SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, launched the report at a lunch hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

This is the third year that the Australian Government has published State of Australian Cities, and the 2012 report benefits from the fresh data found in the 2011 Census, as well as deeper analysis.

“The State of Australian Cities 2012 report presents an abundance of data and analysis on our cities and provides us with the information we need to make more informed decisions for the planning, design and delivery of productive, liveable, resilient and sustainable cities,” says the GBCA’s Chief Executive, Romilly Madew.

“Cities are a wealth of opportunity, but we must plan for these opportunities - and we must plan now.

“On current projections we can expect Australia to be home to more than 35 million people by 2050, with up to 85 per cent of the population residing in our cities. The way our cities operate has an enormous impact on our economy, our wellbeing, and our environment.

“While the Green Star environmental rating system has been focused on buildings for nearly a decade, the Green Building Council of Australia recognises that a city is a collection of buildings, and that we must scale up our efforts if we are to achieve true sustainability in the built environment.

“The GBCA’s Green Star - Communities rating tool, launched in June, provides benchmarks and a framework to influence the sustainability of entire neighbourhoods, precincts and indeed cities.

“State of Australian Cities 2012 provides valuable insights into the current state of Australia’s cities. The next step is to agree on a set of nationally-consistent indicators and a set of best practice benchmarks, such as those already established in the Green Star - Communities rating tool. Working together in partnership to create pathways is the only way for us to ensure we create truly liveable, productive, resilient and sustainable cities,” Ms Madew concludes.

State of Australian Cities 2012 is available online at: www.infrastructure.gov.au

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is Australia’s leading authority on green buildings and communities. The GBCA was established in 2002 to develop a sustainable property industry in Australia and drive the adoption of green building practices. The GBCA has 850 member companies who work together to support the Council and its activities. The GBCA promotes green building programs, technologies, design practices and processes, and operates Australia’s only national voluntary comprehensive environmental rating system for buildings - Green Star. See: www.gbca.org.au