Sydney Harbour Federation Trust

Sustainability

We are working towards developing a sustainable organisation, which includes our built and natural environment and the communities in which we work.

Here's how we are working towards this goal.

Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD)

Ecologically Sustainable Development is central to the Harbour Trust's management, strategic planning and development decision-making. The concept of ESD has been defined as: "Development that improves the quality of life, both now and in the future, in a way that improves the ecological processes on which life depends" – National Strategy for ESD (1992).

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides the following core principles of ESD:

  • Decision-making processes should effectively integrate both long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations
  • If there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;
  • The principle of inter-generational equity – that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;
  • The conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision-making
    Improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

The Harbour Trust recognises that the implementation of these objectives is not straightforward. This is partly because they provide minimal instruction for practical action and contain some ambiguity. The Harbour Trust also recognises that the principal objective is to achieve the effective integration and balance of economic, environmental and social considerations.

To meet this objective the Harbour Trust will ensure that:

  • The natural biological diversity is protected, conserved and interpreted with particular emphasis on threatened species and endangered populations and communities as an integral part of any redevelopment or use of Harbour Trust land sites.
  • Harbour Trust sites are accessible to the community and offer a high quality of life for those who live or work at the site and a highly desirable recreation destination.
  • Re-use and redevelopment preserves significant areas for open space as a resource for generations to come.
  • Development and adaptive re-use achieves reductions in the use of energy from sources which are non-renewable or emit greenhouse gases in energy generation or consumption compared to previous uses or comparable uses.
  • All development and ongoing management activities on Harbour Trust sites maximize the appropriate use of recycled and reused materials and reduce waste generation
  • Development minimizes the use of materials, which deplete natural resources or create toxic pollution in their manufacture, use or disposal.
  • Buildings to be removed will be reused where possible and where demolition is necessary materials will be recycled where possible.
  • Use of Harbour Trust sites minimizes the negative impact on Sydney’s air quality and avoids ozone-depleting substances. This includes encouraging the use of public transport, walking or cycling
  • Measures are taken to minimize impact of noise and light pollution on environmental conservation areas and surrounding land uses.
  • Any use of the Harbour Trust lands results in improvement to water quality entering the harbour from the site.
  • Any development remediates the results of polluting activities of the past and ensures protection of soil and sediments within the developed area.
  • It remains accountable in the achievement of ESD, by measuring, monitoring and reporting with respect to the key indicators for sustainability and use this information to continually improve policies, plans and practices.
  • Contracting and procurement methods are developed, implemented and reviewed so that environmental objectives supporting ESD are adopted by contractors and suppliers.
  • The formation of partnerships and works with the community, stakeholders and other agencies to achieve environmental outcomes.
  • Adhere to Water Sensitive Urban Design principles when developing any future plans.
  • Investigate and where appropriate use renewable energy on Harbour Trust sites.

Current Progress

The Harbour Trust has starting measuring Environmental Performance using indicators selected from the Global Reporting Initiative. Here's how we performed in 2007-2008

Extract from 2007-2008 Annual Report - Environmental Performance [PDF - 128 KB]

 

Green Precincts Fund: Sydney Harbour Green Precincts Project

The Australian Government has granted $861,500 in funding to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust for its Sydney Harbour Green Precincts project. More information on the Sydney Harbour Green Precincts project

 

Contact

For further information on Ecologically Sustainable Development at the Harbour Trust contact the Executive Officer at the Harbour Trust on (02) 8969 2100 or email consulttrust@harbourtrust.gov.au