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Sustainable Development

Sustainable Office Buildings Rating Policy

The Department of Public Works is the Queensland Government’s lead agency in building design, construction and facility management and has an important role and responsibility in the protection of the environment for a sustainable future by ensuring that the ‘principles of ecologically sustainable development’ are incorporated into the built environment, government programs, environmental strategies and initiatives, whilst working towards carbon neutrality for Queensland Government office buildings by 2020.

The purpose of this policy is to identify and establish the Department of Public Works preferred sustainable building rating system/s for environmental assessments and benchmark targets for energy, water conservation and natural resource conservation to be used when designing, developing and managing its building portfolio.

The sustainable building assessment systems and their rating tools for office buildings identified within this policy are supported by the property industry and other state and federal government departments.
These systems and rating tools have been reviewed and analysed using criteria based methodology for their suitability for the Department’s core business as a property developer and property manager.

Resource Management

The Queensland Government is committed to maximising the resource recovery of materials used in building and civil infrastructure projects in order to help conserve natural resources and contribute to ecologically sustainable development.

Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure

The whole of government Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure aims to promote sustainability in the built environment through the improved utilisation of resources and reduced pressure on landfill waste sites. The policy sets a target of 40% recycling of each material type by weight (expressed within the total material composition of the project).

The Queensland Government's objective is to ensure that all practical and cost-effective opportunities for recycling and reuse of materials used in building and civil infrastructure projects are implemented.

All Queensland Government Departments and Government Owned Corporations and Companies are required to develop a resource (waste) recovery program for all recyclable materials in any significant government building or form of infrastructure that is being demolished or redeveloped.

The new Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure is expected to stimulate the development of the recycling industry and an increase in industry capacity in Queensland in the foreseeable future.

The Policy commenced on 1 July 2009. The Department of Public Works will administer and monitor the Policy and conduct a review of its implementation after an initial two year period.

Projects for which planning commences from 1 July 2009 will be subject to the Policy requirements, and recycling/reuse activities for these projects will be reported in departments' annual reports.

Download the Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure [PDF | 244kb]

Guidelines to the Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure

The Queensland Government's primary objective of these guidelines is to foster a culture that goes beyond mere legislative complianceand recognises the importance of resource recovery either by avoidance, reduction, reuse, or recycling of the use of building and construction materials and products.

These guidelines encompasses standard definitions, the legislative waste management framework, the identification of current waste management practices, targets, the assessment of waste management options (including avoidance), roles and responsibilities, suggestions for recycling strategies, practices, sample survey forms for collecting data and other essential resources for enhancing recycling measurement with respect to construction and demolition waste.

Download the Guidelines to the Recycling Policy for Buildings and Civil Infrastructure [PDF | 555kb]

Guidelines Toward A More Sustainable Subdivision (Incorporating the principles of ecologically sustainable development)

This document provides a brief background to the concept of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and provides practical guidelines to assist individuals manage land developments.

Contents

Transit Oriented Sustainable Development (TOSD)

Transit Oriented Sustainable Development (TOSD)- or urban living in close proximity to good public transport and a mix of retail, personal services, health and recreational facilities - has clear advantages over existing urban communities. Such developments can help minimise greenhouse gas and pollution within the built environment. The purpose of this report is to give the reader an understanding of Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) as a concept.
Report: Transit Oriented Sustainable Developments



Last Updated 05/08/2009

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