Transforming Greater Sydney from a consumer to a producer by 2030
“Nowadays we are in a time where the idea of poetry is again important, because all information is accessible at anytime, so information is no longer interesting. It is more about deciphering something. The door opener for allowing people to decipher something is beauty. It’s not about direct communication, it’s more about poetic communication, and poetry is always about encrypting and deciphering information.”
Joachim Sauter, Professor for New Media Art and Design at the Universität der Künste in Berlin, Founder of ART+COM, Co-founder of Chaos Computer Club
This document was printed using vegetable based inks on FSC accredited paper using best forestry practices.
What is the environmental impact?
How much space will it take?
capital cost: $xx annual savings: $xx payback period: xx years
We proudly acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the owners of the lands and waters on which A New Normal is based, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We recognise the deep connection of First Peoples to Country and value their contribution to caring for, and managing the land, water, natural and built landscapes and their profound knowledge systems.
We commit to developing reciprocal relationships with our First peoples and as a cornerstone in defining A New Normal for our City.
We also extend our acknowledgement to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their rich culture, and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
construction jobs/year to 2030:
ongoing jobs:
Strategy Acknowledgments
This strategy and implementation plan for the future of Greater Sydney was prepared by...
Supported by...
In collaboration with...
With support from...
Thomas Supple, Cultural Curator
What is the environmental impact?
How much space will it take?
This strategy and implementation plan for the future of Greater Sydney was prepared by Finding Infinity. This document intends to outline an aspirational vision for Sydney and does not represent current or future policy positions of the NSW Government.
Numbers pertaining to investment, jobs and capital cost have been calculated by Finding Infinity. Where Greater Sydney figures were not available, NSW figures or Australian figures have converted per capita to represent Greater Sydney.
capital cost: $xx annual savings: $xx payback period: xx years
Design Week Launch Acknowledgments
Special thanks to...
Part of Vivid Sydney an initiative of Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency
With collaboration from:
construction jobs/year to 2030:
Executive Summary
This proposal for Greater Sydney has the potential to:
• Provide economic recovery
• Secure our energy supply, water supply & movement network
• Create over 80,000 jobs
• Create a sustainable revenue in 7 years
• Position Sydney as a world leader in economic and environmental transition
The purpose of this document is to bring the private sector, the public sector and the people of Sydney together in response to increasingly intertwined challenges; the social and economic aftermath of COVID-19 and amid rising global tensions all encapsulated by the ongoing climate emergency. It proposes a vision of transformation for Sydney to become a self-sufficient and more resilient city.
This report focuses on currently available and profitable technology, and as such can provide a rapid stimulus opportunity. We can transform Sydney to operate on resources that will never run out - and profit from the transition.
According to the United Nations, emissions need to be reduced by 2050. But national governments — including Australia’s — are struggling to respond in time1.
It is now becoming clear that the transition will not be led by nations. It will be led by cities.
Cities are where the majority of earth’s population live. Cities are responsible for the majority of global carbon emissions. A city like Sydney — already one of the wealthiest and most liveable in the world — is perfectly placed to lead the transition by transforming from a consumer to a producer by 2030.
Every year, Greater Sydney currently burns enough coal to fill Sydney’s most iconic building, the Sydney Opera House 570 times, enough oil to fill it 380 times, and enough natural gas to fill it 39,500 times. It produces enough waste to fill the Opera House 200 times a year, and consumes enough water to fill it 25,600 times.
A New Normal details the opportunity and benefits associated with Sydney making this transition happen by 2030. It identifies the 12 key initiatives that, if implemented, can transform Greater Sydney into a self-sufficient city by 2030.
Let’s not delude ourselves — these shifts are seismic. Fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine have underpinned the global economy for over 200 years. So, how do we do it? We electrify transport and buildings. We drastically improve the efficiency of our buildings. We introduce energy storage and power our cities with renewable resources. We treat and reuse water, creating an endless supply. We use organic waste as a fuel for heat and power plants. We end the concept of landfill.
Figure 1: Resources required to make the city work*
Sydney Opera House (SOH)*
Importantly, the initiatives suggested for transforming Sydney are all profitable — and have already been implemented in cities around the world. These initiatives use existing technology which is scalable, tested and ready to be implemented rapidly in Sydney.
This opportunity could position Sydney as a world leader on such an important transition.
The total required investment is estimated to be ~$120 billion. This is equivalent to ~15% of Sydney’s total superannuation pool ($790 billion as of March 202410). But with the opportunity to generate ~$16 billion annual income, the transformation can pay for itself in less than a decade. In consideration of forecast recession, it is also important to recognise the employment opportunities this transition offers. Profitable technology providing a rapid stimulus opportunity.
It is estimated to generate over 80,000 annual jobs in construction and installation to 2030, as well as over 50,000 ongoing jobs in operations. This is an opportunity to stimulate the economy whilst creating lasting, meaningful change.
Implementing all of these initiatives requires a lot of change in a very short period of time, and humans don’t instinctively like change. It is possible to make this change easier on the general public by connecting solutions with culture.
An implementation plan for rapid adoption of the solutions across Greater Sydney has been developed. The approach is to integrate the physical infrastructure that makes our city work with the cultural infrastructure that enables it to thrive. It is designed to familiarise the public with the solutions, while providing our political leaders with much-needed public support helping to de-risk any uncertainty around the transformation.
Figure 2: Funding comparison
construction jobs/year to 2030:
ongoing jobs:
The approach in this document was to first examine Sydney to understand and establish the baseline demands for the city. This allowed an understanding of the functionality of the city currently. Data was gathered on Sydney’s consumption of fossil fuels, water, and generation of waste.
The approach was not to propose new technology, but to de-risk the process by understanding where these initiatives have already been implemented in other cities. Case studies from around the world in cities were collated. The projects were broken down into twelve initiatives, all of which have been implemented in a financially viable manner. Some environmental initiatives can be expensive and provide poor returns, however some are profitable. The question was asked: if Sydney implemented every single profitable initiative between now and 2030, targeting the environmental and financial threshold, how far could we get?
The investigation involved the capital cost, annual return, spatial requirements, construction jobs and ongoing jobs created throughout this process. It was found that the initiatives could be implemented across Greater Sydney to transform the city from a consumer to a producer, while creating profits for investors and a much-needed boost in employment.
But given the urgency and enormity of the change required, how can these initiatives be implemented in time? This document proposes integrating the physical infrastructure that makes our cities work with the cultural infrastructure that enables them to thrive. From prototyping to piloting technologies linked with various cultural
activities, the process helps to warm the public up to the transformation and the introduction of new technology to Australia in general, while providing our political leaders with much-needed public support. All of this enables the private sector to implement, deliver and profit from these imperative initiatives.
The document focuses on Greater Sydney, which comprises 33 different municipalities:
• Bayside Council
• Blacktown City Council
• City of Blue Mountains
• Municipality of Burwood
• Camden Council
• City of Campbelltown
• City of Canada Bay
• City of Canterbury-Bankstown
• Cumberland City Council
• Fairfield City Council
• Georges River Council
• City of Hawkesbury
• The Hills Shire
• Hornsby Shire
• Municipality of Hunter’s Hill
• Inner West Council
• Ku-ring-gai Council
• Lane Cove Council
• City of Liverpool
• Mosman Council
• North Sydney Council
• Northern Beaches Council
• City of Parramatta
• City of Penrith
• City of Randwick
• City of Ryde
• Municipality of Strathfield
• Sutherland Shire
• City of Sydney
• Waverley Council
• City of Willoughby
• Wollondilly Shire
• Municipality of Woollahra
Woodlawn Tip
Gas sourced from Gippsland Basin
Eastern Creek Landfill
Lucas Heights Resource Recovery Park
Wollongong
City of Sydney
Parramatta
Blacktown Sydney Airport
Imported Oil
North Head Wastewater Treatment Plant
Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant
Wollongong Water Recycling Plant
St Marys Water Recycling Plant
Southern Coalfields Coal
Gas sourced from Cooper Basin Lake Burragorang
Blue Mountains National Park
Yengo National Park
Warragamba Dam
Avon Dam Cordeaux Dam Nepean Dam
Cataract Dam
Garigal National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Figure 3: Greater Sydney resource map
Sydney Currently
Sydney is the 8th wealthiest and fourth most liveable city globally 15,16. However, it sits just outside the top 2% in terms of emissions per capita17
Greater Sydney covers around 12,400 square kilometres and consists of 33 municipalities, with a population of almost 5.5 million18.
The Sydney Opera House is Sydney’s most iconic building, with an internal volume of 20,600 cubic meters*.
Energy
To power the city, Greater Sydney burns enough coal to fill the Opera House 570 times annually, enough oil to fill it 380 times and enough natural gas to fill it 39,500 times4. At current consumption rates, the finite resources that power our energy system will be exhausted globally in two lifetimes.
Water
Sydney consumes enough water to fill the Opera House 25,400 times annually3. Greater Sydney receives 25 times more water (as rainfall) than it consumes19. And only 15% of the wastewater we treat is reused, with 85% being disposed of at sea20. Sydney’s current demand for water is already exceeding supply, and is only predicted to operate at a further shortfall with estimated population growth2, 21. Our backup plan — desalination — costs twice as much as recycling water and is highly energy intensive22, 23
Waste
Sydney sends enough waste to landfill to fill the Opera House 780 times annually2 8% of this waste is organic matter24, which is often wrapped in plastic bags, driven in carbon-emitting trucks and dumped in landfill to eventually digest creating methane — a greenhouse gas 28-34 times more damaging than carbon dioxide2,25.
Resources Required to Make the City Work
Resource Depletion
Waste
780 x Opera House2
Figure 4: Consumption of resources by volume in number of Sydney Opera House’ per year
Figure 5: Resource depletion
380 x Opera House4,
x Opera House4,
Sydney Opera House *20,600m3
Sydney 2030
It is inevitable that our cities will become self-sufficient. But will the change come quickly enough?
In Sydney, we have an opportunity to move ahead of the curve — and transform from a consumer to a producer by 2030. This could position Sydney as a world leader on such an important transition, enabling us to export the knowledge and expertise in the future.
This means moving beyond:
• fossil fuels
• the internal combustion engine for transportation
• the disposal of treated wastewater
• single use plastics
• organic waste to landfill
• the sale of any consumer product destined for landfill
Let’s not delude ourselves — these shifts are seismic. Every item on the list above is deeply entrenched in our current way of life. Fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine have underpinned the global economy for over 200 years.
So, how do we do it?
We electrify transport and buildings. We drastically improve the efficiency of our buildings. We introduce energy storage and power our cities with renewable resources. We treat and reuse water, creating an endless supply. We use organic waste as a fuel for heat and power plants. We end the concept of landfill.
It is possible.
We can transform Sydney to operate on resources that will never run out — and profit from the transition.
6: How to transform Sydney into a self-sufficient city by 2030.
This is how we will transform our energy system to be powered by resources that will never run out.
Figure 7: Transport and buildings are electrified, ending our consumption of fossil fuels. Buildings and transport become more efficient, and the electrified grid is powered entirely through renewables.
Sydney 2030
This is how we will transform our water system to close the loop and provide an unlimited supply.
Figure 8: We treat and reuse all of our sewer water and harvest stormwater for reuse to minimise or even eliminate water requirements from catchments outside of Greater Sydney.
Increase Water Reuse for Drinking 2030 39GL/y
Reuse 2030 439GL/y
Current Treated Water Reuse for Agriculture
Current Treated Water Reuse
This is how we will transform our waste system to become circular and no longer send resources to landfill.
Municipal
2,994,990 t2 Commercial and Industrial* 3,105,410 t2 Construction and Demolition* 7,582,220 t2
9: Food waste is treated through anaerobic digestion, and all waste destined for landfill is avoided.
Figure
Recovered 1,110,780 t Annual Consumption
Landfill Reduction 2,412,200 t
Cascading Recycling Reduction
4,429,110 t
Recycled 6,841,310 t
Perpetual Motion 01.
2.9 Million Cars in Greater Sydney31,32 = oil
Halve the amount of cars through increase shared ownership and electrify the other half. Electrify the rest Halve them.
Incentivise active transport friendly urban design.
Enhance active transport and public transport networks, reduce private vehicle use and electrify the remainder.
Expand and electrify current public transport networks
Annual healthcare savings of $0.6bn3bn/year33
Annual fuel savings of $2.5bn/year34,37
Annual construction jobs up to 2030 x 10,60035,36 x 1,10035,36
Number of jobs ongoing
Perpetual Motion
The Challenge
There are roughly 2.9 million passenger vehicles in Greater Sydney, or around 0.6 vehicles per capita31. Comparatively, Copenhagen has around 0.24 vehicles per capita while London has around 0.3 vehicles per capita38. Transport accounts for around 37% of Greater Sydney’s total emissions4. Emissions from private vehicles cost the public health system approximately $600 million - $3 billion every year33.
It is time to prioritise pedestrians, active transport and public transport. Phase out the internal combustion engine, convert the transport system to be entirely electric:
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Bogata
Bogotá’s rapid bus system serves about two million riders a day, reducing the needs of private vehicles
• The reduced transport times leads to an improved traffic flow in the city.
• From 2013 to 2019, the annual average estimated reduction of CO₂ emissions amounts to 578,918 tCO₂eq
• There has been a reduction of 92% in road related deaths
• The social well-being of residents has increased as a result of less time spent in congestion, less respiratory diseases and less noise pollution40
Tyrol
Tyrol is introducing ride-sharing benches to initiate carpooling practices as an addition to public transport.
• Encourages car-free living
• Low initial investment and construction costs
• Reduced urban pollution
• Community-initiated public transport41.
• Improve infrastructure to expand pedestrian and active transport network
• Expand public transport network
• Incentivise urban design that supports multi-modal and humanpowered transport
• Phase out the sales of cars with internal combustion engines
• Incentivise car-pooling and carsharing to bridge the gap of public transport
• Incentivise retrofits of existing ICE vehicles to electrify remaining public and private vehicles
• Adopt Vehicle-to-Grid technology to utilize EV batteries as energy storage
Copenhagen
Copenhagen has converted 43% of buses to electric in collaboration with Movia, and plans to convert all buses to zero emission.
• This reduced emissions by approx. 17,000 tons of CO2 per year
• Ensures clearer air for the citizens, improving living quality and health39.
Japan
Giken’s Automated Parking Facility ECO Cycle™ promote cycling lifestyle, solving the last kilometres problem.
• Developed with the concept of “ Culture Aboveground, Function Underground”. With a compact entrance booth, it requires minimal space above ground and provides more than 200 parking spaces underground.
• Eliminating the risk of theft and exposure to weather44.
Paris
Paris recently ordered 800 electric buses in Europe’s biggest electric bus purchase.
• The public transport operator aims to convert two thirds of its 4,700 buses to electric by 2025
• The remaining buses will run on bio-gas
• After 2025 any replacement buses purchased will be electric46.
Shenzhen
Shenzhen’s public transport operator recently purchased 16,000 electric buses and 20,000 electric taxis, converting their entire network to electric while halving their fuel bills.
• Removed 440,000 tonnes of annual emissions
• Halved their fuel bills
• Most of the buses charge for around 2 hours for a full day’s service
• Fully electric public transport achieved in 2018
• More than 20,000 taxis are now electric (over 99% of taxis in the city)43
Oslo
Oslo has effectively removed cars from the city centre, by removing on-street car parks in the inner ring streets.
• Reduced inner-city pedestrian death-rate.
• Replacing the space with bike lanes, benches and miniature parks to increase urban quality and encourage biking and walking,
• As a result, traffic in the city decreased by 28%42.
Melbourne
Jaunt Motors in Melbourne are investing in electrification of existing cars.
• By converting iconic cars, it sparks interested in the electric car industry.
• Promotes car conversion over replacement45.
