By Lynne Blundell 25 March 2010 -FAVOURITES: The Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star rating system for buildings is undergoing a fundamental shift. It is a philosophical shift that involves working more closely with industry, particularly for rating building materials. The GBCA says this is a positive move that will encourage best practice by manufacturers and suppliers. But some industry insiders believe it is a sign that the GBCA has caved in to industry pressure and its independence is being undermined. In the seven years since the Green Star rating system was introduced it has come a long way. It is a globally recognised system for measuring just how sustainable the design and construction of a building really is. The number of green buildings around the country has grown exponentially since then and Australia is considered a world leader in sustainable property. At the Green Cities conference this year the world’s newest green building councils in South Africa, Hong... 
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24 March – – Ribena is developing a new strain of climate change resistant blackcurrants as part of a world wide response by the world’s biggest companies to adapt to climate change and seize opportunities, The Economist Intelligence Unit and UK Trade and Investment have found in a new survey. The survey, Adapting to an uncertain climate, a world of commercial opportunities, found that 90 per cent of major global businesses had already been affected by climate change and the major saw it as an opportunity rather than a risk. In Australia, the survey found 45 per cent of companies are actively working on the issue. The report  is based on a survey of more than 700 global executives from industry sectors in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Western Europe, North America and Latin America. Susan Haird, acting chief executive of UK Trade and Investment said: “Ninety per cent of those surveyed said they had been directly affected by climate change in the past three years... 
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By Lynne Blundell 24 March 2011 – We live in tumultuous times. Daily we are bombarded with news and images of disaster – floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, social unrest and impending nuclear catastrophe, all against a backdrop of a warming planet. Meanwhile in Australia we still can’t even get our minds Read More  
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By Tina Perinotto 23 March 2011  – In Perth they rallied to support climate action.  In Canberra 10,500 petitions were presented to Climate Change Minister Greg Combet supporting the same. And GetUp, the grass roots organisation has a rolling campaign of action to counter anti climate change politicians and shock jocks. Read More  
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24 March 2011 – Melbourne based architect Graeme Gunn who has been credited with changing the landscape of suburban housing in Australia, reinvigorating architectural university studies in Victoria, and mentoring decades of leading architects, has won the nation’s top annual architecture award – the 2011 Gold Medal for Architecture. Awarding the honour at the second Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards ceremony in Perth on 24 March Australian Institute of Architects national president, Karl Fender said the gold medal jury firmly believed: “At a time when we face enormous challenges around the built environment, Graeme Gunn provides an inspirational example of the engaged architect. He has steadfastly pursued his ambition to demonstrate innovative architecture, while at the same time devoting himself to improving the quality of how we live as well as projecting architecture to a broader group of people than would normally afford it.” Other prizewinners were: Janet... 
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23 March 2011– The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering has produced a Handbook for Reform to guide a new NSW Government after Saturday’s election towards the successful infrastructure needed for continuing economic growth. “Last year’s infrastructure report card from Engineers Australia told a very sad tale of t is state’s poor delivery record on major infrastructure – D’s and C’s. We have an opportunity after 26 March – the date of the NSW election – to make sure we get what we need,” the Warren Centre’s executive director, Professor Michael Dureau, said at the handbook launch earlier this month. The handbook recommends: reform in policy formulation, strategic planning, structural reform of government, and in the administration of the implementation process. The Warren Centre’s year-long research found the engineering, construction, commercial and legal industries want to work with a new government in an environment of trust and transparency, Prof Dureau... 
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What if we all said: no more shit happens? By Tina Perinotto The sacred fool is “a person who keeps attempting the impossible, knowing even from the beginning that they won’t succeed, but continues nonetheless.” - Spoken by Lin Jensen in an ABC Encounter program on peace activists. In the same program, Erin Adson quoted a Mennonite who, in 1984, asked what would happen if people devoted the same self-discipline and self-sacrifice to peacemaking that armies and nation-states devote to war-making? As the world seems to spiral into a series of cataclysms, and the hourly news gets worse, especially from Japan, it’s worth keeping these thoughts in mind. And perhaps the possibility that, with a single disaster, the human psyche goes into shock, absorbs, settles, and then forgets. But, also, a series of shocks can stimulate great change. Old materials, new visions Our lead stories in this 50th issue of The Fifth Estate are about new ways to look at very old elements:... 
