Twenty-seven finalists have been announced for the 2014 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, whittled down from a record number of entries across nine categories from all over Victoria.
This includes the Target Zero Waste to Landfill project in Melton South by building company, Burbank – what could be the first zero waste home in the state.
Built in 2014, the Zero Waste Home is part of a feasibility study funded through the Victorian Government’s Beyond Waste Fund, and designed in conjunction with RMIT University and the Housing Industry Association.
Capitalising on smart design, an intelligent management of logistics and ordering, and cooperation from trades and suppliers, Burbank was able to slash housing construction waste sent to landfill by an unprecedented 99 per cent, surpassing the original ‘Target Zero Waste to Landfill’ reduction target of 80 per cent.
This was achieved through a combination of avoidance reuse and recycling, without any compromise on quality or aesthetics. One of the measures included fabricating the metal roof to specified lengths offsite, thus allowing all waste to be collected at the fabricator’s workshop in a metal recycling waste stream.
“In Victoria, it is estimated that the construction and demolition sector sends approximately 850,000 tonnes of waste to landfill each year, the bulk of which is concrete bricks, asphalt and timber,” said Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan.
“Each new house constructed in Victoria produces, on average, 5.8 tonnes of waste. Reducing construction waste by at least 80 per cent or 4.5 tonnes of waste per house, not only represents positive environmental outcomes, it also makes economic sense.”
Regional Rail Link Authority’s Regional Rail Link Project, which sought to remove major bottlenecks for metro and regional tracks from Melbourne’s west to city, and South East Water’s Peninsula Early Connection Option project – the largest pressure sewer project in Australia, connecting 15,000 unsewered properties on the Mornington Peninsula – joined the Zero Waste Home as finalists.
Category winners will be announced at an awards dinner on Thursday, October 2, along with two overall winners selected by Premier Denis Napthine: the Premier’s Regional Recognition award and the Premier’s Recognition Award.
Finalists:
Cleaner Yarra and Bay
Multipro Civil Pty Ltd
Port Phillip EcoCentre
Zoos Victoria
Community
Aware Industries
Knox City Council, Alpine Shire, City of Melbourne, City of Port Philip, Yarra Ranges Council
Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd
Education
Nathalia & District Preschool
St Louis de Montfort’s Primary School Aspendale
St Macartan’s Primary School
Environmental Protection
Barwon Water, Plenary Environment, Water Infrastructure Group
Southern Rural Water, in partnership with West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Environment & Primary Industries
Veolia
Infrastructure and Buildings
Burbank
Regional Rail Link Authority
South East Water
Innovative Products or Services
Camperdown Compost Company
Earthco Projects Pty Ltd
Fieldtech Solutions Pty Ltd
Large Business
Officeworks
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia
ZF Boge Elastmetall Australia Pty Ltd
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)
Interface Constructions Pty Ltd
KIA-ORA Piggery Pty Ltd
The Linen Press
Tourism
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Polperro Dolphin Swims Pty Ltd
Zoos Victoria