Perpetual Motion
A New Normal Solution
Transform existing petrol stations and mechanics to become workshops where internal combustion engine vehicles are converted to electric vehicles. As part of this, upskill mechanics to perform these conversions, stimulating the mechanical workforce. It is estimated that at high quantities, the cost is equivalent to $13,500 per car conversion48,49,54 .
Through the encouragement of more localised living and working habits, increased utilisation of public transport facilities, the global trend of increased uptake in car sharing, and human powered transport infrastructure, the approach is to target halving the number of cars on the road – going from about 1 car per 1.7 people to 1 car per 3.4 people. This will leave around 1.45 million cars to convert to electric31.
Electric vehicles are significantly more efficient than combustion engine vehicles. Combustion engines convert around 12-30% of the energy in the fuel to power at the wheels, compared to electric vehicles convert around 77% of grid electricity to power50.
What is the environmental impact?
~37% reduction in emissions (assuming electricity used is renewable – see initiatives five & six), however this results in a ~40% increase in electricity consumption52.
460 mechanical workshops — each converting 10 cars per week — could complete the transition by 2030. This can be incentivised through government subsidies, which are justified through future healthcare savings. The benefit to consumers is an over 60% reduction in fuel costs annually37
In Sydney, metro trains and 10% of public buses are already electrified, and the remaining bus fleet is expected to be transformed by 2035. Naturally commercial fleets and rural trains can also fit into this scheme51.
How much space will it take?
Savings in car parking space outweigh the space taken up by conversion stations. There are 30,000 car parks in Sydney CBD alone53, meaning if we halve the number of people who drive to work, we free up around 15,000 inner city parks.
TO ALL THE CARS?
Great public transport and smart cities could mean fewer cars on the road. Daily tasks become car-free with convenient options. Conversion to electric cars and other transport modes should be achieved by 2030. WHAT HAPPENS
How much will it cost?
The cost of converting ~1.4 million cars has been estimated to be ~$19.4 bn. This will be through a combination of government subsidies and individual investment48,49,54.
What is the return on investment?
Healthcare savings have been estimated to be $0.6-2.9 bn/year33 and fuel saving $2.5 bn/year34,37, meaning the conversions pay for themselves in under 6 years.
Car trips avoided
Current modes of transport’s utilisation rate (NSW State of Environment,201847) against 2030 projection
Perpetual Motion
My Forever Car
Neeson Murcutt Neille ROEV KPMG
Ausgrid
The most sustainable thing you can do is to keep something forever. This includes your car!
Imagine your beloved Hilux or any other favourite car, complete with all the kit that you have spent good time and money on to accumulate – Bull Bar, Bed Rack, Canopy, Canopy Roof Racks, Canopy Air Vent, and Rhino Rack Sunseeker Awning – all lasting your entire lifetime!
Possible? We already have the knowhow. Introducing, My Forever Car.
My Forever Car will:
• Transform your car into a life-time asset
• Reduce automotive waste to landfill, primarily plastics, glass, rubber and fabrics
• Save energy in scrap metal recycling
• Speed up local electric vehicle uptake in our outer urban areas where the impact on emissions reductions is greatest
• Support vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology that powers bidirectional vehicle-to-house, houseto-vehicle charging
Dirty in - Clean out.
www.neesonmurcuttneille.com
www.kpmg.com
www.roev.com
www.ausgrid.com.au
Perpetual Motion
SJB Architects x Sweltering Cities x The Open Arms
Every Summer on sweltering hot days across Sydney, people wait for the bus in baking temperatures with little or no shelter. In response, Petal reimagines bus shelters to protect commuters in ‘the new normal’. Petal will provide sun and rain protection and cooling technology while feeding the earth below to encourage more long-term green growth.
Over 2.7 million Sydneysiders currently travel by bus. With Transport for NSW aiming to transition its bus fleet to zero emissions technology by 2035, bus travel is a powerful tool in reducing the city’s emissions. But not without a redesign of the city’s bus shelters –especially in Sydney’s hottest Western suburbs, where 70% of bus stops provide no shelter or shade at all55.
Petal will become a beacon of cool and colour throughout Western suburbs streets, with a series of colours celebrating Australian native flowers local to that bus stop’s area. It has been designed as a modular, simple, iconic and cost effective solution for one of the most glaring heat challenges in Sydney as we transition our cities to ‘the new normal’.
By 2030, we need to provide a legitimate, electric alternative to air travel. As a way of encouraging consumers to use the train more, to demonstrate to our political leaders that Australian’s enjoy and want a better train system that is fast and electric, we start by improving the experience on our existing trains. The trains between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane become the most desirable path between cities because the experience is tailored to the next generation.
Not fast, not slow, our proposal is a celebration of medium-paced travel, which repurposes existing rail infrastructure to connect Australia’s largest urban centres: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane . Through great design, we can create demand for trains, improve efficiency—and have fun doing it.
Currently, the XPT trains are the only long-distance public transport option for travelling between Melbourne and Sydney. These trains are up to 37 years old and run on diesel-powered engines. They’re old, tired, and far from an inspiring way to travel.
This proposition, which could be kickstarted immediately, would see old carriages stripped down to their shell, before being repurposed as mobile F+B destinations. The opportunities are endless: we’ve included a café, restaurant, bar, lounge, co-working facilities and sleeper cars to celebrate the rich hospitality culture of our cities. The result: a reimagining of the past, to create future-forward travel experiences in convivial, relaxed style.
Electrify Architecture 02.
62% of Sydney homes have a gas connection5, 55
That’s approximately
Electrify all buildings No more Gas *Based
*570,000 Hot Water Systems4, 5, 56
*975,000 Gas Heaters4, 5, 56
*840,000 Gas Stoves4, 5, 56
It’s time to turn off the gas tap to the city, time to transform all existing buildings to become 100% electric.
Prioritise retrofits of affordable and social housing
Leverage Government procurement to support local manufacturing of electric appliances
Improved indoor air quality and health benefits
x 1,10057*
Annual construction jobs up to 2030
The Challenge
The grid can never fully decarbonise without removing natural gas.
Even ignoring carbon emissions, there are serious concerns around both health impacts and future supply of gas. The New England Journal of Medicine noted “gas is associated with health and environmental hazards and reduced social welfare at every stage of its life cycle”60. Currently gas consumption in buildings and industry accounts for 10% of Greater Sydney’s stationary energy consumption9.
Despite having profitable solutions to get off gas such as heat pumps and induction cooking, the transition is moving far too slowly.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
San Diego
San Diego leaders have approved a ban on natural gas in an attempt to shrink the city’s carbon footprint and reach net-zero emissions by 2035
• Approved was a ban on fossil fuel within new construction as well electrifying all existing building over the course of the next 11 years
• Their vision on decarbonizing all existing buildings will have a “much more significant impact” that could possibly create upwards of thousands of new jobs58.
Canberra
Canberra has introduced a regulation to prevent new gas connections from the end of 2023
• Incentivise those with gas connections to switch to electric through rebates.
• Over the next 17 years, The Electrification of Government Gas Assets Program (EoGGA) will replace gas-powered assets used within Government owned buildings59
New buildings must be constructed without gas connections; existing buildings will require retrofitting to function without gas.
In buildings, gas heaters and hot water units can be replaced with heat pumps, which run on electricity — and can generate three to five times more heat with the same amount of energy input64. Gas stoves can be replaced with efficient induction units, gas ovens by electrical ovens61.
In industry, electrification is not only viable for logistics and manufacturing, but can give manufacturing industries a competitive advantage through the availability of abundant and affordable clean energy.
Netherlands
A National Energy and Climate plan (NECP) in the Netherlands intends to aid continent-wide decarbonisation efforts
• 300,000 existing homes and buildings will be made energy-efficient every year by a consortium between the construction, engineering and energy sectors
• From 2018, all new government buildings must be “nearly-energy-neutral”62.
Wollongong
Saul Griffith intends to electrify Australia one suburb at a time.
• Intends to run Wollongong through converted renewable energy
• ‘Electrify’ 2515, intends to run all household machines which are currently on fossil fuels such as gas cook tops and petrol cars to be converted to electric equivalents powered by renewable energy
• Targeting for 50% reductions by 203063
Electrify Architecture
A New Normal Solution
Ban gas connections to new buildings and installation of new gas appliances — and phase out gas connections to existing buildings by 2030.
We need to rapidly electrify Greater Sydney:
• Ban gas in new construction by 2025
• Ban the replacement of any gas equipment by 2025
• Electrify all existing buildings by 2030
• All gas heaters and hot water units should be replaced with heat pumps at the end of their working lives or by 2030 at the latest
• All other gas appliances can be replaced with efficient electrical equivalents when heating and hot water systems are replaced — allowing gas connections to be removed entirely
• Enable easy access to finance for all building typologies for replacing appliances with repayments through savings in energy bills
• Leverage Government procurement to support local manufacturing of electric appliances
• Prioritise retrofits of affordable and social housing to reduce cost of living pressure
• Work with the property sector to
What is the environmental impact?
It would reduce gas consumption by around 30 TWh, but could increase electrical consumption by around 38%. Overall, with renewable electricity, emissions would be reduced by 13 million tonnes of CO269.
understand and support changes to leasing agreements for precinctwide electrification
• Work with the hospitality sector in particular to understand and improve electrification of kitchens and venues to improve health outcomes and save businesses money.
The cost and return has been estimated based on converting all households to 100% electric at the end of the working lives of their heating and hot water systems.
Non-residential costs and returns have not been considered in this section. These costs are considered in the Efficient Architecture section. The graph to the right does, however, account for their increase in grid electricity consumption.
840,000 residences with grid connections will each save around $300 annually in a combination of gas connection fees, as well as the increased efficiency of electrical equipment65.
Full electrification of residential homes could save each household $1,900 each year, create 1,100 jobs and avoid 13 million tonnes of carbon per annum57,69.
How much space will it take?
In some buildings this may require additional space, as heat pumps & hot water storage can take up around five times the space of gas hot water. The spatial requirements for single dwelling homes are not dissimilar to gas.
How much will it cost?
The additional cost of replacing every residence’s gas appliances with electrical units has been estimated to be $2.7 billion56 65,66,67,68 .
What
is
the return on investment?
Through savings in gas connection fees as well as improved efficiency of electrical appliances, it has been estimated that this will save residents around $0.3 billion annually65, paying itself off in around 9.5 years*.
Electrify Architecture
Electrifying George Place
3XN x ISPT x CBRE x Positive Futures
In the heart of Sydney, lies a beacon of transformation: George Place. This iconic precinct, nestled amidst the bustling streets and soaring skyscrapers, is more than a collection of buildings; it’s a living testament to innovation, sustainability, and the harmonious connection between urban life and the land. Imagine standing, surrounded by architectural marvels that bridge the past and the future. Here, the whispers of history echo in the facades, while the promise of progress hums in the sleek glass panels that reach for the sky. Each building has its tale—a tale of visionaries who dared to dream beyond those who shaped stone and steel into art, and of the people who now occupy these spaces to live, work and play. George Place is more than bricks and mortar; it’s a canvas for connection to country. The Gadigal people, custodians of this land for millennia, infuse their spirit into every corner. Beneath the polished floors, the ancient soil remembers stories passed down through generations.
Electrification Takes Flight
George Place dreams of sustainable practices powered by renewable electricity. Solar panels adorn rooftops, capturing sunlight and converting it into hope. Electric vehicle charging stations hum, envisioning a future where fossil fuels are a distant memory. As the building’s carbon footprint fades away, the air smells of possibility—far from the pollution created by onsite gas use and cooking. Instead, it’s a blend of recycled rainwater, filtered air, and determination to leave a lighter footprint for generations to come.
www.3xn.com
www.ispt.com.au
www.cbre.com.au
Electrify Architecture
Carbon Free Kitchen
Solotel x AHMM
The Carbon Free Kitchen is a cleaner, safer, healthier place for people to cook the meals that we all love to eat. The commercial kitchen looms as something of a last frontier in the move to decarbonize each aspect of how we live. This collaboration identifies each of the gas-fired appliances commonly used in commercial kitchens and investigates how they can easily be replaced by fossil fuel free alternatives that are already available on the market. This key move forms part of a wider shift in the catering industry that also embraces local and best practice regenerative farming, allelectric deliveries, rethinking how our food is packaged and minimizing the impacts of food waste.
One of the major challenges to removing gas from commercial kitchens is not the equipment itself entrenched perceptions around best practice in the culinary world. Many chefs have been trained in a gas-fired environment, and there remains a view that this way of cooking is needed to create food at a high level. This project publicises the many benefits that removing gas offers to everyone currently working in a kitchen environment. Critically, all-electric cooking is more efficient in transferring heat and quicker in bringing ingredients to the right temperature. As such, apart from some specialist techniques, there is no limitation on cooking capabilities or the range and quality of menu offerings. In addition, the reduction in wasted heat transmitted results in lower ambient temperatures, improved air quality as well as a quieter environment due to decreased requirements for high volume extract (saving even more energy).
Efficient Architecture 03.
$3.1b wasted by inefficient buildings every year70, 71
*Based on calculations by
$26b for residential and $6b for commercial is needed for retrofitting by 203571
No more cost-effective way to make major cuts in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions exists than retrofitting buildings. It’s time to make it mandatory.
Mandatory retrofits of all existing buildings
Only cost effective initiatives
x 12,40071*
Annual construction jobs up to 2030
Efficient Architecture
The Challenge
Existing buildings present a much larger problem — and a larger opportunity — than new buildings.
Existing building stock around the globe is typically inefficient. And nearly two thirds of the building area that exists today will still be in use in 2050 — we only add 1% of new housing stock per year74
Reducing energy consumption through retrofitting buildings is a significant and cost-effective opportunity.
In their Energy Efficient Buildings Plan, Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) estimate that energy efficiency could result in a reduction of 53% in residential energy consumption (23% when not including the savings from electrification discussed previously) and 44% in nonresidential consumption71.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Germany
Ecoworks revolutionises the construction industry by developing products and processes that enable rapid serial renovation of existing buildings.
• The core product is prefabricated elements for facade and roof
• The Living Lab Mönchengladbach were 20 residential units transformed into energyplus houses that met NetZero standards.
• A new photovoltaic system and minimal thermal bridges within the facade elements, achieved a significant increase in energy efficiency.
• Energy requirements before renovation were 292 kWh/m²a and after dropped to a significant 22 kWh/m²73
Netherlands
Launched in 2013, Energiesprong is a marketled initiative for retrofitting homes to net zero energy using prefabricated elements and innovate technologies.
• Carbon reduction through energy efficient whole house upgrades using a business and policy model
• Energy use reductions of 150kWh/m2 and 70% reduction in total energy consumption.
• Emphasize health and comfort that will optimise designs for repeatable manufacturing and installation of specific building typologies75.
Shanghai
Changning District has established a dedicated entity in sustainable building retrofitting.
• China’s first online platform for monitoring energy performance in buildings, working closely with municipal and national government to offer subsidies to incentivise investments in retroffiting.
• Retrofits have been rolled out across half of the public and commercial space, with energy reductions of between 20% and 30% per building.
• Overall preventing emissions of approximately 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is the equivalent of removing 65,000 cars from the streets76.
Melbourne
The William Ngarrang Retrofit project was to set an example of environmental, social and financial benefits of retrofitting existing apartment blocks in Melbourne’s inner city.
• Kennedy Nolan completed a minimal -intervention upgrade an existing 70’s block, overall improving its thermal performance, extend its life-span and increase amenity for tenants
• Key targets consisted of: a net-positive energy output, zero-waste operations, zerowaste construction as well as others.
• 80% reduction in bills for tenants77
UK
The Retrofit for the Future programme explores how existing homes can be improved to use less energy, cut carbon and save costs.
