The Hon Mark Speakman MP SC, NSW Minister for the Environment have launched the Property Council’s publication 5 Good Ideas for a Sustainable Future, which identifies new ways of tackling future sustainability challenges of the built environment.
The five ideas include:
1. Change the way we use energy with: self-sufficient energy precincts, the commercialisation of renewable energy, removal of regulatory barriers, smarter financing models,
2. Create low impact, affordable and liveable communities with: jobs and workplaces closer to home, precincts that harvest water and recycle waste, improving housing affordability, community initiatives, better use of open space
3. Growing Sustainably with urban renewal, strategic infrastructure pipeline, smarter financing infrastructure.
4. Tranforming the built environment by: retrofitting existing buildings and incentives for sustainable design
5. Government-inspired change with: a serious commitment to government sustainability targets, long-term certainty of government programs, more sustainability jobs and training.
Leaders from across the property industry met in Sydney to hear from innovators who are delivering new solutions to unlock growth and work to achieve net zero.
Minister Speakman highlighted the positive role the NSW property industry is playing in the sustainability field.
“I’m really proud of the leadership of the property industry in NSW in sustainability – the property sector will play an important role in achieving our ambitious energy efficiency target to save households and businesses 16,000 gigawatt hours of power by 2020,” Minister Speakman said.
The presentations focused on the business case for recycled water under changing price structures, gaining buy-in from the mid-tier building sector, and creating city-shaping developments which are both dense and liveable.
NSW Executive Director of the Property Council, Jane Fitzgerald, said the event identified clear opportunities for industry to adopt best practice in energy, water and waste efficiency.
“Australia’s property industry has long been a sustainability leader and the discussion shows the proactive effort that is being taken to innovate, improve existing practices and deliver developments with economic, environmental and community benefits,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“The Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman, is to be congratulated for recognising the industry’s leadership in this area.
“The property industry will continue to work with our political leadership to deliver on commitments made by all levels of government to national and global goals for sustainability,” she said.