The department Sustainable Industries Awards – 2007 finalists and winners

Winner: Jim Mc Knoulty, Conics Limited

Over the past 25 years, Jim McKnoulty has worked to forge partnerships between industry, government and the community to foster sustainable urban planning and development across Queensland. He was the founding president of the Australian Green Development Forum, and now chairs Conics Limited, a group of professional service companies providing growth management advice to infrastructure and property development industries. Mr McKnoulty is a major supporter of the Sustainable Homes Project.

View a video presentation about the finalists of this category [3.6mB] .wmv

Winner:

IKEA Pty Ltd
The new Logan store was designed specifically for Australia's unique climatic conditions, incorporating climate control, water reclaiming, solar, mechanical and electrical power systems. IKEA is committed to environmentally efficient innovation and planning solutions, and has cut running costs by more than 60%.

IKEA sets a benchmark for other retail businesses by using smart environmental management technologies to boost profitability as well as protect the environment throughout its global operations.

Finalists:

Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa
The resort has reduced its energy consumption by 10.5 percent, natural gas use by 6.1 percent and water use by 10.9 percent over the last 12 months. The Marriott was also the first resort to install ozone into their on-site laundry, reducing water use by more than 210,000 litres per month. The establishment of a staff environmental committee has been at the heart of the changes, creating a sustainability culture, boosting staff morale and uncovering new marketing opportunities.

Sun Fresh Linen
Ipswich commercial laundry and linen supplier, Sun Fresh Linen, embarked upon a $2 million upgrade of their plant and equipment which has allowed them to double their processing capacity, while reducing water waste by 68 percent, natural gas by 13 percent, electricity by 12 percent and chemicals by 20 percent.

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Winner:

Investa Property Group
Investa has ensured that all buildings it develops or manages are energy and water efficient and its 'green leases' set out environmental and social objectives as part of the relationship between building owner and tenant. As a result of its corporate sustainability strategy, in the last 12 months Investa has saved 125 million litres of water and reduced electricity consumption by 14 percent, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than 16 tonnes. Investa has also significantly reduced its waste, diverting 57 percent (347 tonnes) of rubbish for recycling, which would have normally been sent to landfill

Finalists:

The Good Guys Capalaba
Electrical goods retailer, The Good Guys Discount Warehouse Capalaba, are now diverting tonnes of polystyrene waste from landfill, transforming it into useful products such as frames, CD and video cassette cases, and building materials. As part of their environmental commitment, the Good Guys have also introduced a unique ticketing system helping customers make informed purchase decisions, which has lead to a 65 percent increase in the sales of front loader washing machines, resulting in a saving of 56 million litres of water in 2006.

Boral Resources Pty Ltd
The company has developed 'green' concrete, ensuring most water used at concrete plants is recycled. Boral proactively manages environmental impacts of its extractive sites, and provides for their revegetation. Boral also funds and supports local community environmental projects.

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Winner:

Poly Optics Australia Pty ltd
Burleigh-based Poly Optics Australia has developed the Super Side Light Fibre Optic Cable which provides a flexible, heat-free and energy efficient solid-core fibre optic cable designed to be illuminated with light emitting diodes (LEDs). This energy-efficient fibre optic lighting system produces no heat, contains no fragile glass, consumes less energy, and lasts 10 to 20 years with little or no maintenance.

Finalists:

EcoNova Pty Ltd
Sunshine Coast water treatment company EcoNova's NovaClear system is designed to recycle all typical household wastewater, both grey and black, to Class A+ reusable water quality, the highest quality of water recognised by Queensland's department. NovaClear is the first domestic water recycling system certified for above-ground irrigation without the need for further disinfection, such as chlorine or UV. The world-first technology may even deliver purified water back into households dependent on regulations.

Sigma Energy Solutions Pty Ltd
Murrarie-based Sigma Energy Solutions CondenserBoost system redirects water used to cool large motors and oil coolers in coal-fired power stations to take up extra heat in the condenser before it is returned to the station's cooling tower. This results in greater power output without increased coal consumption or use of extra cooling water, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water use.

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Winner:

City of Thuringowa
Thuringowa's Riverway precinct has become an icon for locals, and thanks to its sustainable design, the Riverway's QNI Eco Active Centre is a major feature of the precinct, showcasing sustainable lifestyle options and featuring a wind turbine and solar panels, as well as an educational area. This Eco Active Centre is a partnership between Thuringowa City Council, Queensland Nickel (QNI) and Ergon Energy.

Finalists:

Redland Shire Council
Redland Shire Council has developed the Water and Waste Business Efficiency Program, and is proactively engaging local businesses to develop long-term sustainable strategies like water efficiency and recycling. To date, 60 businesses are saving 129,000 litres of water a day through the program, which equates to 47 megalitres per year. Redland also took part in a 12-week expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycling trial, preventing over 600 cubic metres of EPS from ending up in landfill.