• It is a £17m programme funded by the Technology Strategy Board
• Claims to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions as much as 80%
• Fabric insulation installation help reduce space heating demand by as much as 95%78
Efficient Architecture
A New Normal Solution
Mandate the retrofit of all existing buildings using only profitable initiatives.
This will not only reduce the environmental impact of buildings, but also save owners and occupants money, and make buildings healthier and more resilient.
Governments and banks should assist in financing upgrades, allowing these to occur at no up-front cost to residents, tenants and building owners — but instead be paid off through savings in future energy bills.
Existing buildings need to be professionally reviewed, with all costeffective initiatives identified being implemented on a case by case basis. Depending in on individual feasibility, initiatives may include:
• Improving building fabric
• Building sealing
• Glazing
• Insulation
• Thermal breaks
• Upgrading inefficient water heating and HVAC
• Heat recovery ventilation
What is the environmental impact?
Translating Australia wide figures from Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) to Sydney, we have estimated a 24% reduction in energy consumption71.
• Upgrading inefficient appliances and electronics
• Replacing inefficient lighting with LEDs
• Upgrading water fixtures and fittings.
Savings estimates are based on the BZE Energy Efficient Buildings Plan, scaled by population to reflect Sydney. Jobs, costs, efficiency improvements and savings for residential building electrification are not included in this section as they have already been considered in the previous section, however non-residential electrification is included71.
How much space will it take?
Spatial requirements are generally minimal. Some increases in wall thickness may be required to accommodate additional insulation.
How much will it cost?
Based on BZE figures for Australia, we estimate the capital cost for Greater Sydney at $31.2 bn18,57.
What is the return on investment?
This is estimated to save around $3.1 billion annually, resulting in a simple payback of around 10 years70, 71 .
construction jobs/year to 2030: 12,400*
Efficient Architecture
Sustainable Refurb
Aileen Sage + Bridge Housing
An innovative sustainable refurb of a ubiquitous red-brick walk-up flat in Sydney’s Inner West, as a viable and realistic alternative to knocking-down the familiar apartment blocks of our city’s suburbia.
Here a series of adaptable and costeffective interventions are proposed that extend the building’s usable lifespan, improve environmental performance, increase amenity, and lower household bills. Each apartment has been provided with new openings to maximise cross ventilation, access to private open space, clothes drying areas and private storage. North facing balconies are extended and screened for privacy and shading. A rooftop solar system generates more power than the building consumes, and the thermal envelope has been upgraded with highperformance windows and improved airtightness. Rainwater tanks and efficient fixtures and fittings reduce the building’s water consumption. We’ve added bike storage and reduced the number of cars. Nearly all the concrete has been torn up and replaced with soft landscaping and permeable surfaces that will reduce the strain on the stormwater system. Endemic landscaping and tree species aim to regenerate the local ecology, reduce heat island effect, increase privacy, and screen the north-facing backyard from the sun, cars and aircraft noise. A communal garden with veggie beds and composting, creates a green space at the rear. We’ve increased the diversity and number of units, by providing an additional accessible studio apartment to the ground floor. In the future, this will allow residents to age in place with dignity.
Efficient Architecture
Homework
Other Architects + Goodman
‘Homework’ is a concept for converting office buildings into housing. By transforming under-utilised commercial spaces into beautiful, practical and flexible apartments we can avoid demolishing large buildings, improve housing supply and prioritise sustainability. We have tested this concept on an unremarkable and partly vacant commercial building in an innernorth shore Sydney business park.
The office space will be to this century what the industrial loft was to the last. In the 20th century, vacant inner city factories and warehouses offered refuge to squatters, artists, students and entrepreneurs. The conversion of raw and lofty industrial buildings into hybridised creative and domestic spaces encouraged what would emerge as a major theme of contemporary life: the intermingling of home and work.
By successfully applying our retrofit concept to a nondescript and less-thanideal office block to create a beautiful, practical and flexible housing complex, we are able to suggest the widespread applicability of this approach in Sydney and around Australia. If we can uncover new value in otherwise undesirable office buildings, we can preserve their embodied carbon, materiality and labour as our cities’ future heritage.
Renewable Energy & Storage 04.
Only 6.6% of Sydney’s energy consumption comes from renewables9
Install PV on every second rooftop
Convert all remaining car spaces to vehicle-to-Grid energy storage
of
+ Installation of 5.1 GW of solar farms and 6.7 GW of wind farms to meet remaining demand79
It’s time to power Sydney entirely by renewable energy, with storage initiatives enabling a stable and never ending supply.
A distributed storage network = Cheaper and more reliable energy Annual construction jobs up to 2030 x 41,00079 x 17,00079
Number of jobs ongoing Ecologically responsible hydro energy storage
Renewable Energy and Storage
The Challenge
Our energy system runs almost entirely on fossil fuels. These are finite, and emit carbon dioxide — and other particulates which have both heath and environmental implications83.
The economic cost of air pollution is projected to rise to 1% of global GDP by 2060.Air pollution lowers life expectancy by 1.8 years globally and is killing more people than smoking83,84. Only 27% of Sydney’s electricity consumption (or 6% of its total energy consumption) currently comes from renewables9.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Copenhagen
Denmark produces 67% of the electricity supply from renewable energy of which wind energy contributes 46.8%
• Copenhagen contributes significantly to this with 20 turbines for a total of 40MW, located in one of Copenhagen’s harbours, and is highly visible from a number of vistas.
• Copenhagen tackled the challenge of “visual disturbance” in wind power development by fostering the creation of cooperatives among local residents. These cooperatives enabled residents to collectively own and benefit from nearby wind power installations88
Honululu
The US now has more than 121 gigawatts of solar energy capacity installed, according to the Shining Cities 2022 report, which is enough to power more than 23 million homes.
• Honolulu — the country’s top solar generator — has 1,133 watts of solar capacity installed per person, which is equivalent to more than three solar panels for each person in the city.
• Honolulu boasts over 80,000 solar installations and a total installed solar capacity of 391 GW82.
Buildings must become efficient and electric. But they also need to power themselves.
The most common fear about the transition to renewable energy concerns the volatility of wind and solar generation85. Despite the understandable fears, a combination of existing renewable energy and storage technologies is adequate to power Australia — even during peak periods like winter evenings after overcast days — without any requirement for “baseload” generation86.
Netherlands
A study by Leiden University in the Netherlands and the National Renewable Energy Lab in the US shows that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could supply all of the world’s short-term grid energy storage requirements by 2030.
A vast amount of energy storage will be built into the electrified transportation system through vehicle batteries, limiting the requirement for additional energy storage. Vehicle to grid charging and discharging is becoming increasingly prevalent across the world and this enables our mobile energy storage in our transportation system to act as energy storage for our stationary energy system89.
Additionally, energy will be stored in the form of hot and chilled water and this storage capacity can be used in combination with existing and planned grid-scale pumped hydro energy storage in the Snowy Mountains, other east coast sites & Tasmania87
Adelaide
New data shows South Australia is on track to achieve net 100 per cent of electricity generation from renewables by 2030.
• Sourcing energy from Clements Gap Wind Farm, Streaky Bay Wind Farm and Coonalpyn Solar Farm and additional localised solar systems throughout the CBD centre, the City’s operational greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 50%.
• 75% of Adelaide’s renewable energy is sourced from wind energy, with the remaining 25% generated from solar
• Saving of $300,000 on electricity and 760 tonnes of CO2 annually
• $20 billion planning to be invested in the Renewable Energy Project Roadmap90.
• A participation rate of just 12 – 43% would be enough to provide the entire short-term capacity needed globally
• The report’s findings include both in-use and end-of-vehicle-life use phases and calculate that V2G could provide 32-62 TWh of short-term storage globally by 205089
Renewable Energy and Storage A
New Normal Solution
We need to expand take-up of PV in Sydney significantly, aiming to cover every roof and unshaded façade that is financially viable and technically feasible.
Modelling from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI) and the Institute of Sustainable Futures (ISF) suggests that Greater Sydney could generate 120% of its current electricity consumption through rooftop solar PV within its boundaries. If we target half of this extent of solar on rooftops throughout the city, we can generate one third of the fully electrified city’s electricity within its boundary91
The remainder of Sydney’s energy should come from grid scale wind and solar, requiring around 2300 km2 or the equivalent of under 20% of the area of Greater Sydney81. This area does not need to be purely dedicated to renewables but can also be used for agriculture and forestry.
Finally, in order to make electricity available on demand, convert all parking spaces to allow vehicles to both charge and discharge using vehicle to grid (V2G) technology. It is estimated with bulk purchasing and product development V2G chargers will cost around $5,000 per unit including installation92.
This solution creates a distributed storage network across the entire city. Widespread implementation of V2G would allow the 1.4 million electric cars to be used as grid storage — creating an additional 43 GWh of storage capacity. This is 13 times larger than the world’s largest battery (currently in California)93. Buses, logistics fleets and other vehicles will provide additional stability and storage beyond the 1.4 million passenger cars.
What is the environmental impact?
100% renewable energy supply for Sydney, including for all electrified buildings, industry and transport.
How much space will it take?
Around 70 km2 of space on existing rooftops within Greater Sydney, as well as around 2,300 km2 of land in NSW for grid scale renewables, which can also be used for other purposes81, 80, 94 .
Around $48b including small scale generation, grid scale generation and storage
What is the return on investment?
Based on average wholesale electricity prices, the expected income has been estimated to be $8.8 billion annually, resulting in a payback of under 6 years. How much will it cost?
Renewable Energy and Storage
Electrify Wolli Creek
The Solar Commons
Lucy
Humphrey + Solar Citizens + Studio Ecology + GHD
To transform our city from consumer to producer we must electrify everything – from individual buildings to entire precincts. How can we do this in an equitable way? How can we maximise benefits for communities, contribute positively to local ecosystems, create successful partnerships, and make urban spaces more regenerative?
Solar Commons is a new community infrastructure that delivers clean energy with co-benefits. A low carbon structure combines green roofs or walls with a solar canopy backed up with battery storage. This flexible installation can occupy rooftops, walls, parkland, or even span over existing urban spaces like car parks or alongside rail corridors. It can produce energy and provide charging infrastructure, delivered by a community funded financial model, 100% owned by the co-operative. Solar Commons can deliver the benefits of clean energy to those locked out of the solar revolution - including apartment dwellers, renters, strata schemes and low-income households. By turning city dwellers into urban solar farmers, locals can purchase a share of the solar garden and enjoy investment benefits and reduced energy bills.
www.lucyhumphrey.com
www.ghd.com
www.solarcitizens.org.au
www.studio-ecology.com
Renewable Energy and Storage
Turning Sydney’s coal mining past into a clean energy future
ZEN Energy + SADA Group + Water
NSW
Sydney’s biggest water storage, Lake Burragorang, could soon help NSW take a big step toward achieving its transition to renewable energy and stabilise electricity supply at peak demand times.
ZEN Energy, Australia’s first 1.5°C energy company, is proposing to turn degraded coal industry land at Nattai on the escarpment above the lake into a clean energy powerhouse, delivering on-demand electricity to the equivalent of 500,000 homes and businesses.
At 1000 megawatts (1GW), the Western Sydney Pumped Hydro project will be able to store and supply up to eight continuous hours of ‘firming’ energy, essential to stabilise the state’s electricity grid and power prices as it transitions to renewable energy generation.
Located 24km away from Warragamba Dam and drinking water treatment, the project will also be mostly underground: pumping water from Lake Burragorang through tunnels to a reservoir located on the former coal industry land. When demand is high, water is released to drive underground turbines and send renewable power into the electricity grid.
www.zenenergy.com.au
www.sadacoal.com
www.waternsw.com.au
Water Unlimited 05.
Greater Sydney’s current demand for water already exceeds current supply from dams and desalination2, 21, 97
Sydney depends on rainfall for 80% of its drinking water21
Desalination is an expensive water source22, 23, 96. Less than 10% of treated water is reused95
With its water demand already exceeding supply, Sydney must start treating and reusing water.
Treat and reuse our sewer water on a precinct scale
Endless water supply
A long term secure and cost effective water supply for future generations.
Annual construction jobs up to 2030 x 1,30098 475 GL99
Waste water reused
Water Unlimited
The Challenge
By 2030, almost half the world’s population will be living in “high water stress” — with water becoming increasingly scarce102.
We live in the driest continent on the planet103, with rapid population growth104 and dwindling rainfall105. Sydney’s water consumption has already passed the tipping point where consumption outweighs supply, and this shortfall is only going to become more extreme97, 100, 108 .
The current contingency plan for Sydney is a desalination plant, which produces
Where Is This Currently Happening?
California
Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) - provides 70% of the potable water needs.
• World’s largest advanced water purification system for potable reuse
• The system purifies treated wastewater to produce high-quality drinking water.
• Since 2008, GWRS has been producing up to 100 million gallons of purified water per day, helping to reduce dependence on imported water supplies and replenish groundwater reserves.
• Water comes from Southern California community’s sewer system and Santa Ana River110
Paris
France aims to increase their wastewater usage from 1% to 5% in 5 years and reuse 30% of their treated wastewater.
• Saint-Cloud Drinking Water Refining Plant - 100,000 m3/day and only has a 4000m2 footprint. This is Paris’ main drinking water supply attached to a primary aqueduct.
• Reuse 1.5 million m3, out of the city’s 4.5 million m3 of wastewater
• Planning to counter a water deficit of 8 million m3 by 2025-2030111.
only 15% of the city’s current water consumption at full capacity, at roughly twice the cost of treated wastewater109. Currently Sydney reuses less than 10% of the wastewater it treats, with the vast majority being minimally treated and disposed of at sea95, 101
Currently Sydney’s water is supplied through catchments near the city.106 Sewer water is pumped out of the city to six primary treatment plants107 — and still 80% of treated wastewater is disposed of 95 .
Tokyo
The Ariake treatment plant is located in the Waterfront Urban Subcenter on the shores of Tokyo Bay.
• Ozone-treated wastewater is being reused for toilet bowl use.
• The heat generated by the wastewater is being used to heat and cool the plant’s management building.
• The Naha WWTP launched a big water reclamation project for reuse of water in urban and agricultural applications112.
Singapore
NEWater is the brand name given to reclaimed water treated and used for drinking in Singapore.
• Currently makes up 40% of the drinking water supply
• Expected to rise to 55% by 2060
• Studies by an international group of experts in engineering, biomedical sciences and water technology found that the quality was well within the WHO and USEPA requirements for drinking water
• Launched in 2003, and has since gone through twice yearly independent audits by international expert panels to ensure high quality and safety115.
Windhoek
Windhoek has been drinking recycled water for over 50 years.
• 1% of rainwater becomes ground water due to extreme heat
• Recycled water is supplied directly to the home tap
• Goreangab uses treatments that mimic “nature but a whole lot faster” and first WWTP in the world to produce purified drinking water directly from sewage water
• Uses a process called Direct Potible Reuse (DPR) which extracts, purifies and pots in under 24 hours114
Perth
Perth plans to recycle 30% of their wastewater and improve potability.
• Perth is pumping recycled water into ground aquifiers and into the main drinking supply
• Sydney has opened a “Demonstration” Recycled water plant in Oxley Park to showcase recycled wastewater and safety
• Toowoomba, QLD has a pipeline for purified wasterwater into the towns water supply to secure a larger water reserves in times of drought113.
A New Normal Solution
Ban the disposal of treated water. Treat and reuse water within the city, creating a water source that will never run out.
Greater Sydney’s sewer water should be treated to drinking water standard via water treatment plants. These treatment plants can be decentralised and distributed throughout the city, then the water produced fed back into the grid.
At current consumption rates, around 1,300 ML/day of water will need to be treated3.
