Month: July 2018

Highlighting the hidden issue of Modern Slavery

by Marie-Louise ter Beek

Slavery to most people is a historical artefact of less enlightened times with no relevance in the modern world. The notion that it somehow survived historical attrition and can potentially be so insidious and pervasive as to present a risk to capital infrastructure projects in Australia seems like a news bite from a parallel universe.

The stark reality though is that slavery-like practices are still prevalent around the world today, including here in Australia.

Like so many heinous crimes, ‘modern slavery’ is often hidden in plain sight and flourishes in an environment of ambivalence and complacency. And in case anyone is tempted to think that this is all just a little too fanciful to believe, in its recently completed Inquiry into Establishing a Modern Slavery Act, the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade acknowledged the Walk Free Foundation’s Global Slavery Index estimates that:

• More than 40 million people around the world are victims of some form of modern slavery, which includes human trafficking, slavery, debt bondage, forced labour and other slavery-like practices;
• 30,435,300 people in Asia-Pacific Region are ‘enslaved’ (66.4 per cent of all people enslaved); and
• 4,300 in Australia are enslaved.

Against this background, discussion of modern slavery at ISCA’s recent Brisbane workshop, ‘Discover how Modern Slavery impacts Australian Infrastructure projects’, was timely especially given that the Federal Government introduced the Modern Slavery Bill into parliament on the same day.

In opening the workshop, Robin Mellon, CEO of the Supply Chain Sustainability School highlighted a recently released report prepared for the School by Ernst and Young entitled ‘Modern Slavery in Australian property, construction and infrastructure supply chains’.

The main purpose of the ISCA event was to create a better understanding of what is meant by ‘modern slavery’ and its key risk areas for Australian infrastructure supply chains.

Mr Mellon spoke about how the Modern Slavery Act in the UK has created change by elevating modern slavery as an issue.He made specific reference to how both government and business have developed a range of training products to help raise awareness and assist people better spot the signs, as well as increasing confidence in reporting modern slavery when potential cases are encountered.

The UK legislation also empowers internal advocates within companies enabling them to both internally through access to senior management, as well as externally with factual data and empirical evidence enforce standards with suppliers.

Attendees heard case studies of how some Australian organisations are already making changes to address modern slavery issues and gained insights into how infrastructure procurement, products and materials decisions will be made when the Modern Slavery Bill becomes law (most likely later this year).

ISCA’s newly appointed CEO Ainsley Simpson highlighted that organisations looking to address modern slavery needed to focus on high risk areas and where they have material issues.

Leading Australian businessman and philanthropist Andrew Forrest joined the event via a pre-recorded video address and spoke as the co-founder (with daughter Grace) of the Walk Free Foundation.

Mr Forrest also highlighted the importance of forward-looking due diligence with the blunt and sobering statement that, “If slavery is discovered by anyone but you, expect investor withdrawal.”

Michael Steele, QLD/NT Environment, Sustainability and Community Manager from Lendlease showcased the changes made by that organisation and what industry can do to address modern slavery, including reviewing processes regularly. Mr Steele closed his presentation by outlining Lendlease’s non-price selection criteria and stated if a supplier can add value to a project then this will be considered.

David Baggs, CEO and Program Director from Global Green Tag was able to provide recommendations for reporting options on modern slavery. His presentation also outlined how to undertake certification and source certified products and materials.

Mr Mellon summarised and closed the event with the prediction that within three years Australian companies would be profiling their modern slavery declarations/statements online, enabling procurement and contracting choice for products and services to be informed by those declarations.

The workshop wrapped up with a takeaway top 10 for how to manage modern slavery implications:

1. Know what modern slavery means, so you can talk about it with your teams, clients and suppliers.
2. Understand why how much you know about your supply chain really matters – from a risk and opportunity viewpoint.
3. Work out who is covered by the forthcoming Act -either directly, or as part of larger supply chains or projects.
4. Discover your main areas of risk around processes, products, materials, countries, knowledge or communication.
5. Remember TRANSARENCY is the goal not perfection.
6. This is a slow shift not overnight change, potentially 3,4,5 years.
7. Education is key, your staff, clients and suppliers all need a basic understanding of what questions will you ask?
8. Understanding where to go for more information.
9. Familiarise yourself with what to do if modern slavery is found or suspected e.g. a hotline number or a discussion.
10. Have a crisis management plan in place for when (not if) modern slavery is found.

ISCA would like to thank the speakers, Mr Robin Mellon from the Supply Chain School, Mr David Baggs from Global Green Tag, Mr Michael Steele from Lendlease, Mr Andrew Forrest from the Walk Free Foundation and Mr Chris Crewther MP, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade for presenting at the event.  ISCA would also like to thank Lendlease as the event would not have not been possible without their generosity to host the event at their exquisitely designed Brisbane head office in Bowen Hills, Brisbane.

Sustainability: WA Is Leading The Way

Last week the Western Australian infrastructure community came together at Forrestfield-Airport Link’s HQ to listen, learn and interact with industry leaders at ISCA’s largest WA Conference to date.

The attendance was a credit to the growing importance of sustainability in the region, with 80 attendees across 41 organisations, 57% of which were not previously on our database and 43% were potential ISCA members.

The day kicked off with an exclusive tour of the numerous construction sites associated with the Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL) rail project. The $1.86 billion project, which was certified with an ‘Excellent’ design IS rating at the conference, presented their unique challenge of boring twin tunnels underneath the Swan River and Perth Airport infrastructure.

Delegates were given a guided tour of the Carolyn Way segment facility which is responsible for the production of more than 60,000 concrete segments; the Forrestfield Station and Airport Central Station sites; and the Bayswater site where the new Forrestfield line will merge with the existing rail network.