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19 March 2011 – Recruitment consultant and publisher of the Avdiev Remuneration Report Rita Avdiev said last week that sustainability was a “hot topic” for the property markets. “About three quarters of respondents replied that their company placed a mid to high level of importance on sustainability, with 30 per cent indicating a rank at the highest levels of 8 to 10,” Ms Avdiev said announcing the latest update of the report. However, one contributor tied their company’s involvement in sustainability to the bottom line saying, “We want to target and build sustainable projects as long as they are financially feasible,” Ms Avdiev reported. She said: “One third of companies surveyed have specific sustainability positions, although many would also have positions with sustainability as one of several responsibilities. One example: ‘As a town planning and urban design consultancy, sustainability is embedded within the advice we provide to our clients.’ “Specific... 
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17 March 2011 – A new planning vision is needed for Newcastle as it evolves as an important regional capital according to the Hunter branch and NSW division of the Planning Institute of Australia . The Institute has identified six key priorities: Deliver a university city campus which is integrated with the city centre Adoption of an economic development strategy as part of a regional plan, taking into account the port, university and the Williamtown RAAF base and civil airport Deregulation of the current planning controls in the existing local environmental plan for priority precincts and the identification of key sites that will be a catalyst for development and urban renewal Implement an integrated public transport system servicing the Regional City, linking regional centres, suburbs and Hunter Street Support small scale entertainment venues and a new convention centre Strong and courageous leadership in planning. “The Institute,... 
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  17 March 2011 –The first green-plumbing trade school in Victoria has been opened in Melbourne by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet and the federal member for Deakin, Mike Symon. The federally-funded Swinburne TAFE school in Croydon, Melbourne consists of a trades building and plumbing tower to deliver green training for the building, construction and plumbing fields. The school will also run short courses on solar energy. The $10 million project was part of the federal government’s $200 million “training infrastructure investment for tomorrow” program which delivered 32 projects at TAFE institutes across Australia.  The project added approximately 3500 square metres of floor space to the Swinburne campus. “It’s a boost for Croydon and an important step to meet the growing need for skilled workers in green trades,” Mr Combet said.  Mr Symon said 10,000 new apprentices would be trained over the next five years.  A total of 120 apprentices... 
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16 March 2011 – As the bleak news from Japan continues and a nuclear catastrophe threatens, Prudential Financial today said its foundation, The Prudential Foundation, will contribute 500 million yen, $6.1 million, to support relief efforts. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan as they struggle to cope with the aftermath of last week’s devastating earthquakes and tsunami. We hope this donation will help to ease the suffering and assist in the rebuilding effort,” Prudential chairman and chief executive officer John Strangfeld said today. Contributions to a fund by Prudential employees will also be matched by the foundation, Mr Strangefeld said. Read More  
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By Tina Perinotto 11 November 2010 - Kate Langan comes with impeccable credentials. She has headed ANZ’s property operations since 2009, is an architect by training, and in her previous role was a regional director for Jones Lang LaSalle, with a strong track record in corporate real estate. In fact it was a contact from the CRE industry who suggested that Langan would make an interesting interview subject. But The Fifth Estate was already intrigued. In reporting some recent changes to the property roles at the bank, it emerged that the property operations had sprung to the top of the top of the reporting tree, taking charge of the sustainability and corporate responsibility units – normally it’s been the other way around. One of those new roles in itself was significant: – the luring of Dr Gabrielle Kuiper to head the sustainability team after only a few months with VicUrban, and a former key role with Investa in Sydney. These were all moves that followed the decision by... 
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By Lynne Blundell 8 March 2011 – This was the year of the revamp for Green Cities. And the annual conference, jointly organised by the Green Building Council of Australia and the Property Council of Australia, was much better for the makeover. With a new and improved format and a liberal sprinkling of controversy, the event, which ran from 27 February to 1 March at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, felt revitalised and more willing to tackle the big questions. Read More  
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11 March 2011 – Updated 7 April 2011 – The bar for sustainable construction has just been raised. Australia now has the first scientifically reliable and independently validated database for life cycle assessment of building products and its developers say the impact will be impressive. The Building Products Innovation Council’s Life Cycle Inventory, flagged by The Fifth Estate was launched on 28 February. It is free to all industry stakeholders from BPIC. The BP LCI will provide life cycle environmental impact information on more than 100 building material categories as well as guidance on data use consistent with the internationally recognised standards for LCI and LCA work. The BPLCI will also contribute to the larger scale sustainability initiative being developed by the Australian Life Cycle Inventory Database which takes into account other environmentally sensitive areas such as transport, water, agriculture and energy. The BP LCI will next develop Environmental Product Declarations... 
