the ROCKCOTE: The Artisan Community Australian paint industry each year. ROCKCOTE draws inspiration from the enduring creativity of the early artisans whose relationship Summary with their materials was key to delivering stunning Simply reducing these ingredients to lower levels finishes. We support and nurture the skills of the of consumption is not enough, as that merely solid plasterers who use our materials, training delays our demise as a species. We propose to them to become Natural Materials Artisans, via our improve health, enhance performance and increase in-house workshops. Artisans go on to become profitability of our trade customers by completely part of a community where they are connected to eliminating all toxic chemicals, all ingredients other Artisans and job opportunities – the result high in embodied energy and all municipal/town is that Artisans are developing their own special water from our products. To go even further, we finishes and sharing their skills and ideas with each propose a new, more profitable business model other. for our professional trade customers by raising By partnering with conscientious builders and interest and demand for naturally beautiful spaces connecting with grass roots communities like the and encouraging our customers to return to their LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) trade’s ancient natural materials and traditional precinct in Burleigh Heads, we are finding skills. innovative ways to get the message out. We are also working closely with eco builders and Outcome designers across the country to inspire them with ROCKCOTE Natural Materials: Products the beauty of these finishes, their environmental ROCKCOTE has designed an entire range of and health benefits and the professionals that interior and exterior architectural coatings, suitable craft them into beautiful spaces. We are now for the harsh Australian climate and challenging seeing increased requests for our Architectural contemporary architecture, from simple, natural Specifications with our Natural Materials, materials. generating new business for both ROCKCOTE and ROCKCOTE’s Natural Materials Range draws on the our Artisans.

129 PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY – THROUGH DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND USE AWARD FINALIST

BURBANK TARGET ZERO WASTE TO LANDFILL

In partnership with RMIT University, Housing Industry Association, Sustainability Victoria With over 9,000 kg of waste generated in the construction of a typical new home, the Australian building sector plays a considerable role in expanding landfill waste. Burbank’s Target Zero Waste to Landfill (TZWL) initiative aimed to target just this, creating a home that challenged current waste management practices in the homes building industry. Working in partnership with RMIT University and HIA, and with key backing from Sustainability Victoria, the TZWL initiative targeted waste reduction in each phase of construction, from design through to completion using a strategy of Ecoefficiency (Ee). The final home, Burbank’s Tierra 2300 on display in Melton South, achieved a huge 99.7% diversion of construction waste from landfill in what is believed to be Victoria’s first ‘zero waste’ home.

130 The success of the initiative pivoted on the Australian volume building industry builds construction and complete audit of a baseline approximately 150,000 houses annually home to understand waste causation in residential contributing to in excess of 2.5 m3 or 815,000 construction. From this, an innovative hierarchy tonnes of waste, there is already considerable of waste control was designed which employed commercial implication for this project. The a top-down approach favouring Ee avoidance strategies used in TZWL were specifically and reduction tactics. This surpassed current developed in keeping with current building standards and practices of the volume building practices and capabilities, meaning any domestic industry which often see use of an onsite waste builder can adopt them into design and building cage, without considering eco-efficiency, reuse or processes for immediate Ee results. recycling. In terms of broader impact, adopting these same Key avoidance design strategies included changing waste avoidance and management strategies will the type of bricks and roofing materials to pre- reduce the builder’s cost of home construction, fabricated, more resource-efficient alternatives similarly streamlining costs for aspiring while waste management strategies included homeowners. non-acceptance of over-deliveries by suppliers, Thanks to the ongoing campaign to communicate take-back of recyclable waste by contractors and these findings to industry and community onsite segregation of wastes for recycling through by Burbank, HIA and Lend Lease as well as alignment between suppliers and contractors educational facilities such as Kangan Institute Based on these strategies, it was estimated that an and Bacchus Marsh Grammar, greater awareness 80% reduction of landfill waste could be achieved towards waste-minimising design and construction – yet the TZWL was able to surpass this with a is already taking hold. huge 99.7% diversion of construction waste from Land developer Lend Lease is exploring the landfill. opportunity for a duplicate project to be Waste was reduced by 6,602.9 kg from the original conducted on a new community housing 9,126.1 kg, equalling 72.4%. The majority of this was development to encourage good waste achieved through reducing brick and roof waste management practices. CSR Building Products by 3,625.4kg and 2,462.1kg respectively. Although is using the home to investigate opportunities to 2,523.2 kg of waste was generated, 99% of this reduce their environmental footprint while the waste was managed through reuse and recycling. Western BACE project team has earmarked it as The majority (2,347.9 kg, 93%) of waste was sent a case study to be used in promoting responsible to recycling, with 144.5 kg reused onsite or at an construction techniques for local construction adjacent site. industry programs. In the end, only 30.8 kg of construction waste was Similar sustainability trends have been initiated sent to landfill which represents a total of 99.7% within construction-based education, with Kangan of construction waste being diverted from landfill. Institute now using the project in their Building In the process, greenhouse gas emissions were Construction program and Bacchus Marsh reduced by an estimated 3,567.7 kg CO2-eq or Grammar as a study project for their students in 67%, which was largely associated with avoiding environmental sciences. brick and roof waste. From the very start, the TZWL initiative aimed to challenge the industry-wide waste inefficiency The success of the TZWL initiative is not a once- in residential homes construction. Using simple, off occurrence but can be easily replicated in easily replicable techniques, the initiative was able today’s building sector for widespread gains to far surpass expectations and can clearly be seen in construction sustainability. Considering the to continue to effect change in the wider home building community.