Department of Public Works
A partnership between the Department of Public Works, local government and the housing industry has created a program to design and build 30 sustainable homes around the state for public display. The Sustainable Homes are open for six months as public education centres to showcase designs that meet the triple bottom line measures of sustainability - environmental, social and economic.

For innovation toward sustainability in urban development or the built environment

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Winner:

Mirvac
Mirvac's Orion Springfield, the new Town Centre in Greater Springfield near Ipswich, features a main street and two pedestrian malls and was designed from the outset to minimise water and energy use, both during construction and operation. In an Australian first in a commercial shopping centre development, the centre uses a fully integrated non-potable water supply, which utilises rainwater collected from the roofs and cooling tower water. The centre's design reduces artificial lighting by 95 percent and new lifts will save 75 percent of the energy used by conventional lifts. A user's guide has been developed to encourage tenants to adopt sustainability measures in shop fit-out and business operations.

Finalists:

Bovis Lend Lease
Project management and construction company Bovis Lend Lease's construction of the $291.3 million Millennium Arts Project uses sustainability principles, innovative technologies and environmentally-friendly techniques. Bovis Lend Lease transformed the derelict 3.5 hectare site at South Bank into a world-class cultural centre. The Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library redevelopment and associated site works use a river cooling system to support a low-energy air cooling system, natural ventilation and extensive use of natural light, which will deliver cost and resource savings throughout the life of the facilities.

Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and Leighton Properties Pty Ltd
Leighton's Green Square project, the largest mixed use corporate office park developed in Brisbane in the last 15 years, includes 40,000 square metres of A-grade commercial offices, high-technology utilities, community facilities, a child care centre, basement car parking and a residential precinct, surrounding a retail plaza.

The South Tower is the first commercial building in Queensland to be awarded a 5-star Green Star rating, and is a substantial contributor to the Brisbane City Council's Urban Renewal Plan.

Lawrence Bugeja (Mackay Canegrowers)
Mr Lawrence Bugeja is an innovative third-generation cane farmer, whose family farms near the Pioneer River, west of Mackay. They are leaders in sugar industry sustainability initiatives, including best-practice farm management systems. He has substantially improved crop productivity, water conservation and environmental protection on the properties, including building an artificial wetland and creating wildlife corridors. Mr Bugeja's farms have become learning centres, with school children and interest groups conducting experiments and monitoring water quality.

Finalists:

South East Queensland Fish Pty Ltd
The company's Beenleigh facility, south of Brisbane, has developed an environmentally efficient, pond-based production centre to supply fingerling-sized Australian native freshwater fish to the aquaculture and aquarium markets. By focusing on fingerlings, the facility uses 60 percent less electricity, 90 percent less feed and 30 percent less labour. The fish also take less time to get to market.

Golden Circle
Golden Circle, based in Virginia in Brisbane's northern suburbs, has introduced an innovative management system that increases pineapple crops, conserves resources, boosts profits and delivers environmental benefits. Golden Circle has developed an Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS), which covers land, crops, pests and nutrients and includes a Best Practice Manual for pineapple growers. Golden Circle also sends growers a soil improver generated from its wastewater treatment plant, increasing crop sustainability.

View a video presentation about the finalists of this category: [4.3mB] .wmv

Winner:

Sala Homes Pty Ltd
SALA Homes's house designs maximise solar benefits and cross-ventilation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions through design and construction materials, and cause minimal disturbance to the site. Each house is capable of generating electricity in excess of its needs, and can capture and recycle its own water. Since building its first environmentally friendly home in 2002, the company has developed 12 standard designs, all meeting the Building Energy Rating Scheme's 5-star energy rating.

Finalists:

Anglo Coal Australia/ Energy Developments Ltd
Anglo/Mitsui Coal's have developed an innovative use of coal seam methane gas to generate electricity at one of its Bowen Basin mines. As mine operator and manager, Anglo Coal is responsible for underground gas drainage operations and is harnessing gas that could otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere and demonstrating leadership and innovation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse mitigation effect of the Grasstree power project at full capacity is equivalent to planting 1.6 million trees or taking 250 000 cars off the road.

Rio Tinto Aluminium
Rio Tinto's strategy focuses on addressing climate change by improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse emissions and increasing awareness of climate change across its business. Its purchase during 2006 of landholders' tree-clearing permits ensures trees are not removed from farmland. Rio Tinto's action has saved the equivalent of 13,000ha of native vegetation, the carbon credits have been verified to offset up to one million tonnes of greenhouse gas, and land and groundwater quality is safeguarded.