The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has agreed to open its membership to sole traders.
The decision was made at the Annual General Meeting of the nation’s leading organisation for green buildings and communities on Wednesday 30 November 2011.
“We have changed our constitution in direct response to feedback from industry, particularly individuals that have been champions of Green Star and the Green Building Council of Australia, and have established their own businesses based on their skills and knowledge in this area,” says chief executive of the GBCA, Romilly Madew.
“We are seeing the emergence of a new market of small businesses focused on delivering Green Star projects and sustainable buildings. We are keen to support this growing ‘green collar’ workforce, and believe that a sole trader category is an appropriate response,” Madew says.
Membership fees for sole traders will be based on the GBCA’s current categories and pricing structure.
The peak body representing small-to-medium enterprises, SME Association of Australia, welcomes the GBCA’s decision.
“We are pleased to see the GBCA recognise the valuable contribution that small-to-medium enterprises make to Australia’s economy and prosperity,” says SME Association of Australia’s chief executive officer, Dr Caroline Hong.
“Welcoming sole traders into the Green Building Council of Australia is a significant step in the maturing green building market. Green building is no longer the realm of big business, but is also attracting small-to-medium sized organisations that recognise where the future of Australia’s property and construction industry lies,” Madew concludes.