131 WORKING WITH THE BANKSIA FOUNDATION A SPONSORSHIP WORTH CONSIDERING

The Banksia Foundation is indebted to our inspirational sponsors who make it possible for us to deliver our national Sustainability Awards program. The Banksia Sustainability Awards sponsorship is about enabling. Enabling the Banksia Foundation continue a two decade tradition of rewarding and acknowledging innovation, leadership and excellence. Enabling Winners and Finalists continue, expand or move to the next level because their efforts have been recognised publically on the national stage. Each of the 380 winners and over 1,000 finalists can provide over 1,380 different reasons why this recognition is so important and why these awards have survived over two decades where many other awards programs have just faded away. Who are our sponsors? The Banksia Sustainability Awards sponsors are a group of organisations with vision. They understand and practice the concept of sustainability across their organisations. This group of organisatons appreciate innovation as an important factor to future success, both in the micro and macro context. Finally this group understands the importance of empowering others. If we all move forward then each of us benefit. What do sponsors get? Apart from the altruistic satisfaction, what each sponsor receives is as individual as the sponsor. The Banksia Foundation has a strong belief that each sponsor is unique and therefore their sponsorship must be tailored to meet their singular needs and objectives. A Banksia Sustainability Awards sponsorship opens doors to a myriad of opportunities as wide as the people that enter the awards. “We also want to firmly support the new era of Banksia Awards, and to encourage other potential sponsors to do likewise. Thank you to the Banksia Foundation for the opportunity to be part of the broad and enduring impact being achieved by the awards.” MMG To join our family of sponsors please contact Banksia Foundations CEO, Graz van Egmond.

132 INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

This Award recognises demonstrated leadership and innovation in the care of land and waterways, capacity building of the local community and enhancing long-term economic growth. The Indigenous Award was introduced in 2007, in recognition and respect of the knowledge Indigenous people have in managing Australia's land, fresh water and sea, and in conserving biodiversity. Indigenous peoples have developed a close and unique connection with the lands and environments in which they live. They have established distinct systems of knowledge, innovation and practices relating to the uses and management of biological diversity on these lands and environments.

133 INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

ACEAS INDIGENOUS BIOCULTURAL KNOWLEDGE WORKING GROUP

The deep knowledge of Indigenous people is being drawn upon by the Indigenous Biocultural Knowledge (IBK) Working Group as part of a nationwide effort to stem the tide of degradation engulfing Australian environments. Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are working on hundreds of projects across Australia to understand and better manage Country using combinations of ecological science and to a limited extent, IBK. IBK has been accumulated and refined over millennia through Indigenous People’s use and manipulation of the land, however this wealth is often unrecognized and unobtainable. IBK is often documented in disparate and hard to access places resulting in this valuable knowledge in contemporary land management, research and decision-making. The task of the IBK Working Group is to enable this wealth to be properly recognized and discovered, and thereby able to be incorporated in a timely and appropriate manner into decision-making about our land.

