Closer collaboration between two green building and infrastructure bodies in Australia will help to improve the planning, design, construction and management of sustainable communities and infrastructure throughout the country, the two organisations say.
In a statement released last week, the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) say they have agreed to work more closely together to identify best practice standards, tools and guidelines for sustainable built environment projects.
Though the statement did not give specific details, the two bodies say they will foster synergies between infrastructure and urban development through the application of the Green Star – Communities PILOT rating tool and Infrastructure Sustainability rating tool. They added they will work together to advocate for sustainable practices with regard to building and infrastructure in all tiers of government.
AGIC chief executive officer Antony Sprigg says the establishment of the nexus between infrastructure and urban development through the relationship between the two organisations represents a welcome opportunity to drive positive outcomes through collaboration.
GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew says a partnership between the two organisations makes sense given their shared commitment to green building practices.
“Our organisations share a common mission to advance sustainability in the design, construction and operation of Australia’s built environment,” Madew says.
Established in 2008 by 18 corporate foundational members across the engineering, environmental, planning, legal, financial and construction industries, the AGIC focuses on sustainability in infrastructure and administers the IS rating scheme for infrastructure projects throughout the country.
A slightly older organisation, launched in 2002, the GBCA’s focus revolves primarily around buildings. Its Green Star Rating tool covers all types of major buildings such as office, industrial, retail, multi-residential, education and health-care.
In June this year, the GBCA expanded beyond individual buildings and into community-wide projects through its PILOT Green Star – Communities rating tool.
