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Collaboration IS key Antony Sprigg*
The IS rating scheme articulates the themes, categories, credits and benchmarks that the infrastructure industry has embraced as the vernacular of sustainability over the last four years. The IS rating scheme is now used widely in sustainability assurance processes across Australia. Presently the scheme boasts 54 projects/assets valued at over $79 billion (capital value).
T
he Infrastructure Sustain-
cycle environmental impact and kept
saved 305 MWh of electricity over
ability Council of Australia
the footprint entirely within the original
operational life, reduced water use by
(ISCA) facilitated the devel-
facility.
15%, reduced their materials footprint by
opment of a sustainability
• The Great Eastern Highway Upgrade used
25% and, in a world first, trial of parallel
community of practice in the
warm mix asphalt in WA for the first time
nitrification and denitrification technology.
infrastructure industry when it developed
reducing energy use and greenhouse
• Wynyard Walk achieved a number of
and launched the Infrastructure Sustain-
gas emissions as well as achieving 43%
initiatives, including minimising waste,
ability (IS) rating scheme in 2012.
recycling rate for imported materials.
reducing community impacts during construction and optimising energy ef-
Projects and assets that have been
• The Sydney Metro Northwest Early
awarded IS ratings have achieved amaz-
Works project discovered and preserved
ing outcomes:
a colonial era heritage site by modifying
• The Enlarged Cotter Dam project replaced
the skyrail section of the project.
ficiencies. • The Yarra Park Recycled Water Treatment Facility gained water efficiencies of 7%
100% of potable water with non-potable
• The Sydney Metro Northwest Surface and
during summer and 8% during winter
water and reduced embodied carbon
Viaduct Civils project modelled a 44%
operations and has been able to supply
emissions by 23%.
emissions reduction, had a potential 9%
99.99% of potable water replacement
• The Gateway WA design reduce the life
water saving over the life of the project
demand (directly offsetting 291,818,800
cycle environmental impact of materials
and demonstrated Australia-based market
litres of potable water to date).
by 58% and introduced the use of LED
transformation through development of
The IS rating scheme has also been of
lighting on highway roads.
sustainability data collection and report-
interest outside Australia. There are now
ing software.
five ISCA New Zealand Founding Members
• Gold Coast Light Rail saved $15 million through the implementation of sustain-
• The Sydney Metro Northwest Tunnel and
(Auckland Airport, AECOM, BECA, Panuku
ability initiatives, reduced embodied
Station Civil Works reduced emissions
Auckland and Tonkin + Taylor) showing
carbon emissions by 55%, had an 89.7%
by 24%, reduced water use by 37% and
significant leadership and commitment to
recycling rate for inert and non-hazardous
had a 45% reduction in environmental
the New Zealand infrastructure industry.
wastes and more than 96% of project
impact of materials, achieving the highest
New Zealand is also home to two IS ratings.
employees were local.
IS score to date of 83.
Auckland Airport has used IS to benchmark
• The Googong Water Treatment Plant
• The Whitsundays STP Upgrades saved
its operations and Madden and Packenham
Chemical Facility Upgrade achieved a
more than $1 million through the imple-
reduced construction carbon emissions
significant reduction in materials life
mentation of sustainability initiatives,
by 27% and its materials environmental
22 Sustainability Matters - Oct/Nov 2016
www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au