These plants could be funded publicly to avoid additional spending on desalination, established through public-private partnerships, or funded through community ownership. While there are many combinations that could work including centralised or semicentralised treatment, decentralised treatment plants are recommended throughout the city in order to minimise pumping energy requirements and encourage decentralised ownership.
What is the environmental impact?
The city becomes water neutral, with a water supply that is unlimited.
How much space will it take?
Around 250 treatment plants, each treating 5 ML/day, taking up about 2,750 m2 each without storage (or equivalent to 200 car parking spaces), distributed across the city.
A WATER SOURCE THAT WILL NEVER RUN OUT
Private Rainwater Collection 14 GL /y30
We treat and reuse all of our sewer water and harvest stormwater for reuse to minimise or even eliminate water requirements from catchments outside of Greater Sydney.
How much will it cost?
Around $14.6 billion in equipment costs.
What
is
the return on investment?
Based on offsetting current costs for connection of sewer networks, these treatment plants could generate around $1.4 billion annually, paying for themselves in around 10 years.
Last Bar on Earth
Heaps Normal + Fireside
In a future where water is a scarce commodity, “The Last Pub on Earth” emerges as a beacon of innovation and resilience. The activation, a collaboration between Heaps Normal, Sydney Water and artist Callum Preston, imagines a Mad Max-inspired world where centralised water supplies are a relic of the past. Located in the heart of Vivid Sydney, the pub offers a glimpse into a future where every drop of water is precious.
“The Last Pub on Earth” is not just a pub; it’s a stark vision of the future. It challenges patrons to consider the value of water, not just as a resource, but as the lifeline of our planet. Here, the process of creating non-alcoholic beer from recycled wastewater is not just an innovative allegory; it’s necessary for survival.
Step into a world where every element of the pub emphasises conservation and sustainability. The decor is crafted from reclaimed materials, and the lighting is powered by renewable energy. Interactive displays narrate the journey of water from scarcity to glass, highlighting the advanced technologies that make this transformation possible.
Patrons can sample non-alcoholic beer brewed from meticulously treated and recycled water, a testament to human ingenuity in the face of adversity. The experience is both a lesson and a luxury, underscoring the importance of water conservation and recycling in a future where such practices are essential for survival.
VIVID SYDNEY – THE LAST PUB ON EARTH
Retain the Rain 06.
We have covered 20% of Sydney in bitumen116, 117
20%
Sydney receives 25 x more rain than it needs a year 3, 19
Increasing frequency and rate of flood disasters and water ecological destruction118
Sydney rooftops can be used for water harvesting
*Calculated on the average rainfall, area of Greater Sydney and Greater Sydney’s water consumption per annum
Leverage rainwater harvesting and catching techniques, transforming Sydney into a ‘sponge city’.
Annual ground water recharge over 180,000 m3
Increase the permeability of our streets
Resulting in urban cooling and flood resilience
$2.7B118, 119
Floods & storms currently cost an estimated $2.7B this is potential money saved
Retain the Rain
The Challenge
Approximately 20* times more rain falls on Sydney each year than the city consumes120, 55, 121 .
The rainwater that falls on paved areas within the city collects pollution — mostly from cars — and enters the storm water system untreated, damaging our waterways and harbour122, 123 .
Sydney’s flood risks, exacerbated by variable rainfall and climate patterns,
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Rotterdam
“Water Square” in Benthemplein, is a full-scale water square can retain nearly 2 million liters (528,344 gallons) of water.
• Called as “Waterplein” (Water Square) because of the installation of three pools which fill up when it rains.
• Large stainless steel gutters in the pavement direct rainwater to three ponds, designed for both functionality and skateboard use.
• An overflow outlet that collects rain water from a nearby building’s roof and an openair baptistery contribute to the water network128.
Bangkok
Chulalongkorn Centenary Park is an ecological urban oasis tackling water management and the urban heat island effect head-on.
• The park serves as a detention area, absorbing rainwater in a hard paved city facing water-stress.
• Composed of the green roof, the rain water tank, the constructed wetlands, detention lawn and the retention pond. The rain and run-off water runs from the green roof at highest point to the retention pond at the lowest.
• The park’s main lawn acts a detention area to increase water infiltration to the ground, help runoff water drain easily to
have led to flash floods and coastal inundation, impacting infrastructure and safety124, 125, 126 .
The region’s dams are currently 90% full currently, but continued dry conditions could lead to water shortages97, 121 Urbanization with impervious surfaces alters aquifer replenishment, increasing runoff and pollution risks. Storm water runoff carries pollutants into waterways, affecting wildlife and nature124, 125 .
the retention areas, and allow for space for flooding and retention pond overflow.
• The precipitation return period takes into account five-, 50-, and 100-year floods, and the lawn is large enough to detain water from these floods.
• Storage tanks throughout the park assure that water can be collected and distributed to the water treatment system for zero water discharge127
Chennai
The project ‘City of 1,000 tanks offers a holistic solution to the problems of water scarcity, floods and pollution.
• Developed a Water Balance Model across the city by collecting rainwater, treating wastewater and runoff pollution with decentralized Nature-Based Solutions(NBS) and by recharging both to the underground aquifer.
• Preventing climate-change-induced droughts by increasing groundwater reserves and prevent saline intrusion from sea-level rise.
• The project intends to fix supply-side issues by creating water retention and supply capabilities of 200-250 MLD in two phases (out of the 1580 MLD urban demand130
Harbin
Qunli Stormwater Wetland Park serves as a protected regional wetland amidst dense urban development. This 34.2-hectare dying wetland was transformed into a “green sponge,” functioning as an urban stormwater park while preserving ecological integrity.
• A peripheral ring of ponds and mounds surrounds the wetland, acting as a stormwater filtration buffer and a transition zone between nature and urban areas.
• Stormwater from the newly built urban area is collected into a pipe around the circumference of the wetland, and then released evenly into the wetland after being filtrated and deposited through the ponds.
• Native wetland grasses and meadows are grown in the ponds of various depths and the natural evolution process is initiated129
Melbourne
Fitzroy Gardens Stormwater Harvesting System provides 30 million litres of water every year.
• • Provided a reliable alternative water source for irrigation of the heritage gardens
• Reduced pollutants the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.
• Helped reach our City of Melbourne target to source 30 per cent of all the water we use from alternative sources131.
A New Normal Solution
Sydney needs to retain the rain, through a combination of increased rainwater capture from non-trafficable surfaces and an increase in permeability of trafficable surfaces that rainwater cannot be collected from to encourage infiltration and aquifer replenishment.
With the removal of fossil fuel transport, pollution of storm water runoff will be decreased which will increase waterway quality132, however the city should still minimise runoff through favouring permeable surfaces, creating rain gardens and wetlands and other water sensitive urban design techniques. This will further improve water quality in our waterways and harbour, and replenish groundwater.
Additionally, in order to further improve Sydney’s water resilience, rainwater should be collected from all rooftops and other non trafficable surfaces and stored for potable uses. In combination with the reuse of treated water, this will reduce the strain on catchments outside Sydney, improve the resilience of Sydney’s water supply, and allow the restoration of natural flows, resulting in further improvements to waterway health.
Less than 10% 11% to 25%
26% to 50%
51% to 75%
Greater than 75%
What is the return on investment?
Potential money saved:
NSW and Australian Governments have committed to an additional $2.6b to support impacted communities134.
41%
The majority of the city’s storm water network is not designed to accommodate higher the frequency of extreme weather caused by a changing climate118. Increasing permeability, especially in urbanized areas is a natural way to increase the toughness of Sydney’s rainwater system.
Cultural Care Masterplanning for Rossmore Grange
Djinjama + Aileen Sage + Department of Planning & Environment, NSW
Led by Djinjama in collaboration with Aileen Safe, the concept and pilot project utilises regenerative design and appropriate ‘care for Country’ principles as the basis for master planning in a way that helps communicate the value of ‘living infrastructure’. The process undertaken by Djinjama brings to life the Designing with Country framework and reveals the significance of waterways that travel through the Rossmore Grange site as part of the broader Wianamatta waterways transformation. This concept was developed over a year whereby the Djinjama team engaged with Country, community, culture and narratives. The local First Nationas community, guided by Knowledge Holders of place were engaged over this time using a variety of methods including art-based, storytelling, sharing culture, walking Country, Dreaming Up workshops, digital sharing and deep listening.
As part of the process, Djinjama identified cultural protocols for engagement, worked with local elders and community to develop artworks as part of engagement, and mapped the cultural aspirations of the community through a series of engagements, yarns, deep listening, artmaking and walks on country.
It embodies ‘A new normal’ based on millenia of custodianship by First Nations people and stands as a readyto-build exemplar of a caring for Country prototype that would achieve significant impact were the methodology and approach to be replicated by councils across NSW and Australia and deployed at scale.
Muddy Creek Restoration Project
Cooks River Alliance + Sydney Water
“Life creates conditions that are conducive to life”
- Janine Benyus, Author of Biomimicry
The Cooks River flows through the lands of the Cadigal, Wangal and Gamaygal people. Today, it is one of the most urbanised rivers in the country. Over the 23 km journey from the Yana Badu wetlands in Chullora, down to Gamay/ Botany Bay, the river weaves through stormwater drains, concrete channels, and diverted canals. The Cooks River catchment is home to more than 10 percent of Sydney’s population. This population pressure and poor historic planning and management decisions have had detrimental impacts on the river’s health.
What Sydney Water are doing:
Replacing the old concrete banks with sandstone and native plants Installing new seating to provide places for the public to rest and connect with the creek re-establishing salt marshes along the creek to improve natural habitats
Why these projects matter
The Cooks River will never look like it once did. But it still plays an essential role in the lives of the community that surround it and the species that call it home. Reconnecting people with urban waterways, through recreation and restoration is essential to driving the long term investment required for the river.
www.sydneywater.com.au www.cooksriver.org.au
Urban Cooling 07.
Sydney’s hard urban surfaces absorb heat causing the urban heat island effect117
Greater Sydney is 13°C hotter due to UHI impacts136
Heat is responsible for more deaths than any other natural hazards137, 138
We
can cool down Sydney with plants. Let’s make the city more liveable and comfortable while increasing biodiversity.
Creates more biodiversity Reduces UHI effect by up to 5°C139
Planting mitigates the impacts of urban heating135
160 lives can be saved by 2030138
Opportunity for ongoing roles in land care, education and Caring for Country initiatives
Urban Cooling
The Challenge
Because we’ve covered our cities in so many hard surfaces and removed green space, they now trap heat and reradiate it, causing what is referred to as the urban heat island effect117.
Temperatures in Sydney can be up to 13º warmer than they would be if the city never existed. This leads to poor health and wellbeing outcomes for the people of Sydney136.
Annual heatwave induced deaths are projected to reach around 200 people per year across Greater Sydney between 2030 and 2049137. Without the UHI effect, this could be reduced to approximately 30 people138.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
California
Prototyping in Sacramento showing an increase of tree canopy of 25% reveal signficant energy savings.
• Sacramento’s residential building sector would see energy savings of up to 40%.
• Neighbouring cities, Phoenix and Lake Charles would see up to a 25% increase in residential energy savings141.
São Paulo
Formigus-de-embaúba, an NGO that works with indigenous leaders and schools to facilitate the exchange of traditional knowledge of agroforestry and ecosystem management have started planting mini forests in São Paulo to combat the impacts of global warming.
• In 2022, 10,000 trees were planted by 4,000 students. In 2024 the goal is to plant 8 mini-forests that have a footprint of 400 sqm throughout São Paulo140.
Seoul
Conversion of the Gyeongui railway line into a forest.
• Seoul’s average Summer temperature has increased by 4.3 °C from 1976 to 2016 causing high energy consumption and poor air quality outcomes.
• By 2030, Seoul’s master plan strategy to reduce the impacts of UHI effects is to create 1000 gardens and 1000 forest areas to lower the city temperature.
• The planting of ‘wind path forests’ channeling clean, cool air generated at night from the mountains into the city centre is projected to cost the government $23m144.
Medellín
Green corridors introduced in 2016 have reversed the impacts of UHI effects by 2°C across the city.
• Planting of 120,000 plants and 12,500 trees in 2016 followed by 2.5 million smaller plants and 880,000 trees between 2017-2021.
• Initial investment by local government of $25.5m and annual maintenance cost of $974k in 2022.
• Native species such as the mango tree has been particularly effective in absorbing pollution.
• Reintroduction of biodiverse fauna including birds, lizards, frogs and bats which had not been seen in the city for years146.
Rotterdam
Since 2008, citizens can apply for a green roof subsidy through the city of Rotterdam to cover costs of installing green roofs. The program aims to achieve a total of 800,000sqm of multifuncational roofs by 2030 including greenery, water retention systems and solar panels145.
Paris
In the Summer of 2019, temperatures hit a record 42.6°C during a heat wave that killed an estimated 1,500 people across France. A $2.48b Green Fund was created to create 800 ‘cool islands’ which reduced temperatures by up to 4°C as compared to surrounding street. Paris plans to plant 170,000 trees by 2026143
Urban Cooling
A New Normal Solution
Prioritising initiatives that promote planting and green spaces, foster biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of urban heat is paramount for enhancing resilience as the planet warms.
Increasing tree canopy and green coverage leads to reduced temperatures and cleaner air quality which will improves the overall mental health, wellbeing and general health outcomes of Greater Sydney. Sydney is targeting canopy cover of 40%, an increase of more than 70% from current canopy cover levels147, 148 .
HOW MUCH SPACE NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED TO GREENING INITIATIVES?
PLANTING OPPORTUNITIES
Carpark
40% tree canopy goal 5,000 km2 Additional tree canopy opportunity 1,100 km2
Greater Sydney needs to do better to reach its goal of 40% tree canopy by 2030. Existing, planned and further potential areas for urban greening show we can realistically surpass our goal. Data taken from NSW Planning Tree Canopy Data 2022151
Urban Cooling
Factory Road
Tract
Let’s reclaim nature in our ‘nature strips’ by planting high habitat value mixed species trees on public land to support the largest species possible to cast the most shade, with ground covers for birds and other pollinators. Let’s help the trees thrive with water through tessellated kerbs.
Let’s reimagine our streets with more street trees planted in blisters and permeable public footpaths. On private land, let’s encourage gardens for wildlife and habitat trees up to 12m to provide more shade. New and existing properties can be encouraged to use permeable and shared driveways to support a more even distribution of large street trees, reducing the need for blisters, which means more on street parking and space for gardens in front yards.
Let’s transform our streets by closing key roads to create biodiverse pocket parks with underground powerlines.
Let’s zoom out to the neighbourhood to understand which streets might be suitable for reclaiming the nature strip, which should be invested in to transform the street and how they connect with the network of waterways, parks, and other green links across the neighbourhood. This knowledge can help us develop connected, cool and biodiverse suburbs for us and for nature. It’s a no brainer – evolving our neighbourhoods to consider urban nature means better health for us and for nature. Help us re-write the rules to make this our reality!
As your train emerges from the dark tunnel, the once-grey station transforms into a vibrant, colourful ‘Woody Meadow’. Soft greenery and native wildflowers greet you, creating an unexpected natural haven. But what exactly is this Woody Meadow that seems to have sprung up overnight?
A Woody Meadow is not just a random assortment of plants; it’s a carefully curated landscape designed to improve both appearance and function. They work particularly in low-maintenance settings, such as alongside railway tracks. These meadows consist of naturalistic plantings of Australian shrubs, meticulously maintained by coppicing—hard-pruning to 10-20 cm— to promote flowering and create dense canopies that exclude weeds. Two such meadows already exist at train stations in Sydney, showcasing how this vision is already becoming a reality. Now, the render you see before you—a verdant drawing depicting a lush landscape—is for a real site adjacent to the Norwest Metro Station, where this innovative approach to landscaping will soon take root.