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By Lynne Blundell 11 March 2011 –The nuclear power debate was an interesting and provocative inclusion at the Green Cities conference this year. Australia has remained staunchly anti-nuclear for decades while other countries such as France, Germany and China have gone down the nuclear track. Two scientists went head to head with the arguments for and against. Arguing for nuclear power as an energy solution was Barry Brook, Director of Climate Science, University of Adelaide Environment Institute. Read More  
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Overflow of good stuff, bad stuff and indifference 11 March 2011 – Isn’t life in greenworld/sustainable world getting way big? The Fifth Estate, for one, is struggling to keep up. So here is a special cropped issue to bring you the latest news, sooner. We’ve got Lynne Blundell’s report from Green Cities 2011 – more to come on that score – and we’re getting dizzy watching the machinations Read More  
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10 March 2011 – From The Economist. Australian mammalogist and palaeontologist, Tim Flannery is an environmental celebrity. His 2005 book,The Weather Makers, about climate science and global warming, was a bestseller. His latest Here on Earth is his most ambitious book so far. The publisher calls it a twin biography, of humanity and the planet it inhabits, but that description is inadequate. Mr Flannery’s subject is the likely fate of humankind, and whether the powers granted to modern civilisation by science and technology will prove to be its downfall or its salvation. He muses on whether humanity counts as a superorganism  –a classification usually reserved for bees and ants – why we have yet to discover intelligent aliens, the poorly understood effects of dumping industrial chemicals into the environment, the power of planet-watching networks of satellites and the benefits of aboriginal scrub-burning. There is an effort to organise the chapters around two competing models of... 
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19 March 2011 – Award winning architect Nick Murcutt  passed away at his home in Bondi on Thursday night. National president elect Brian Zulaikha sent the following news alert to  Australian Institute of Architects members late Friday: It is with much sadness that I let you know our colleague and friend Nick Murcutt died last night at home in Bondi. Fortunately, Nick and Rachel Neeson, his partner of 16 years, were able to marry yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. As many of you are aware, Nick was a very active and passionate supporter of the Institute and the profession, as well as being a very talented designer. He and Rachel completed a range of inspiring projects, including two Wilkinson Award winners. He will be sorely missed. On behalf of the profession, I send my condolences to Rachel, Nick’s young children Alice and Otto, and the Murcutt and Neeson families. ??Nick’s service will be held at 11am next Monday 21st March at St. Canice’s, 28 Roslyn Street, Elizabeth... 
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By Leon Gettler 9 March 2011 – The Liberals  in Victoria – and potentially soon in NSW – have both threatened a new wave of urban sprawl, but planners say there is an opportunity for a new planning body to push through urban consolidation. Either way, prepare for turbulence. Read More  
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8 March 2011 – Updated 25 March 2011 – According to an article by  Shane Scanlan in Docklands News, the election of a new state government in Victoria and the resignation of VicUrban Pru Sanderson in December may signal some “significant changes for Docklands – particularly in the area of planning.” According to the article: “Docklanders can expect to see VicUrban merged into a new urban renewal authority and they can expect to see the precinct rapidly expanded to the north, with the E-Gate project gaining increased significance. “And under the new Baillieu Government, the City of Melbourne will have more influence on the future of Docklands. “In an interview with Docklands News, Planning Minister Matthew Guy outlined broadly that inner urban renewal would be managed by the new authority. The specifics of the new authority are yet to be announced, but it is understood that a specific business unit would look after Docklands and the E-Gate area to its... 