134 Indigenous land management is an important The IBK collated to date showed that there was part of modern-day Australia, with currently 30% a rapid spike in IBK documentation from the of Australia’s land surface declared as Aboriginal 1970’s following earlier periods where IBK was owned land (the Indigenous estate). Indigenous mainly documented by explorers, anthropologists people are fast reclaiming land through Native and historians. More recently IBK has been Title, co-management arrangements and the documented through popular science, around, for Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) with a total of example, bush tucker and medicine. Following the approximately 75% of our land area pending. establishment of the Indigenous Protected Area Australian Indigenous people can no longer be (IPA) system in Australia in 2002, there has been ignored in decision-making about Australia’s more collaboration between Indigenous people natural and cultural resources and the IBK and ecological scientists. Analysis of the collated working group calls on the greater Australian documents also revealed that a total of only 14% public to learn more about Australia’s rich and had clearly recognizable Indigenous authors with unique natural and cultural assets to enhance most of these since the 1970’s, a statistic that effective and sustainable decision-making about the IBK working group urges scientists and the management. broader public to redress. The IBK Working Group is a unique collaboration Through the activities of the working group, the of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists and research, spatial analysis, Intellectual Property land managers from a range of organisations rights and website development skills of the group from remote to urban Australia. Since 2012, the members have been strengthened. Indigenous IBK working group has collaborated to collate group members have gone on to further contribute documented and examples of living IBK and to cultural mapping projects, pursue research promote them through a “one-stop-shop” website: degrees and advocate for further involvement of www.aibk.info. The website includes a world-first Indigenous people, their knowledge and land in map, which illustrates the locations of place-based national to local ecological policy, research and publically-available and documented Australian decision-making. IBK. The map allows for analysis of gaps, hotspots The IBK working group was supported by the and opportunities for IBK documentation. This Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and project is highly innovative and contemporary in its Synthesis (ACEAS), a facility of the Terrestrial delivery of IBK to the world stage. Ecosystem Research Network (TERN: www.tern. Over 1500 documents are detailed on the org.au). The IBK working group was established website and grouped into documents that are to promote Indigenous people, knowledge and place-based (visualized through the map), Country in these national level initiatives that methodological (to demonstrate how people have have been developed by Australia’s leading recorded IBK and best practice advice for cross- ecosystem scientists. The world-first and highly cultural collaborations), reviews of larger areas innovative achievements of the IBK working (e.g. national, states or regions) and alongside group including the website and an article in related information such as health and socio- the prestigious international journal Biological economic information. The on-line map allows Conservation have raised the profile of Indigenous users to view the IBK documentation in relation people, knowledge and Country in these fora to Indigenous land tenures, NRM regions and and has international significance as International other spatial information. Mostly written forms of agencies and policies such as the UN Convention documentation have been collated for the website of Biological Diversity and International PBES call to date, and the IBK working group has called for for enhanced involvement of Indigenous Peoples in further contributions from Indigenous People to environmental conservation initiatives worldwide build the website into a powerful education and advocacy tool.

135 INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

YORTA YORTA NATION ABORIGINAL CORPORATION INDIGENOUS VOICES IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Our beginnings The Murray River, Dhungala is the life source and the spirit of the Yorta Yorta people. The Barmah-Millewa, with its rich network of lagoons, creeks, and wetlands, has been the heart of our country for over 1,600 generations. But during the Millennium Drought, it was slowly dying, and everyone was saying, climate change. When hearing and seeing so much discussion and debate relating to climate change by non- Indigenous people it was and is a concern that our affairs are not considered in relation to an event that will ultimately affect our land, our water, our lives. As the oldest living race of people we have survived colossal weather events within a harsh landscape.

136 We wanted to know: solution allows us to control who can see our data • What will happen to our land, water and lives? and to present our knowledge in ways that can • How do we make sure we are no longer influence policy processes. excluded from the discussion and have a say on The “talking journeys” were the central part of our lives, land and water? the project. Our youth accompanied Elders to • How do we move forward to deal with the significant places in the Barmah-Millewa and hardships associated to this change? recorded the interviews using audio recording, photography and Global Positioning System, which Having many discussions, our Elder Rochelle were uploaded to the mapping framework. Patten called on our people and friends to assist As part of the project we also able to host a us to create our own opportunity. We formed workshop on climate change for communities a Climate Change Committee. Our friends from all over Australia to share experiences. We introduced us to their friends, climate change learnt we were not alone in worrying about climate scientists at Monash and Brown Universities, and change and our lack of say. We learnt we can be together we embarked on a learning process. We stronger working together on this. learnt about climate change and how Western science and academia work; they learn about Yorta Looking to the future Yorta knowledge and culture and seeing the world The project has created lasting benefits for our through two eyes. After two years we were ready community in many ways: to do something together. • The innovative mapping framework for storing and integrating our knowledge is allowing us to Our project participate in policy discussions affecting our The project we developed – Indigenous voices in Country on equal terms. climate change adaptation – aimed to understand • We built our community’s capacity and how our traditional knowledge can be combined confidence to understand climate change, to with Western knowledge to help our community to undertake and lead research, and to engage • Respond to climate change with university researchers. • Strengthen our participation and influence in • We forged stronger links between our youth the management of the Barmah-Millewa and Elders, and energised the youth to take an Our Elders guided us to also address other issues interest in their history and culture, as well as in that are of concern to our community. They the climate challenges facing our community. wanted the project to: • We strengthened our community’s links to our • Create intergenerational discussions so our Country and traditions, which we are following knowledge is being conveyed to our youth up with other activities. • Use on our own past research and data on • We trained university researchers in new and land use and occupancy to create ongoing richer ways of seeing the world. knowledge connectivity • We have forged links with many national • Build safeguards through research protocols and international communities, who want research to address past difficult experiences to replicate the project and to work on with neo-colonial institutions strengthening Indigenous responses to climate • Ensure our values are being measured and change. recorded for our future • Understand the relevance of Western We acknowledge the support of the Monash knowledge to us Sustainability Institute, Brown University, the Edith Kanakaole Foundation in Hawaii, and the Water The focus was always the ability to empower Professionals Network in this project, and funding ourselves. from the Victorian Climate Change Centre for We came up with an innovative solution – to train Adaptation Research and the National Climate our youth to collect our tradition knowledge of the Change Adaptation Research Facility. Barmah-Millewa and combine this knowledge in a Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping framework with Western data of the region. This 137 INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FINALIST