But the beauty of the Metro Meadow concept extends beyond its aesthetic appeal. Here, a novel Landscape Information Management (LIM) system ensures the meadow’s health, tracking data on temperature, biodiversity, and water use. This technology not only maintains the meadow’s vitality but also provides valuable insights into its positive impacts.
www.mulpha.com.au
www.ngina.com.au/
www.realmstudios.com
www.greenerspacesbetterplaces.com
Slow Water, Fast Lightning
Blue Green
Rushcutters Bay (Yaranabe) and its adjacent parkland (Kogerah) is one of Sydney Harbour’s most culturally significant, contested, and threatened places.
100 years of urbanisation has resulted in a loss of our protective foreshore ecosystems, as well as a diversion of natural water flows. Yaranabe now has significant biodiversity loss, erosion, and increasing flood risk.
By 2050 much of this park will be impacted by sea level rise. By 2100 it will be gone.
When faced with urban flooding, cities like ours have historically had a predictable response, to build great big grey concrete walls. As the floodwaters recede, the walls go up. This is the likely future of Rushcutters Bay – to build the seawalls higher - cutting us off from the sea.
We imagine a different way to protect our cities and waterways, using Nature based Solutions to restore and protect our foreshore.
Our gamified co-design platform allows Traditional Owners, local residents and all of community to imagine their local parkland saved from flood risk and biodiversity loss.
It allows all of us to explore what happens if we build a slight elevation to a shady foreshore, a purifying forest of mangroves and oyster reefs? If we restored the banks of the canal to its indigenous biofiltration habitat?
Urban Farming 08.
Only 20% of Sydney’s food is grown locally152
20% of household food going to landfill155
Food waste produces methane, a gas 25 x more intensive than CO2 for global warming153, 154
Shortening supply chains to increase resilience by bringing fresh produce closer to the consumer.
Bring food closer to home
Increasing freshness, and reducing food miles
Sydney has the potential to increase its food production by x 8156
Opportunity to create social cohesion and community
Food and produce export potential
Urban Farming
The Challenge
Urban sprawl in Sydney has pushed agriculture further away from urban centres, extending food miles and increasing carbon emissions156.
In 2018, local Sydney farmers produced 20% of food consumed in Sydney - 55% of meat, 40% of eggs and 38% of dairy, but only 10% of vegetables and 2% of fruit. In future this is set to reduce, with only 6% of food consumed in Sydney forecast to be locally produced by 2030156, 157 .
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Montreal Canada
Lufa Farms in Montreal is leading the way with rooftop greenhouses, also known as “rooftop farms,” to cultivate food near urban areas and minimise food transportation distances.
• A closed loop water system is used to minimise water waste.
• No new land is used for these large scale rooftop greenhouses as they are all located on top of existing industrial and commercial buildings.
• Collectively the rooftop greenhouses make up over 300,000 square feet of fresh and local vegetables158.
New York City
Brooklyn Grange, one of the world’s largest rooftop farms, manages several rooftops in New York City and produces over 22,500 kgs of organically grown produce each year.
• Apart from growing vegetables, Brooklyn Grange offers educational programs, workshops, and events that promote sustainable living and urban farming159
London
The Edible Bus Stop Project in London, converts overlooked urban areas, like bus stops, into productive community gardens160 .
Havana
Havana’s Organopónico Vivero Alamar is a large-scale urban farm covering over 27 hectares, providing fresh produce to locals. Its sustainable practices, including composting, biological pest control, and urban aquaculture, promote self-sufficiency by reducing reliance on imports and chemicals.
• The farm employs over 150 workers and supplies markets, restaurants, and institutions within the city, contributing to Cuba’s goal of food sovereignty amid economic challenges.
• Its success has inspired similar urban farming initiatives nationwide162
Singapore
Sky Greens is the world’s pioneer in low carbon, hydroponic vertical farming.
• This farming model is 5-10x more productive per area unit compared to traditional agriculture techniques164
Dubai, UAE
Located in Dubai, Bustanica is the world’s largest vertical farm, producing more than 1 millions kgs of produce per year.
• Located near the airport, Bustanica provides leafy greens to more than 100 airlines.
• Saves 250 million L of water annually161
Melbourne
Sky Farm in Melbourne CBD has converted the roof of a multi story carpark into 800m2 of productive garden and and education centre, providing food for local charity OzHarvest163
Urban Farming
A New Normal Solution
To shorten the distance from farm to table, Sydney must reduce the loss of city adjacent agricultural land to urban sprawl, and implement high yield urban farming solutions such as vertical farming, indoor hydroponic farms and rooftop gardens.
To do this successfully and equitably, we need to make sure that people who rent and live in apartments have access to the infrastructure needed to produce food. Reimagining ground floors - most commonly used for small scale retail is one way of maximizing the opportunity for creating productive growing space as well as providing an opportunity to create social cohesion and avoid loneliness.
Sydney’s peri-urban farms produce 20% of the city’s food supply165 .
If we allowed unchecked urban sprawl, Sydney’s farms might produce only 6% of the city’s food supply165 .
CURRENT PROJECTED PRODUCTION VERSES PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF SYDNEY’S FOOD BOWL156
Traditional farming methods will still be required for larger crops like corn, wheat, and fruit trees, as they are more efficiently grown at this scale.
Focusing on growing small to medium crops which require less soil and are more suited to indoor environments.
This multi-modal approach is an economically viable solution that will increase vegetable production in Sydney.
Projected food bowl 2030
Sydney Current food bowl
Projected food bowl with intensive agriculture
Urban Farming in Bomaderry
Ethos Urban + Landcom + Studio
UC + Richard Unsworth
What does an Urban Agriculture model look like ?
Urban foodscapes, the spaces in which food is grown, connect social wellbeing with sustainable urbanism by bringing people, places and environment together.
This artists impression of new apartments shows how this could be integrated into higher density living. Communal garden sheds, with shared tools and work benches open out to gardens and allow residents to do the messy work involved in potting plants or maintaining planter boxes, keeping mess out of their apartments. The north facing green space has vegetable gardens, raised planting beds in the central courtyard and communal gathering spots/ bbq deck,herbs and edible plants growing next to large picnic benches for residents and friends to use while kids enjoy wild play. Careful native planting greatly reduces the amount of maintenance required, so funds are diverted to establishing productive gardens that the community and/ or the gardening team can tend. Clever landscape design allows layers of private, semi-private, communal and even public spaces such as street verges (between the footpath and the street), to be productive gardens, fitting the level of interest from the community and the local natural setting.
www.landcom.com.au www.ethosurban.com
www.studiouc.com.au
Organic Energy 09.
Greater Sydney sends over 3,000* tons of organic waste is sent to landfill every day167
Direct waste to anaerobic digesters which are distributed across the city
Food waste makes up more than 3% of the total net annual emissions166
*NSW amount scaled for population of Greater Sydney ** Based on Active Research digester output information provided to Finding Infinity (www.activeresearch.com.au) and household average energy usage
Our organic waste has significant value. It can be profitably converted into energy and fertiliser. = 2% of Sydney’s fully electricity consumption168** = 274,000t of Biosolids for fertiliser** Organic matter can produce:
of jobs ongoing
Organic Energy
The Challenge
We’ve been hiding from food waste for decades. We put it in a plastic bag and pay someone to remove it.
In landfill, food waste rots — releasing methane, a greenhouse gas 28-36 times more potent than carbon dioxide170. It’s estimated Sydney sends around 3,000 tonnes of food waste to landfill per day167, 171
Anaerobic digesters are essentially large mechanical stomachs – bacteria converts organic matter into methane, which is captured and combusted to create electricity and heat, as well as organic liquid fertiliser172. Globally there are millions of digesters ranging from municipal scale plants to agricultural processing facilities to home made backyard digesters designed to provide cooking gas.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
New York
Curbside Composting Program for organic waste was implemented in 2022.
• Aims to divert the 3,630 tonnes of daily residential organic waste away from landfill.
• Organic waste is sorted by residents and collected from the curb to be sent to anaerobic digesters like in the Newtown Creek Wastewater treatment plant.
• In March, 2023, the processed waste from West Queens generated enough biogas to fuel 2,500 homes174
Florida
Disney World in Orlando, Florida installed a large anaerobic digester to manage all food waste from the theme park.
• Food waste is mixed with biosolids from the sewage treatment system
• Treats 120,000 tonnes/year
• Gas generated powers a 5.4 MW combined heat and power plant which gives of heat and electricity for the park
• Cost US$30 million to build
• For scale around 5 of these would consume all of Melbourne’s food waste176
India
ARTI Compact Biogas Plant - an anaerobic digestor designed for the household scale.
• An estimate of 1-2kg of food waste is processed per household each day.
• ARTI has supplied about 1000 biogas plants and has become a norm in South India.
• Indoor air pollution reduced by cooking with biogas rather than wood or kerosene.
• The system saves approximately 0.3 tonnes of CO2 per year173.
Copenhagen
With Copenhagen’s target of carbon neutrality by 2025, the gas grid must become fully decarbonised
• New biogas upgrading facility means 44% of the city’s grid gas supply is now biogas as of June 2019
• Aiming for 60% biogas in the grid by 2020
• Anticipating 100% before 2025, ahead of schedule175
Organic Energy
A New Normal Solution
Ban the disposal of organic waste to landfill — and build anaerobic digesters throughout the city to convert food waste into electricity, heat and organic fertiliser.
Around 300 anaerobic digesters, each processing 10 tonnes of food waste per day, would process all of Sydney’s food waste167 — and supply around 800 GWh of energy (enough to power around 190,000 homes), 270,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser and 900ML of recycled water per year in the process. The non-food portion of the city’s organic waste, mainly garden waste, can still be composted*.
The digesters could be co-located with water treatment plants, with energy from the digesters used to power the water treatment.
An additional benefit is to return nutrients lost in food waste to the soil, via the organic fertiliser created.
What is the environmental impact?
100% reduction in organic waste to landfill, and enough energy to power 190,000 typical Sydney homes or around 2% of the city’s current electricity consumption168, while also providing recycled water and organic fertiliser to improve soil health.
How much space will it take?
Around 300 digesters throughout Sydney, taking up around 60 m2 or four parking spaces each.*
ORGANIC WASTE RECOVERY
Food Waste Landfill
How much will it cost?
The 300 digesters are estimated to cost around $870 million.*
What is the return on investment?
The digesters would generate net income of around $135 million annually, paying for themselves in just over 6 years.*
Organic Energy
The AGora
Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects + Landcom
How to make Waste-to-Energy a vital and integrated part of contemporary city-making?
The AGora is located in Glenfield, in Sydney’s south-west. Glenfield is an area identified for significant increases in density due to its proximity to Glenfield Station.
Glenfield has a strong agricultural history with the Hurlstone Agricultural College occupying the centre of the Glenfield since 1926. The beautiful patchwork of gridded allotments, the simple elegant forms of sheds and outbuildings, and the large stands of mature trees create a landscape quality that will shift as the site urbanises. The project celebrates these evocative rural sensibilities as part of the new urban future of Glenfield.
The AGora works with organic wasteto-energy technology. The system can treat up to 25 tonnes of food waste per day – enough to divert the average 1kg food and garden organic waste per day per household from landfill. The system produces up to 20KL recycled water, 12.2 MWh heat, 11.6MWh electricity (enough to supply energy for nearly 600 homes) and 2 – 2.5t fertiliser as abundant by-products for local reuse. The Agora celebrates a circular loop. As a 21st century physical symbol of progressive public policies, it provides a highly imageable ‘civic shed’ for the digester, and makes a repeatable, modular delivery system for free heat, energy, water and fertiliser.
Organic Energy
Taronga Poo
Realm Studios
Connecting Resources, Reprocessing, Recreation and Research Taronga Zoo has a wicked problem, its poo. 30 tons a month, from a menagerie of contributors.
The Zoo occupies a spectacular location on the Harbour, with resourceful neighbours: Mosman residents, Harbour Trust (Middle Head), National Parks (Bradleys Head) and TfNSW’s (Sydney Harbour). This location presents an opportunity to establish relationships with the Harbour based on more than the view.
The Zoo’s location AND its poo problem are potential resources, bound together in a mutually beneficial solution. Currently the Zoo’s animal waste is aggregated within Zoo grounds, trucked 200 kilometres to the Shoalhaven and processed in a bio-generator, in a oneway operation of waste disposal.
Taronga Zoo solves its poo problem, while making valuable contributions to Sydney’s regenerative future. Among the benefits:
• Biodigester development. The Barge powers itself.
• Events Revenue. The Barge as public event space.
• Repurposing. Marine infrastructure given new life.
• Brand Building. A highly visible identifier for the Zoo.
• Classroom. The Barge as learning space.
• Research Pad. Integrating the Zoo’s work with the Harbour.
• Partnering. Opportunities for global relationships.
End Landfill 10.
Sydney’s landfill space will be at maximum capacity by 2030177, 178
Shiftfroma lineareconomy
To a circular economy
Over 7.67 million tonnes of landfill per year in NSW179
*Based on calculations by Finding Infinity
We need to end the sale of any product that is destined for landfill
It’s time to end the concept of landfill — by banning the sale of any product destined for the landfill.
This requires communication and awareness for consumers, the private sector and the government
Number of jobs ongoing Decrease soil contamination180 Increase consumer agency
x 20,400181, 182
End Landfill
The Challenge
Cities import products made from raw materials, use them — and dispose of them in landfill.
Greater Sydney produces around 37,000 tonnes of waste daily, of which 13,000 tonnes goes to landfill179 - enough to fill the Opera House more than twice a day.
Some cities are investing in waste to energy or incineration plants - combusting plastics and other non-organic, non-recyclable waste. Unfortunately, this is not a viable long-term solution: it promotes linear consumption of finite resources rather than a circular approach, and creates unnecessary emissions183.
Instead, we need to end the sale and consumption of non-organic, nonrecyclable products. Additionally, we need to move away from products where recycling is “cascading” – i.e. the materials lose value each time they go through the recycling process. Many plastics are only recyclable in a cascading manner184
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Rotterdam
Villa Welpeloo, Superuse Studios
• Through utilising Google Earth, Superuse Studios identified waste in industrial areas; Steel previously used within Textile machinery and timber from 200 damaged cable reels.
• A new approach to treating timber was discovered and adopted by Superuse Studio by using waste heat from a local powerplant. After three types of heat treatment, materials were prepared and their life time prolonged without chemical treatment.
• No requirement for natural resource extraction boosting biodiversity and reduced construction efforts and impact on climate change186
While the environmental and health costs of non-recyclable products can be hard to quantify, they are often not borne by the producers of the products and are not accounted for in their price. For example, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the cost of externalities from the production of plastic packaging is greater than the entire profit pool of the plastic packaging industry185.
Amsterdam
Motivations to establish Amsterdamn as 100% circular by 2050 have been ongoing with 3 key primary goals,
• Shortening food chains to provide a robust regional food system where local agriculture meets local food
• Encouraging healthy and sustainable food consumption for the people of Amsterdam
• Improving the processing of organic waste streams
An initiative launched by the city of Amsterdam with Dark Matter Labs, CircuLaw aims to help policy makers and industry actors make better use of legal instruments within existing legislation to accelerate the circular economy transition.
Amsterdam Implementation Agenda 2023-2026
• Outlining the engagement with entrepreneurs, citizens and social initiatives
• Hone in on consumer goods, food and organic waste system and the built environment.
Amsterdam City Doughnut
• This encourages societies and businesses to make strategic choices that boost the economic stability still respecting the boundaries required around the planet to make an economy circular.
Buiksloterham - first neighbourhood founded on circularity
• Committed to 80% circular use of materials
• Digital inventory of materials used along the streets and availability dates for designers for future planning
Public space will be the home for more reused materials - behind Central Station a bridge will be gifted a renovation using recycled building materials187
Australia
XFrame - Circular Construction technology reducing construction waste, assembly time and is 100% reusable.
