Sustainable Port Development

Sydney Ports Corporation believes that our environmental management role extends beyond our own operations to advocating environmentally sustainable development and operations within the port. We support port developers and operators in adopting sustainable business approaches and promote innovation in design and operation.

Green Port Guidelines

These guidelines were created to provide our tenants with a variety of simple strategies and practices in order to build environmentally sustainable developments. The guidelines demonstrate how new developments and port operations can be both environmentally friendly and commercially viable.

Included in the guidelines are the following considerations and key environmental issues concerning port operations and facilities:

• Resource consumption including materials selection, waste management, water consumption, energy use and transportation
• Environmental Quality including indoor environment, emissions, water quality, land use and environmental management

The business case for each suggestion is outlined, highlighting the relative benefits of the proposed solution, ease of implementation and return on investment so the various options can be evaluated.

Due to the complex and unique nature of port facilities these suggested measures are not the only options and applicants are encouraged to suggest alternative and innovative measures that may be more specific or relevant to their facility or operation.

Tenants and port operators proposing to undertake development on Sydney Ports Corporation land are encouraged to incorporate suggestions from the Green Port Guidelines during the planning and application stages of a new project, operation or activity at the port.

Applicants are asked to demonstrate this by completing the accompanying checklist which is reviewed by Sydney Ports Corporation. The guidelines are also recommended to assist in providing direction during the construction, fit out and operational stages of a project.

The guidelines have to date been successful in improving the carbon footprint of new developments at the port. The following table outlines some environmental initiatives and the percentage of new developments by Sydney Ports and our tenants that have included these initiatives in their design, construction and operational stages of development.

For more information on the Green Port Guidelines, please contact the Sydney Ports Environment Operations Manager on +61 2 9296 4999. The guidelines can also be downloaded from the Environmental Publications section of this website.

Practising What We Preach

Sydney Ports Corporation is also implementing some green buildings standards of our own. As part of our sustainability initiatives Sydney Ports is moving to ‘greener pastures’. The current buildings that are occupied by staff are being left behind for brand new state-of-the-art 4 Green Star buildings.

We have completed the construction and fit out of our new Operations Centre at Port Botany. Sydney Ports' operations staff moved into the new building in June 2010. In addition, Sydney Ports Corporation’s head office moved to the new Bond One building in August 2009. These buildings will provide modern facilities and a professional working environment for all staff and visitors. They will also help to reduce Sydney Ports Corporation environmental footprint through reduced energy consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emissions and reduce water usage.

The green initiatives implemented in the new buildings include:

• Waste management and recycling procedures
• Instillation of rain water tanks
• Water reduction
• Energy reduction
• Microclimate design techniques
• Use of alternative energy
• Landscaping using Xeriscaping techniques