PWC’S INDIGENOUS CONSULTING PWC’S INDIGENOUS CONSULTING (PIC), VIC

Australia is home to the world’s oldest living culture, yet stories about Indigenous Australia are steeped in the language of disadvantage. Positive stories, those that tell of the new ideas, the innovations and the improved outcomes that show how things can change for the better, are often passed over. This is why a group of Indigenous Australians has partnered with the nation’s biggest professional services firm, PwC Australia, to create a new business, PwC’s Indigenous Consulting (PIC). PIC recognises that positive and sustainable change best occurs when it is created by Indigenous people, not just for Indigenous people. Creating advantage is why PIC is majority owned, led and staffed by Indigenous Australians. And it is why the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and the majority of the National Executive and Board are all Indigenous Australians.

138 To stress, PIC is not a new service offering for philosophy– whether through in-kind contributions, PwC Australia. It is a new member firm in the PwC pro bono work, financial sponsorship or building global network – one without precedent. the capacity of Indigenous organisations so they Since opening its doors in October 2013 PIC has too can become more sustainable. Our work ethic grown to employ 22 staff across six locations, is grounded in values meaningful to Aboriginal including four Indigenous co-owners, who control and Torres Strait Islander Communities, and form 51 per cent. the essence of PIC’s identity. Enacting them in the Three of the four previously ran successful business is PIC’s unique point of difference. consultancies, while fellow co-owner Shane Devitt moved across from PwC. Respect Speaking on behalf of the co-owners, chief We acknowledge and promote the sovereignty of executive Jason Eades said joining forces created Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We “an opportunity to fundamentally change the take great responsibility and pride in protecting game as to how Aboriginal policy is looked at and our traditional lands and cultural ways of life. PIC’s how solutions are achieved”. pledge is to work with traditional governance “The co-owners, in partnership with PwC, aim to structures to ensure people’s knowledge, create economic value that benefits our business, responsibilities and leadership are respected. Indigenous communities and society more broadly,” Mr Eades says. Authenticity To this end PIC is “working closely with Community comes first, meaning that cultural and government, industry and Indigenous communities community interests are prioritised as the best way and organisations to ensure money is spent more to preserve the firm’s long term interests. effectively, that program design improves and that Indigenous communities prosper. Accountability To the partnership PIC brings its deep PIC will work in a way that honours all stakeholders understanding of cultural, commercial and and be accountable to all. community realities – not to mention the human cost of poor policy advice. And PwC brings its Integrity global network, strong brand recognition, and tier- PIC pledges to be honest, open, respectful and one client base. caring about all stakeholders. Thanks to myriad engagements awarded across business, government and Indigenous Quality communities, from regional Victoria in the south all Indigenous people deserve the best, and PIC will the way to the Tiwi Islands in the north, the firm is measure excellence and quality through both on track to financial stability. content and process measures: It’s not only about Among many early highlights PIC’s acceptance what PIC does, but how and why it does it. in February as a Supply Nation certified supplier was a standout, representing the highest Care independent test of being an Indigenous PIC’s primary priority is to make a difference business. Then, in May, PIC received the Up and for our communities and People. PIC will ensure Coming Supplier Award at the Supply Nation excellence, business acumen and accountability. Awards, demonstrating PIC’s growing community This is the heart of what PIC does. acceptance and awareness in the marketplace. Community acceptance and support is crucial Enjoyment to PIC’s credibility and sustainability. From the Celebrating success and making work enjoyable is first day of trading PIC introduced Indigenous central. businesses into our supply chain, and also into PIC is less than a year old. Yet our culture those of our shareholders and customers. and our heritage are timeless. Creating better Our model has also sparked interest from PwC outcomes and opportunities for Indigenous member firms in Canada, New Zealand and the Australia takes effort. But with time our stories United States to help improve services for their will, overwhelmingly, reflect Indigenous pride and own Indigenous communities. advantage. This idea of “giving back” is fundamental to PIC’s 139