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Green Cities conference gets its mojo back 4 February 2011 – Green Cities 2011, or #GC2011 for the Twitter fans, with their streaming commentary of speakers and discussion groups (see below for a selection), surprised on the upside this year. There was passion and there was controversy. Last year there was also passion and controversy, Read More  
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3 February 2011 – The fossil fuel industry receives a whacking huge $10 billion a year or more in subsidies. And these subsidies are firm and solid – built into the tax system as automatic deductions or rebates or exemptions for taxpayers, corporate or individual, says BERNARD KEANE in Crikey. From Crikey: Earlier this week, the Australian Conservation Foundation released an analysis comparing how much the Federal Government spent encouraging fossil fuel usage compared to how much it spent on climate change programs in recent years. Read More  
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3 March 2011 – A new report from Consult Australia has called for the integration of existing fragmented sustainability policies and programs. The report, Seizing the Sustainability Advantage, would be used to drive practical action by governments to mitigate the risks of climate change and help ensure Australia’s ongoing economic competitiveness,  Consult Australia chief executive officer, Megan Motto said. Developed in consultation with leading specialists from Australia’s top consulting firms in engineering, design, planning and project development for the built and natural environment, the report was released last week ahead of a similar call to action this week from the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council at Green Cities 2011. The report’s main recommendations include the introduction of a national sustainability framework to create a cohesive agenda for sustainability operating across governments. It also proposes a 12 month deadline for the introduction of a... 
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2 March 2011 – The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council this week called  for a federal minister and department for cities and urban development to meet the nation’s urban challenges. Speaking at the Green Cities 2011 conference in Melbourne on Tuesday ASBEC president Tom Roper said there was an urgent need for “bold leadership and a streamlined, coordinated approach” to urban management policy. “We are facing a future of transport gridlock, rising greenhouse gas emissions and eroded quality of life unless we take decisive action. An integrated and collaborative approach is mandatory if we are to foster a culture of innovation and excellence, and ensure our cities are liveable, affordable and sustainable,” Mr Roper said. ASBEC’s list of urgent actions included: A federal minister for cities and urban development to drive the reforms needed to better connect urban built environment policies and programs across all levels of government. A cities and... 
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1 March  2011 – Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor this week launched new research from the Climate Institute to show regional potential clean energy resources available from carbon pollution pricing and clean energy policies, but outlines pathways for regions to maximise employment and investment opportunities. A media statement from the Climate Institute said: “This research shows pollution pricing and clean energy support policies unlock the door to significant regional employment and investment opportunities, but also highlights the skills and industry development policies necessary to realise them,” Climate Institute chief executive officer John Connor said. “The Climate Institute has commissioned leading energy and industry specialists  to model the opportunities and to talk to regional business and community leaders to not only see what extra opportunities exist, but to see what else is necessary to turn opportunity into reality.” Mr Windsor launched The Climate Institute’s... 
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By Tina Perinotto 1 March 2011 –In what could signal a major breakthrough, property investment analyst IPD on Monday launched its long awaited green property index at Green Cities 2011 and the results vindicate the industry’s commitment to a more sustainable product:  Green Star and NABERS-rated buildings outperform non-rated buildings on a financial basis by a significant margin, especially at the upper end of ratings performance. Read More  
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28 February 2011 – According to official figures 1300 people are signed to attend Green Cities at the six star Green Star Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over the next three days. That’s a massive jump of the few hundred that attended the first iterations of this industry’s leading event. On stage Monday and Tuesday will be a long list of star attractions Read More  
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By Tina Perinotto 25 February 2011 –UPDATED – The Australian Financial Review today said in its editorial that it was time to “stop playing political games” with the carbon price issue., despite the ructions its introduction was bound to cause. “The government’s proposed two-step carbon abatement mechanism is a practical way to inject a modest carbon price into the economy that should achieve some behavioural change and provide business with at least some more certainty about the longer-term direction,” it said. Strong words from a key business and political influencer. Sadly the AFR acknowledges there is “still scientific debate over the link between human activity and climate change without going into detail about the source of that debate or who is paying for it, but added: “the bulk of scientific evidence suggests human activity is contributing to global warming, with potentially huge mitigation and life-changing costs later this century.” There’s... 
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Michael Green, a speaker at the Green Cities 2011 in Melbourne next week –  dreams of building a skyscraper with wood. Here’s why. 24 February 2011 – From Architecture News – As designers we are all fascinated by architectural precedents, history and theory but we often define relevant architecture in remarkably narrow terms. It occurred to me one day while sitting beneath a towering Douglas fir tree that perhaps understanding the architecture of a tree would be an equally worthy component of our education. A tree is a natural architecture that effectively does almost everything we dream of doing and yet we rarely consider the lessons that trees can teach us. The modern and very relevant clichés of our profession – form follows function and less is more – could not better define the tree. Trees of all shapes, types and sizes are a product of an evolution far surpassing the complexity of our architecture. They grow and adapt to extraordinary landscapes and climates. They... 
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