• During 2021-2023 the XFrame system has delivered 50+ projects worldwide with their revenue boosted 12 times over.
• The actual manufacturing of this system leaves 5% waste from the materials required
• This modular building system works as a jigsaw puzzle with the ability to replace or remanufacture any component that needs fixing significantly minimising landfill188.
End Landfill
Ban the sale of any products unavoidably destined for landfill. Encourage reuse over recycling.
Some of the products & practices must be eradicated by 2030 include:
• Single or short use plastics including all plastic packaging
• All non-reusable construction products
• Mixed, non-recyclable packaging
• Disposal of glass rather than recycling
• Disposal of paper and cardboard
Regulation banning the use of any material that is not organic or 100% recyclable is required across all industries. Key areas include retail and consumer products, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. Unavoidable waste from lifesaving sectors, such as medicine, will need investment in research into viable alternatives. Adoption of a circular economy has been estimated to add $1.65 trillion annually to global GDP189
Figure 18: Food waste is treated through anaerobic digestion, and all waste destined for landfill is avoided.
What is the environmental impact?
100% reduction in waste to landfill, or 13,220* tonnes per day avoided179.
* NSW State waste production scaled by population
Circular Shopping Centre
Heleana Geneaus x Second Edition x MUD
In the current retail landscape, shopping centres face significant challenges due to rising costs, evolving consumer behaviour, and the need for innovative approaches to attract customers. Amidst these challenges, there’s a growing recognition of the importance of sustainability and experiential design in revitalising vacant retail spaces.
Our proposed solution focuses on developing a versatile, de-assemblable fitout system that utilizes, unused b-grade construction material. The blocks used in the display are b-grade, second stock, Lutyens bricks by Natural Brick Co. Made from locally sourced recycled materials from various waste streams, Natural Brick Co showcases the potential waste materials have to be transformed into desirable construction materials. Innovative manufacturing processes, combine waste materials in a standard size to produce a durable building block that can be easily assembled and disassembled, offering adaptability for any retail space, and reducing environmental impact. After Vivid, the bricks will be returned to Natural Brick Co, reframing temporary fit outs, so often seen in retail spaces, as temporary storage spaces of materials.
utilizes, materials
This innovative approach not only addresses the need for sustainable construction practices but also provides a cost-effective solution for new businesses entering the market. By utilising waste materials and promoting circular economy principles, our system aligns with the broader goals of reducing waste and promoting environmental stewardship for commercial fit outs.
Net Zero Building Code 11.
Net Positive Energy:
Produces more renewable energy than it consumes annually
Net Positive Water: Produces more water than it consumes annually
We can now construct profitable buildings with no negative environmental impact. It must become the industry standard.
Zero Impact Construction: Construct new buildings without emitting carbon or sending waste to landfill
Zero Waste Operations: Produces no waste to landfill through the life of the building
Annual construction jobs up to 2030 x 14,000
Net Zero Building Code
The Challenge
The previous 10 initiatives will transform Sydney as it currently is. The final two initiatives will ensure all new building stock does not require additional resources into the future.
As a minimum, new buildings should have no negative environmental impact on the city in their operations. All buildings should be designed to give back energy and water, and treat their own waste.
The Building Code of Australia and local council standards need updating to mandate net-zero energy, minimise embodied carbon, water-neutrality and zero-waste for all construction projects.
Net-Positive buildings typically cost <10% more than buildings targeting minimum council compliance — but the difference pays for itself in under 10 years192.
The initiatives required are often more profitable than investing in Australian shares, which have an average annual return of 9.5% over the past 30 years, and can even be more profitable than the construction projects themselves193.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
Toronto
Toronto’s new and accelerated net zero strategy aims to reach its goal by 2040 while aiming for 65% reduction in 2030. The new buildings in the Toronto building framework aims to determine the building’s thermal performance in terms of r-values, glazing areas, envelope air tightness and materials.
High performance buildings in the strategy is rewarded for achieving net zero through a tier system.
The strategy also determines the cost of construction associated tier with each performance190, 191
Germany
in 2021 Germany established that all newly constructed buildings must have zero-energy performance. The strategies include:
1. Energy efficiency requirements defined in regulatory and mandatory building codes and labeling schemes
2. Low-interest loans and a repayment bonus for energy efficient refurbishment and new buildings depending on the energy standard achieved
3. Investment grants (existing buildings) and use obligation (new buildings) for the implementation of RES-H
4. A variety of instruments for information and motivation as well as supply side measures195.
Sweden
The government has set a stringent national zero-net greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050. In 2009, Sweden ’s ‘Integrated Climate and Energy Policy’ (ICEP) introduced the goal of increasing energy efficiency in buildings by 20% in 2020 and 50% in 2050.
• Dwellings in 2020: 55 -75 kWh/ m2a depending on climate zone (non-electric heating) and 30-50 kWh/ m2a depending on climate zone (electric heating)
• Other buildings in 2020: 50 -70 kWh/ m2a depending on climate zone (non-electric heating) and 30 -50 kWh/ m2a depending on climate zone (electric heating)
• Building Code Requirements for Renovations: U-values:
Roof – 0.40 W/(m2·K)
Wall – 0.40 W/(m2·K)
Window – 0.40 W/(m2·K)
Air Tightness – 0.61 l/(s.m2) at 50 Pa194
Net Zero Building Code
A New Normal Solution
Mandate net-positive buildings as the construction industry standard.
Building codes need to be adapted to dictate that any new construction must be triple net-zero: must create more energy than it consumes, treat and export more water than it consumes and create no waste. This needs to happen at both building code and council planning control levels.
In the meantime, architects and engineers can accelerate this by pushing the limits on every project, seeking the environmental and financial threshold, helping to demonstrate that this form of construction is “normal” educating consumers and developers and encouraging regulation.
Based on a conservative estimate of 5% increase to costs of new construction, a triple net-zero building code is estimated to provide around 2,000 jobs annually, both to 2030 and beyond.
DHW heat pumps & efficient
Improve building fabric
Efficient appliances
Rooftop PV
North facade PV
Other
What is the environmental impact?
New buildings produce no net increase to overall consumption, meaning population growth is accommodated without increasing the city’s consumption.
*Calculations prepared by Finding Infinity
How much space will it take?
New construction may require larger plant rooms to accommodate heat pumps, water treatment and organic waste to energy, as well as allowances for thicker walls.
How much will it cost?
Self-sufficient buildings typically cost under 10% more than equivalent buildings meeting current minimum compliance.
What is the return on investment?
The initiatives required for buildings to be self-sufficient typically pay themselves off within 10 years. These initiatives can often be externally financed.
Figure 19: New architecture must create more energy than it consumes, treat and export more water than it consumes and create no waste.
Net Zero Building Code
Net-Zero Living in Sydney’s Circular Residences
BVN
Welcome to a new era of sustainable living! Imagine waking up each morning in a vibrant, healthy, positive building nestled in the heart of Sydney. Picture yourself sipping your morning coffee on a balcony hearing the birds in the background, knowing that your home is not only an amazing place to live, but is also making a positive impact on the planet! And the beauty of it: It has zero operational costs, zero environmental impact, is affordable and ultimately, pretty normal and easy to achieve!
Net-Zero: A New Normal
This development is designed to achieve net-zero energy output, meaning it generates as much energy as it consumes. How do we achieve this? Let’s dive into the details:
• Passive Design: Compact building massing, passive solar design, natural cross-ventilation and advanced insulation all contribute to minimising energy consumption whilst providing great air quality.
• Maximise Energy Efficiency: All appliances, lighting HVAC systems are highly energy efficient and cost effective.
• Renewable Energy: This fully electric building pays for its own energy! Solar panels adorn the rooftops and the balconies, harnessing the abundant Australian sun to power your home with zero energy bills.
• Smart Grid Integration: The building seamlessly connects to the city’s smart grid. Excess energy generated during the day is stored and shared, ensuring a constant supply without compromising comfort.
Embodied Emissions
377,000
New homes will be built in Greater Sydney over the next 5 years, 75,400 per year196
End high embodied carbon building construction
Material selection
Dematerialise: Avoid unnecessary materials
The materials and processes we use must transform our new buildings to carbon banks rather than carbon emitters.
Nothing New: Specify reused materials from onsite demolition or local sources
Circular Materials: Recycled materials that can be reused
Virgin Materials: Low embodied carbon
x 2,000
Annual construction jobs up to 2030
Embodied Emissions
The Challenge
Embodied carbon represents 11% of all global carbon emissions197. It is not enough for new buildings to be zero impact in their operation if their construction has a significant negative impact.
There are a number of complications when selecting building materials which reduce the uptake of low carbon construction currently, including cost, spatial impacts, flammability, structural capability and material circularity. Material certification processes can be expensive and time consuming in order to ensure materials are safe for use, but this can further limit the availability of innovative circular and organic materials.
Where Is This Currently Happening?
New York
Initiatives to lower embodied carbon during the procurement process were implemented, accelerating the development and availability of low carbon materials
• New York targets 40% less embodied carbon by 2030: and net zero embodied carbon by 2050
• Embodied carbon procurement policies in: Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey200
France
France’s RE2020 regulation
• Mandates analysis of embodied emissions over the whole life cycle from creation to demolition
• Dictates carbon caps for different building typologies
• 52% reduction of embodied carbon emissions in all new buildings made in 2031198
France and Denmark have both implemented embodied carbon limits in construction which step down towards zero over time, which is leading to significant uplift in low carbon material research and availability in Europe198, 199 .
Netherlands
The Netherlands was one of the first countries to consider whole life net zero policies
• In 2018 it was mandated to report embodied carbon in residential and office buildings as part of the building permit.
• National environmental product declaration database
• Standardised method for whole building life assessment202
Copenhagen
Copenhagen introduced strict carbon regulations into their building policies
• 12kgCO2eq/m2 limit for buildings over 1000sqm
• Mandatory lifecycle assessments for smaller buildings199.
New Zealand
Building for Climate Change Programme (2020) introduces a scheduled scheme of lowering embodied emissions and operational carbon in steps, becoming fully Net Zero by 2050.
• Reports on embodied carbon in all new buildings mandatory by 2025
• Caps on embodied carbon emissions lowered incrementally from 2026-2030
• Fully carbon-zero by 2050201
Embodied Emissions
A New Normal Solution
New buildings should be constructed with the lowest possible embodied carbon impact of materials. Embodied carbon disclosure is now required for new buildings in Sydney which is an excellent first step203. This means we will now better learn what our embodied emissions are from various project types and create a benchmark. The challenge is that we need to work together to deliver projects that sequester carbon through the construction process.
All buildings should target zero embodied carbon through a combination of organic materials which sequester carbon such as mass timber, cork, hemp products and agricultural waste product, as well as low carbon and circular “technical” materials such as recycled metals and materials made from waste204.
Sydney needs a step down embodied carbon approach, requiring all new buildings to reduce embodied carbon year on year, reaching zero embodied emissions by 2030. All existing buildings should be retrofit rather than demolished, with infeasibility of retrofit to be demonstrated by developers when demolition is proposed. Low and zero carbon material alternatives should be prioritised in certification schemes such as flammability ratings, with grants offered to material suppliers to accelerate this process where suitable.
WHAT MATERIALS SHOULD WE BE USING?
Paint
Fibre cement boards
Stoneware
Lime sandstone
Gypsum board
Reused brick
Rammed earth
Straw Timber
Plywood
The Construction Material Pyramid is a way of visualizing the environmental impact associated with the production of materials. It also makes it possible to view different kinds of environmental impacts across the different materials
10,000kg C02 / m3
1,000kg C02 / m3
100kg C02 / m3
10kg C02 / m3
0kg C02 / m3 Aluminium
Galvanised steel Zinc
Copper sheet
Structural steel boards Brick
Concrete roof tiles
Concrete
Vapour barrier
Roofing felt brick
Paper wool
Linoleum
Wood fibre board
Aerated concrete blocks
Foam insulation
Clay plaster
Stone wool
Vinyl flooring
Ceramic tiles
Slate
Glazing pane
Embodied Emissions
Randwick Creative Ward
Professor Philip Oldfield & Dr Cathy Smith, UNSW
James Hargrave, Abstract8
Sophie Forbat, Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct
Our proposal, the ‘Randwick Creative Ward’, seeks to develop an upcycled building and fit-out strategy for the sustainable and ‘meanwhile use’ of decanted hospital wards.
Australia has an embodied carbon problem. Each square meter of new construction causes greenhouse gas emissions of around 500 – 1,000 kgCO2e. And with around 34 million square metres built per year in Australia, this represents a major contributor to our national emissions.
We also have many vacant and underutilised buildings at the end-oflifecycle, now under threat of demolition and replacement. These represent a previous investment of millions of tonnes of material, labour, and carbon.
While new building structures are a major contributor to embodied carbon, building elements that have shorter lifespans, and are regularly replaced –such as finishes, fit out and furniture – are also major contributors, so any strategy to tackle embodied carbon must consider both.
www.unsw.edu.au
www.abstract8.com.au
www.rhip.org.au
Funding the Transition
It has been estimated that the 12 initiatives will require around $120 billion in investment. But this is not simply a cost, the investment will pay for itself within 10 years, and continue to be profitable in the long term.
To put this in perspective, this is equivalent to:
• roughly 15% of Sydney’s superannuation pool with an estimated return on investment significantly greater than that of average superannuation funds10
• per person it is similar to the cost of private health insurance or car insurance over 10 years205, but as an investment, not as a cost
In total, we need to invest an average of $12 billion annually over the next 10 years. To compare to other significant investments:
• Aukus Nuclear Submarine Deal: $368 billion investment over 26 years with no economic return11
• The proposed Stage 3 Tax Cuts: $106 Billion over 4 years, with no economic return13
• New South Wales Government Infrastructure Budget: $72 Billion over 4 years14
• NSW Inland Rail: $31 Billion over 10 years12
• Sydney Metro Budget: $26 Billion over 4 years7
Funding the Transition
Who will invest in the transition?
State Government can drive this transition through subsidies and initiating public private partnerships (PPPs).
Potential roles of the public sector, private sector and individuals in funding this transition for Greater Sydney are shown in the table.
The most likely outcome is that the private sector will drive this transition both in scale of investment & in profits while providing the people of Sydney with secure jobs.
In Copenhagen, private green investment initiatives in areas such as public transport, renewable energy, retrofitting buildings and electric vehicles to the value of €40 billion was unlocked with a Public Investment of €360 million, which equates to less than 1% of the overall cost of the transition.206
Roles
Pay subsidised cost for car conversions based on fuel savings
Convert workshops, train mechanics, based on profit from conversions
Subsidise conversions & re-skilling of mechanics, justified through health savings
Perpetual motion
Invest in commercial / multi residential retrofits, finance residential electrical equipment
Invest in household electrical equipment, justified through savings in gas & gas connection fees Efficient
Electrify architecture Mandate no gas connection by 2030
Invest in residential retrofits, financed through private sector, justified through savings in bills
Invest in commercial retrofits, finance residential retrofits
Invest in subsidised residential rooftop solar, financed through private sector, justified through savings in bills
Invest in V2G charging infrastructure for homes
Invest in commercial / industrial rooftop solar, finance residential rooftop solar Invest in V2G charging infrastructure for large car parks Invest in solar agriculture and wind forestry
Mandate maximum solar for new development, subsidise solar for existing buildings Mandate V2G charging points for new development, subsidise existing car parks, justify through savings in grid scale stationary storage Drive investment through public private partnerships, mandate the phasing out of coal, invest in re-skilling coal labour force
Renewable energy & storage
Demonstrate support for recycled water system, potential for individual investment
Collect rainwater from all trafficable surfaces and ensure permeability of non trafficable surfaces in private dwellings
Increase tree canopy cover in private dwellings
Invest in water treatment and reuse
Switch to 100% renewable energy retailers, potential for individual investment Water unlimited Initiate investment through public private partnerships
Separate & contribute organic waste, potential for individual investment
Collect rainwater from all non trafficable surfaces for reuse on all developments Ensure permeability of all trafficable surfacaes on new developments
State government and local councils to increase extent of permeable surfaces Mandate rainwater collection on new buidlings and significant renovations
Retain the rain
cooling State government and local councils to increase planting Increase tree canopy cover in all new developments
Embrace new alternative systems and products
Invest in organic waste to energy treatment plants
Initiate investment through public private partnerships
Purchase locally grown produce Organic energy
Invest in triple net-zero property (personal and through REITs)
Invest in improving supply chains and recycling infrastructure
Mandate avoidance of products destined for landfill
Invest in / finance triple net-zero development
triple net-zero development
Investing in the transition over the next 10 years will provide an enormous amount of stimulus to employment, which will be integral in the economic wellbeing of Sydney as the city recovers from COVID-19 while also
contending with the ongoing climate crisis. It is estimated to provide an average of 86,600 jobs in construction & installation annually until 2030. After this has completed it will result in an estimated 52,900 ongoing jobs.
Provides over 80,600 Annual construction jobs to 2030
Provides over 52,900 ongoing jobs
Public Engagement
This is a lot to change, in a relatively short period of time. Rapid change on this scale has happened many times before but humans instinctively don’t like change all that much. History has proved that change can benefit us, even if we are reluctant towards it.
So how can we accelerate this transition?
Technology & Culture
We make this change easy on ourselves by connecting each of these solutions with cultural activities. We give the technology that makes our cities work a feeling. Rather than hiding it away, we allow people to be emotionally connected to our infrastructure.
A New Normal
A New Normal is a 5-step process designed to familiarise the public with the transformation while informing politicians with public support and enabling businesses to provide the solutions.
1. Workshop it;
2. Communicate it;
3. Prototype it;
4. Build it; and
5. Replicate it
Dinner
It kicked off with a dinner at the Powerhouse Museum – a place for critical contemporary ideas that sit between science, art and technology. The workshop will occur in 2023.
Influential minds across a wide range of industries will come together to redesign the infrastructure of the city in one day. It’s a thought-provoking workshop that shows a number of already existing solutions from around the globe, and asks the question: why not implement them all here?
Communications
The results of discussions and research form the basis for the report & website.
Instead of being forced to tell our politicians what we don’t want through protest, this creates an opportunity to work together with our politicians and technology to create engaging cultural activities showing what we do want, through virtual prototypes.
Each combination of technology and culture selected by the people will form a virtual prototype. We will collect data from this immersive VR & AR process and provide it to our political leaders to give the public a voice. Successful concepts that are well received by the public will move through to the prototyping phase.
Prototypes
As public support from Vivid festival 2024 gains momentum, we move beyond virtual reality and build 12 small scale physical prototypes across the city. We measure attendance and sentiment to determine the success of each prototest.
The prototypes enable us all to touch and feel them, discuss them, engage with them, interact with them, and provide our feedback. These examples are aimed at matching essential technology for the future of our cities with cultural activities. These prototypes are only temporary to engage with people and test the cultural connections. Once again, we collect data from that process and provide it to our political leaders to give the public a voice.
Full Scale
If the prototypes are successful we build them at full scale. 20 full scale permanent projects will be built in this phase across the city. These will be economically feasible, and sustain their own operations.
With the vast reduction of cars in the streets, there is an incredible opportunity to use this space for public infrastructure, and the public engagement process integrated into the prototyping phase enables funds to be locally sourced – empowering the people to own their own infrastructure.
Replication
The process of prototyping and building full scale versions of each initiative throughout the city will allow us to identify and overcome all the barriers for their wider implementation. The full-scale models will also act as financial and technical case studies proving the feasibility and helping to secure investment. Once we have built a full-scale version of each, we simply replicate them throughout the city until self-sufficiency is achieved.
Conclusion
The question was asked: if Sydney implemented every single profitable initiative over the next decade, targeting the environmental and financial threshold, how far could we get?
The answer; we can transform Sydney to operate on resources that will never run out — and profit from the transition. It is possible.
By 2030 Sydney can be an electrical city powered entirely by renewables. Rural NSW can become a renewable energy and agriculture hub. Our air will be cleaner, resulting in improvements in public health and quality of rainwater collected from rooftops. Our buildings will be more comfortable, and healthier, with better indoor environmental quality. Our water system can be an endless loop, with natural flows being returned to groundwater and waterways, which are no longer polluted by stormwater runoff from roads trafficked by fossil fuel burning cars. Our organic waste can give us energy which can be used to treat water and export to the electrical grid, as well as heat public demands such as pools. Additionally, our organic waste can also provide fertiliser to be used to grow food within the city and to stimulate agriculture and soil rehabilitation. Our city can avoid sending any waste to landfill, instead benefiting from the reuse and recycling of materials in a circular manner.
Greater Sydney will be more resilient to resource depletion, changing rainfall patterns due to climate change and more extreme temperatures.
But this utopian scenario also has economic benefits – it will be earning $17 billion annually compared to a business as usual scenario and providing much needed jobs – 81,000 during construction and 53,000 in ongoing operations – as Sydney recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.
Sydney is uniquely placed to lead this transition, and become an example for other cities in the world to follow. It can then export its knowledge and experience to the rest of the world as other cities transition. Experts from around the world will visit Sydney to learn about the process, and other cities
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Figure 2
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Figure 5
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Page 7-8
Figure 6
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Figure 7
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01. Perpetual Motion
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02. Electrify Architecture
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68. The Good Guys. “Save on Electric Ovens | Wall Ovens | the Good Guys,” 2024. https://www. thegoodguys.com.au/cooking-and-dishwashers/ovens/electric-ovens. Accessed November 19, 2024.
69. Australian Hot Water. “What Are the Prices of Hot Water Systems?,” Australian Hot Water, May 15, 2019. https://australianhotwater.com.au/6-steps-calculating-price-hot-water-system/ Accessed November 19, 2024.
70. NSW Environment Protection Authority. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions | NSW State of the Environment.” NSW Environment Protection Authority. https://www.soe.epa.nsw.gov.au/ all-themes/climate-and-air/greenhouse-gas-emissions#emissions. Accessed November 28, 2024.
03. Efficient Architecture
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71. Origin Energy. “Current Residential Electricity & Gas Tariffs.” Origin Energy, August 2023. https:// www.originenergy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/247/multi-site-builders-pricing-booklet-v37.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2024.
72. The University of Melbourne: Melbourne Energy Institute. Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan. 2013. Fitzroy, Victoria 3065: Beyond Zero Emissions, 2013. pp. 3, 174. https://www.bze.org.au/ Accessed August 16, 2024.
73. Australian Government: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. “Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors.” Australian Government: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, August 2023. https://www.dcceew.gov. au/sites/default/files/documents/national-greenhouse-account-factors-2023.pdf. Accessed November 28, 2024.
75. World Economic Forum.“For Net-Zero Cities, We Need to Retrofit Our Older Buildings. Here’s What’s Needed.” World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/net-zerocities-retrofit-older-buildings-cop27/. Accessed August 16, 2024.
76. Energiesprong. “Serial Retrofits: Energiesprong Pilot Project Started in Bochum –Energiesprong.” Energiesprong https://energiesprong.org/serial-retrofits-energiesprong-pilotproject-started-in-bochum/. Accessed August 21, 2024.
77. Oates, Lucy, et al. “Improving Energy Efficiency for All: Lessons on Sustainable Building Retrofits from Shanghai, China.” University of Leeds. pp. 1. https://urbantransitions.global/wp-content/ uploads/2020/03/Improving_Energy_Efficiency_for_all-_Shanghai_China_web_FINAL.pdf Accessed August 21, 2024.
79. Barrett-Duckett, Hannah, et al. “Retrofit for the Future: A Guide to Making Retrofit Work.” Technology Strategy Board - UK Government. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ media/5a82135fe5274a2e87dc1041/Retrofit_for_the_future_-_A_guide_to_making_retrofit_ work_-_2014.pdf. Accessed August 21, 2024.
04. Renewable Energy & Storage
Page 45 - 46
80. Campbell, Rod. “Will-o’-The-ISP Estimating Renewable Energy Employment under the Integrated System Plan.” The Australian Institute, 2018. https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2020/12/P648-Renewable-job-estimate-Web.pdf. Accessed November 28, 2024.
81. National Map. “AREMI,” 2020. National Map, Australian Government. https://www.nationalmap. gov.au/renewables/. Accessed November 19, 2024.
82. Montgomery, James. “Calculating Solar Energy’s Land-Use Footprint.” Renewable Energy World, August 8, 2013. https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/solar/calculating-solar-energys-landuse-footprint/. Accessed November 19, 2024.
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83. Pforzheimer, Adrian, et al. “Shining Cities 2022 the Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy.”Environment America, Frontier Group, Apr. 2022. pp. 15-16. https://environmentamerica.org/resources/shiningcities-2022-2/g_Cities-2022-1.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2024.
84. Doctors for the Environment Australia. “Fossil Fuels Are a Health Hazard,” 2024. Doctors for the Environment Australia. https://www.dea.org.au/fossil_fuels_are_a_health_hazard. Accessed November 19, 2024.
85. Carrington, Damian. “Air Pollution Deaths Are Double Previous Estimates, Finds Research.” The Guardian, 12 Mar. 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/12/air-pollutiondeaths-are-double-previous-estimates-finds-research. Accessed August 23, 2024.
86. Lins, Christian. “De-Risking Wind and Solar.” Oliver Wyman, 2021. https://www.oliverwyman. com/our-expertise/insights/2021/oct/de-risking-wind-and-solar.html. Accessed November 19, 2024.
87. Horngren, Dr Tyra . “How Australia’s Energy System Could Change in a Net Zero Future.” Climateworks Centre, June 18, 2024. https://www.climateworkscentre.org/news/how-australiasenergy-system-could-change-in-a-net-zero-future/. Accessed November 19, 2024.
88. ARENA. “Hydropower and Pumped Hydro Energy Storage - Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).” Australian Renewable Energy Agency, 2018. https://arena.gov.au/renewable-energy/ pumped-hydro-energy-storage/. Accessed November 19, 2024.
89. International Trade Administration. “Denmark - Renewable Energy Products.” Department of Commerce United States of America International Trade Administration, 20 Jan. 2024, https:// www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/denmark-renewable-energy-products. Accessed August 23, 2024.
90. Xu, C., Behrens, P., Gasper, P. et al. Electric vehicle batteries alone could satisfy short-term grid storage demand by as early as 2030. Nature Communications 14, 119 (2023). https://www.nature. com/articles/s41467-022-35393-0. Accessed August 23, 2024.
91. Premier of South Australia. “New Target for Renewables.” Premier of South Australia, 27 Feb. 2024. https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-archive/new-target-for-renewables. Accessed August 23, 2024.
Page 49-50
92. Roberts, Mike, et al. How Much Rooftop Solar Can Be Installed in Australia? Report for Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Property Council of Australia. pp. 6-8. https://www.cefc.com.au/ media/rcalz41c/isf-rooftop-solar-potential-report-final_.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2024.
93. Newton, Bruce. “Bidirectional EV Charging Boost for Australia.” Car Sales, 19 July 2024. https:// www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/bidirectional-ev-charging-boost-for-australia-146706/ Accessed August 23, 2024.
94. Quantistry. “The Largest Batteries in the World | Quantistry,” 2024. https://www.quantistry.com/ blog/the-largest-batteries-in-the-world. Accessed November 19, 2024.
95. Peacock, Finn. “What Can I Expect My Solar System to Produce, on Average, per Day?.” SolarQuotes® Help Centre, April 30, 2024. https://support.solarquotes.com.au/hc/en-us/ articles/115002395494-What-can-I-expect-my-solar-system-to-produce-on-average-per-day. Accessed November 19, 2024.
05. Water Unlimited
Page 55-56
96. Gregory, Xanthe. “A Possible Solution to Sydney’s Water Woes Has Been Considered Unpalatable in the Past. Have Things Changed?” ABC News, 14 Jan. 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/ news/2024-01-15/pumped-treated-sewage-wastewater-sydney-supply-recycled/103311158 Accessed August 23, 2024.
97. Newburger, Emma. “Why Desalination Won’t Save States Dependent on Colorado River Water.” CNBC, January 27, 2023. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/27/why-desalination-wont-save-statesdependent-on-colorado-river-water.html. Accessed November 19, 2024.
98. “Our Water, Our Voice Strategic Customer Engagement Program Phase 5 Final Report.” Sydney Water. Sydney, 2000 NSW: Sydney Water, September 17, 2024. pp. 9, 62. https://www.ipart.nsw. gov.au/sites/default/files/cm9_documents/2024-Pricing-proposal-Sydney-Water-Chapter-1-OurWater-Our-Voice-Phase-5-Detailed-Report.PDF. Accessed November 19, 2024.
99. McGurk, Hon. Simone. “$37 Million Investment in Mandurah Wastewater Infrastructure | Western Australian Government.” Western Australian Government, 2024. https://www.wa.gov.au/ government/media-statements/McGowan-Labor-Government/%2437-million-investment-inMandurah-wastewater-infrastructure-20230201. Accessed November 28, 2024.
100. Sydney Water. “Wastewater Network.” Sydney Water. https://www.sydneywater.com.au/ water-the-environment/how-we-manage-sydneys-water/wastewater-network.html. Accessed November 28, 2024.
Page 57-58
101. Davies, Anne. “Sydney Facing Water Shortage within 20 Years If Current Growth Continues, Government Predicts.” The Guardian. September 27, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/ environment/2021/sep/28/sydney-facing-water-shortage-with-20-years-if-current-growthcontinues-government-predicts. Accessed November 11, 2024.
102. State Government of NSW Water. “New Vision for Recycled Water on Public Display,” October 28, 2024. https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/news/new-vision-for-recycled-water-on-public-display Accessed November 19, 2024.
103. United Nations. “Water Scarcity | International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 20052015.” United Nations, 24 November 2014, https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity. shtml. Accessed August 23, 2024.
104. Australian Government: Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water. “Outback Australia - the Rangelands - DCCEEW,” 2022. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/ environment/land/rangelands. Accessed November 19, 2024.
105. Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Australia’s Population Grows by 2.5% | Australian Bureau of Statistics.” Australian Bureau of Statistics, March 21, 2024. https://www.abs.gov.au/mediacentre/media-releases/australias-population-grows-25. Accessed November 19, 2024.
107.Sydney Water. “Stormwater Catchment Map.” Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www. sydneywater.com.au/water-the-environment/how-we-manage-sydneys-water/stormwaternetwork/stormwater-catchment-map.html. Accessed November 19, 2024.
108. Sydney Water. “Wastewater Treatment.” Sydney Water, 2022. https://www.sydneywater.com. au/education/wastewater-recycling/wastewater-treatment.html. Accessed November 19, 2024.
109. Preston, Hon. Justice Brian J. “Water and Ecologically Sustainable Development in the Courts.” Macquarie Journal of International and Comparative Environmental Law, vol. 6, 2009, p. 1. https:// classic.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/MqJlICEnvLaw/2009/6.html. Accessed August 23, 2024.
110. Sydney Water. “Desalination.” Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www.sydneywater.com. au/water-the-environment/how-we-manage-sydneys-water/water-network/desalination.html Accessed November 19, 2024.
111.Orange County Water District. “GWRS | OCWD.” Orange County Water District, 2020. https:// www.ocwd.com/gwrs/. Accessed August 23, 2024.
112. Veolia. “Resources Regeneration: Inauguration of France’s First Unit for Reusing Treated Wastewater to Produce Drinking Water.” Veolia, 17 November 2023, https://www.veolia.com/en/ our-media/press-releases/reusing-treated-wastewater-resources-regeneration-inaugurationfrances. Accessed August 23, 2024.
113. Network of Asian River Basin Organisations. “Introduction to State-of-The-Art Wastewater Treatment Plants.” Network of Asian River Basin Organisations. pp. 1-4. https://www.narbo.jp/ data/04_materials/ma_sewerage.pdf. Accessed 23 August 2024.
114. Williams, Thea. “The Water Underground: The Future of Water in Perth.” Www.csiro.au, CSIRO, 9 September 2015, https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2015/september/the-waterunderground-the-future-of-water-in-perth. Accessed August 23, 2024.
115. Daniel A. “Recycling Sewage into Drinking Water Is No Big Deal. They’ve Been Doing It in Namibia for 50 Years. - the World from PRX.” The World from PRX, 14 Dec. 2016, https://theworld. org/stories/2016/12/15/recycling-sewage-drinking-water-no-big-deal-really-theyve-beendoing-it-namibia. Accessed August 23, 2024.
116. Singapore’s National Water Agency. “Water Quality.” PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency. https://www.pub.gov.sg/Public/WaterLoop/Water-Quality. Accessed August 23, 2024.
06. Retain the Rain
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117. Atlas of Urban Expansion. “Atlas of Urban Expansion - Sydney.” Atlas of Urban Expansion. http://atlasofurbanexpansion.org/cities/view/Sydney. Accessed November 20, 2024.
118. Purtill, James. “Why Hot Australian Cities Keep Laying Dark Heat-Absorbing Asphalt, Not Pale “Cool Roads.”” ABC News, 23 Jan. 2024, https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2024-01-24/ why-australia-builds-dark-roads-despite-heatwaves-climate-change/103375122. Accessed August 23, 2024.
119. State Government of NSW. “Storms and Floods.” Adapt NSW, 2024. https://www. climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/weather-and-oceans/stormsand-floods. Accessed November 20, 2024.
120. Nuredini, Jemina. “The Rise of Australia’s Billion Dollar Natural Disasters – the City Journal.” The City Journal, September 13, 2022. https://thecityjournal.net/news/the-rise-of-australiasbillion-dollar-natural-disasters/. Accessed November 29, 2024.
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121. The Sydney Morning Herald. “There’s Plenty of Rain, but It’s Just Going down the Drain.” The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 Oct. 2005. https://www.smh.com.au/national/theres-plenty-of-rainbut-its-just-going-down-the-drain-20051011-gdm88j.html. Accessed August 23, 2024.
122. Water NSW. “Greater Sydney Dam Levels.” https://www.waternsw.com.au/nsw-dams/nswstorage-levels/greater-sydney-dam-levels. Accessed November 20, 2024.
123. Sydney Water. “Stormwater.” Sydney Water, 2024. https://www.sydneywater.com.au/ education/water-management/stormwater.html. Accessed November 20, 2024.
124. Freewater, Dr Peter. “Sydney Harbour Water Quality Improvement Plan .” State Government of NSW, June 2015. pp. 25. https://www.sydneycoastalcouncils.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2020/09/SydneyHarbourCatchmentWaterQualityImprovementPlan.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2024.
125. Water NSW. “Warragamba Dam Spill Has Commenced,” June 7, 2024. https://www.waternsw. com.au/community-news/media-releases/2024/warragamba-dam-spill-has-commenced2. Accessed November 20, 2024.
126. State Government of NSW. “Storms and Floods.” State Government of NSW, 2024. https:// www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/weather-and-oceans/ storms-and-floods. Accessed August 23, 2024.
127.Cleve Killiby. “Regional Dams Topping 90% Coming into Growing Season.” Water NSW, 2023. https://www.waternsw.com.au/community-news/media-releases/2023/regional-dams-topping90-coming-into-growing-season. Accessed August 23, 2024.
128. Urban Agenda Platform. “Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park | Urban Agenda Platform.” Urban Agenda Platform https://www.urbanagendaplatform.org/best-practice/chulalongkornuniversity-centenary-park. Accessed August 23, 2024.
129. Water Environment Federation. “First Full-Scale Water Square Opens in Rotterdam.” Stormwater Report, 3 Mar. 2014. https://stormwater.wef.org/2014/03/first-full-scale-watersquare-opens-rotterdam/. Accessed August 23, 2024.
130. Landscape Architecture Built. “Qunli Stormwater Park - Project.” Landscape Architecture Built, 6 November 2022. https://landscapearchitecturebuilt.com/qunli-stormwater-park/. Accessed August 23, 2024.
131. City of 1000 Tanks. “City of 1000 Tanks.” City of 1000 Tanks, https://www.cityof1000tanks. org/. Accessed August 23, 2024.
132. City of Melbourne. “Fitzroy Gardens Stormwater Harvesting System.” City of Melbourne, https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/fitzroy-gardens-stormwater-harvesting-system. Accessed August 23, 2024.
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133. Australian Conservation Foundation. “Electric Vehicles Are Our Zero Emissions Future,” May 2, 2022. https://www.acf.org.au/electric-vehicles-are-our-zero-emissions-future. Accessed November 20, 2024.
134. State Government of NSW. “Impervious Surface.”Movement and Place, 19 November 2021, https://www.movementandplace.nsw.gov.au/place-and-network/built-environment-indicators/ impervious-surface. Accessed September 12,2024.
135. Commonwealth of Australia. “Federal Financial Relations Budget Paper No. 3.” Commonwealth of Australia, 14 May 2024. pp. 5. https://budget.gov.au/content/bp3/download/ bp3_2024-25.pdf. Accessed September 12,2024.
07. Urban Cooling
Page 73 - 74
136. Adapt NSW. “Green Cover and Open Spaces.” State Government of NSW, 2024. https://www. climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/built-environment/greencover-and-open-spaces. Accessed November 20, 2024.
137.NSW Office of Environment and Heritage . “Urban Heat Climate Change Impact Snapshot.” Office of Environment and Heritage , November 2015. pp. 4. https://www.climatechange.environment. nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-06/Urban%20Heat%20Climate%20Change%20Impact%20 Snapshot.pdf. Accessed August 23, 2024.
138. Adapt NSW.“Climate Change Impacts on Heatwaves.” State Government of NSW. https:// www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/weather-and-oceans/ heatwaves. Accessed August 26, 2024.
139. Chaston, Timothy B., et al. “Mortality Burden of Heatwaves in Sydney, Australia Is Exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island and Climate Change: Can Tree Cover Help Mitigate the Health Impacts?” Atmosphere, vol. 13, no. 5, 1 May 2022, pp. 7–9. https://www.mdpi.com/20734433/13/5/714. Accessed August 26, 2024.
140. Adapt NSW “Urban Heat.” State Government of NSW. https://www.climatechange. environment.nsw.gov.au/impacts-climate-change/built-environment/urban-heat. Accessed November 20, 2024.
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141. Zanon, Sibélia. “São Paulo Students Plant Mini-Forests on School Grounds as Urban Oases.” Mongabay Environmental News, 18 July 2023. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/07/sao-paulostudents-plant-mini-forests-on-school-grounds-as-urban-oases/. Accessed September 4, 2024.
142. Lam , Kristin. “Sacramento Has a New Plan to Grow the City’s Tree Canopy and Wants Your Feedback.” Capradio, 19 Apr. 2024. https://www.capradio.org/articles/2024/04/29/sacramentohas-a-new-plan-to-grow-the-citys-tree-canopy-and-wants-your-feedback/. Accessed September 4, 2024.
143. Chaston, Timothy B., Richard A. Broome, Nathan Cooper, Gerard Duck, Christy Geromboux, Yuming Guo, Fei Ji, Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, Ying Zhang, Gnanadarsha S. Dissanayake, and et al. 2022. “Mortality Burden of Heatwaves in Sydney, Australia Is Exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island and Climate Change: Can Tree Cover Help Mitigate the Health Impacts?” Atmosphere 13, no. 5: 714. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/714. Accessed September 4, 2024.
144. Goodell, Jeff. “Paris When It Sizzles: The City of Light Aims to Get Smart on Heat.” Yale E360, 18 July 2023, https://e360.yale.edu/features/paris-heat-waves-climate-change. Accessed September 4, 2024.
145. Kim, Kijung, et al. “Impact of Urban Characteristics on Cooling Energy Consumption before and after Construction of an Urban Park: The Case of Gyeongui Line Forest in Seoul.” Energy and Buildings, vol. 191, May 2019, pp. 42–51. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S0378778818332134?via%3Dihub. Accessed September 4, 2024.
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146. Brandon, Elissaveta M. “Inside Rotterdam’s Quest to Green 10 Million Square Feet of Rooftops.” Fast Company, 27 May 2022. https://www.fastcompany.com/90755913/insiderotterdams-quest-to-green-10-million-square-feet-of-rooftops. Accessed September 4, 2024.
147.Andrade, Matheus Gouvea de. “How Medellin Is Beating the Heat with Green Corridors.” BBC, 22 September 2023. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230922-how-medellin-is-beatingthe-heat-with-green-corridors. Accessed September 4, 2024.
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148. Planning NSW. “Greener Neighbourhoods.” State Government of NSW. https://www. planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/urban-greening/greener-neighbourhoods. Accessed September 4, 2024.
149. NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. “Greater Sydney Region Tree Canopy to Modified Mesh Block 2022 - SEED.” State Government of NSW, 31 July 2023. https:// datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/urban-tree-canopy-cover-for-greater-sydney-2022. Accessed September 12, 2024.
150. Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Land and Housing Supply Indicators, 2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics.” Australian Bureau of Statistics, 15 June 2022. https://www.abs.gov.au/ statistics/industry/building-and-construction/land-and-housing-supply-indicators/latestrelease#data-downloads. Accessed September 12,2024.
151. City of Sydney. “City of Sydney Data Hub.” City of Sydney, 2020, https://data.cityofsydney. nsw.gov.au/datasets/350f8a0765694860a289766408c6a81e/explore?location=33.880910%2C151.249433%2C13.90. Accessed September 12,2024.
152. NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. 2023, Greater Sydney Region Tree Canopy to Modified Mesh Block 2022. State Government of NSW accessed from The Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data Portal. https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/urban-treecanopy-cover-for-greater-sydney-2022. Accessed November 20, 2024.
08. Urban Farming
Page 85 - 86
153. City of Sydney. “Decision - Highlighting the Importance of Urban Agriculture in the City of Sydney | City of Sydney.” City of Sydney, 22 Feb. 2021. https://meetings.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/ ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=2690. Accessed September 4, 2024.
158. Jacobs, Brent, Cordell, Dana, and Wynne, Laura. “Urban Sprawl Is Threatening Sydney’s Foodbowl.” The Conversation, February 25, 2016. https://theconversation.com/urban-sprawl-isthreatening-sydneys-foodbowl-55156. Accessed November 20, 2024.
159. Brownstein, Bill. “Fifth Greenhouse Will Be Its Most Efficient so Far, Lufa Farms Says.” Montreal Gazette. Montreal Gazette, October 9, 2023. https://montrealgazette.com/business/ brownstein-lufa-farms-plants-greenhouse-atop-walmart-at-marche-central. Accessed November 20, 2024.
160. Atlas of the Future. “Brooklyn Grange Farm.” Atlas of the Future. https://atlasofthefuture.org/ project/brooklyn-grange-rooftop-farm/. Accessed September 4, 2024.
161. The Edible Bus Stop. “Home - the Edible Bus Stop.” The Edible Bus Stop. https:// theediblebusstop.com/. Accessed September 4, 2024.
162. Meetings International. “The World’s Largest Indoor Vertical Farm Saves 250 Million Litres of Water Every Year” Meetings International. https://meetingsinternational.com/mi-magazine/ features/the-worlds-largest-indoor-vertical-farm-saves-250-million-litres-of-water-every-year/ Accessed September 4, 2024.
163. McNamara, Tess. “SAGE – Urban Farm-Fed Cities: Lessons from Cuba’s Organopónicos.” https://sagemagazine.org/urban-farm-fed-cities-lessons-from-cubas-organoponicos/. Accessed September 4, 2024.
166. University of Technology Sydney. “Peri-Urban Farming: The Key to Sydney’s Food Future.” University of Technology Sydney, 4 Dec. 2020. https://www.uts.edu.au/isf/explore-research/ projects/peri-urban-farming-key-sydneys-food-future. Accessed September 12, 2024.
09. Organic Energy
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167. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. “Tackling Australia’s Food Waste.” Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, May 22, 2024. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/food-waste. Accessed November 20, 2024.
168. Love Hate Food Waste. “About Food Waste | Love Food Hate Waste.” State Government of NSW. https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au/about-food-waste. Accessed September 10, 2024.
169. Crismale, Dylan. “How Much Energy Does the Average Home Use?.” Finder, February 23, 2017. https://www.finder.com.au/energy/how-much-energy-does-the-average-home-use. Accessed November 20, 2024.
170. European Commission. “Gas for Climate – Job Creation by Scaling up Renewable Gas in Europe | Knowledge for Policy.” European Commission, 2019. https://ec.europa.eu/ knowledge4policy/publication/gas-climate-%E2%80%93-job-creation-scaling-renewable-gaseurope_en. Accessed November 20, 2024.
171.US Environmental Protection Agency. “Importance of Methane.” US Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Jan. 2016. https://www.epa.gov/gmi/importance-methane. Accessed September 10, 2024.
172. Van Biene, Max et al. “National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study Final Report 2021.” The Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre 2021. pp. 9-18. https://workdrive.zohopublic.com. au/external/06152b9ff5971843391f39fc4d32a847e56fb907c167a4a645887b0a4bc43000 Accessed November 20, 2024.
173. US Environmental Protection Agency. “How Does Anaerobic Digestion Work?” US EPA, March 18, 2019. https://www.epa.gov/agstar/how-does-anaerobic-digestion-work. Accessed November 20, 2024.
174. Ashden. “The Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI).” Ashden, 24 September 2022. https://ashden.org/awards/winners/the-appropriate-rural-technology-institute-arti/. Accessed 10 September 2024.
175. Pinkerton, Doug. “Is New York City Getting Curbside Organics Done? | BioCycle.” BioCycle, 11 Mar. 2024. https://www.biocycle.net/is-new-york-city-getting-curbside-organics-done/ Accessed September 10, 2024.
176. State of Green. “Copenhagen on the Way to 100 per Cent Green Gas by 2025.” State of Green, 19 August 2019, https://stateofgreen.com/en/news/copenhagen-on-the-way-to-100-percent-green-gas-by-2025/. Accessed September 10, 2024.
177.Gunther, Marc. “Disney World’s Biogas Facility: A Model for Converting Food Waste into Energy.” The Guardian, 17 Oct. 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/ oct/17/disney-world-biogas-food-waste-energy-clean-tech. Accessed September 10, 2024.
10. End Landfill
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179. NSW Environment Protection Authority. 2024. “Minns Labor Government Taking Action so Sydney Doesn’t Run out of Landfill.” NSW Environment Protection Authority. November 1, 2024. https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/media-releases/2024/epamedia241101-minns-laborgovernment-taking-action-so-sydney-doesnt-run-out-of-landfill. Accessed November 11, 2024.
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It’s not over, this is just the beginning.
This document is not intended to be final.We have compiled the best argument we could for this transition. But this document will be and must be challenged. By technical experts. By financial experts. By political experts. By legal experts. By cultural experts. But most importantly, it can never be perfect without the feedback of the people of Sydney.We would like as much feedback as possible to be able to improve the approach moving forwards and to be able to demonstrate to State Government the public response.
Positive or negative, we would like to receive your feedback. But please do try to be constructive.We’re all in this together. Let us know your thoughts.