After the certification of the FAL project, Dr Steven Lennon of the United Nations Association of Australia explored how the infrastructure industry can help Australia deliver on all the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Four of Australasia’s largest transport delivery projects were represented on the day. Sydney Metro produced a pre-recorded video detailing the sustainability learnings from their ‘Leading’ IS rated project. Chris Meale followed fittingly, having been a project director on Sydney Metro before moving to Auckland to be head of City Rail Link. Chris, now retired, shared successes from City Rail Link, including the involvement of Mana Whenua in decision making processes.

The afternoon’s panel session saw WA’s two largest transport projects in action. Nicole Lockwood of Westport gave an overview of the project’s consultative and collaborative nature and announced their commitment to an ISv2.0 planning rating. METRONET Project Director, Anthony Kannis, outlined the rail project’s vision for a more connected Perth, from CBD to the suburbs. Joining them on the panel was Sarah McEvoy, of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation; Lance Glare, who provided an update on the newly formed Infrastructure WA; and Main Roads WA’s Des Lock, who spoke about MRWA’s adoption of the IS economic theme and v2.0 Planning rating.  The panel facilitated rich questioning between the audience and speakers and was a highlight of the day.

The final session of the conference was an interactive workshop focused on innovation, inspiration and interaction, and included a variety of topics; such as recycled plastic road materials, transport futures, innovation in concrete, climate change resilience, and making Perth the most water sensitive city in the world. Attendees were able to choose which topics interested them the most and learn about them in a focused workshop with the subject matter experts.

In the evening, delegates enjoyed networking drinks to celebrate the official WA launch of the IS Version 2.0 rating tool. The latest innovation of the tool, ISv2.0, provides a quadruple bottom line reporting framework and alignment to delivering the UN SDGs, as well as new themes and categories that equip the industry for the Modern Slavery Act.

As a thank you to our speakers for contributing their time to speak, ISCA passed on that goodwill and made a donation to food distribution and charity service, WA Foodbank, providing 400 meals to children in WA.

ISCA is proud to promote gender equality as part of our sustainability charter we strive to have 50% male and 50% female speakers. With all speakers selected on their merit and field of expertise, we’re happy to report that 48% of the speakers were female.

“Our purpose at ISCA is to ‘accelerate positive change through collaboration’. We can only create industry wide solutions through collaboration to uplift industry and enable positive outcomes,” said CEO Ainsley Simpson.

The one-day conference in WA would not have been possible without the support of our partners;

• Our Gold Partners Forrestfield-Airport Link (FAL) a partnership between GHD, Salini Impregilo, PTA and NRW,
• Our Partners for the Innovation, Inspiration and Interaction workshop: Jacobs,
• Our partners for the ISv2.0 Launch: AECOM,
• Media partners – Infrastructure Magazine

 

ISCA caught up with Forrestfield-Airport Link, gold partners of next week’s WA Conference. To view the event program, click here.

Why did you decide to partner with ISCA for the WA Conference?

We are proud to be a part of the largest infrastructure project being undertaken in Perth, with unique challenges of boring twin tunnels underneath the Swan River and Perth Airport infrastructure, as well as construction within both State and Federal jurisdictions. We aim to showcase the project at the WA Conference and open conversations with industry professionals to stimulate innovation and inspirations into sustainable outcomes for WA infrastructure into the future.

The Public Transport Authority is committed to delivering innovative and sustainable transport solutions in Western Australia.  The Salini Impregilo – NRW Joint Venture, wish to showcase the ingredients – technology, knowledge, experience and desire – required to produce a sustainable model asset. Our commitment to working in an environment in which sustainability is indispensable and at the forefront of decision-making has led to the aspiration of co-hosting and organising this important event. GHD have been a part of ISCA from the start and co-hosting the conference is part of the ongoing support in promoting infrastructure sustainability in the state.

Can you explain what the Forrestfield-Airport Link project is and what you will be delivering?

The $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments and will deliver a new rail service to the eastern suburbs of Perth – with three new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and Forrestfield.

The rail link forms part of the METRONET vision to create liveable communities connected by world class public transport. The line will spur off the existing Midland Line near Bayswater Station and run to Forrestfield through twin-bored tunnels.

In April 2016 the Public Transport Authority awarded the design, construct and maintenance contract to Salini Impregilo – NRW Joint Venture. Design services are provided by GHD, Coffey, Geodata and Ansaldo STS. Construction commenced late 2016, and the project will be complete late 2020.

Once operational, the project will provide an enhanced public transport system that by its nature offers the community more sustainable transport choices.

To find out more about the project, please view the project overview fact sheet.

What are some of the other ways Forrestfield-Airport Link is demonstrating sustainability leadership?

We have integrated sustainability principles in our design, procurement and construction processes. Our goal is to challenge ‘business as usual’ and to stimulate innovation across our organisation and our supply chain. If we can deliver positive economic, environmental and social outcomes on this Project, we have the potential to influence the future of infrastructure sustainability in WA.

What are you particularly proud of and why?

Planning for Forrestfield-Airport Link began in 2008, with discussions around how the suburban rail network could best be connected to Perth’s growing eastern suburbs. Key to the success of the new rail line is the route the railway will take. To determine that route, it was necessary to think about the future of the city and the airport — population growth patterns, projected demand, economic and development plans already in place, and the potential to stimulate activity through well-placed infrastructure.

A detailed assessment process determined the most appropriate station locations, the catchments that will be served, the most efficient way to connect those catchments to the Perth CBD, and the capacity for future extension of the line.

Ultimately, it was decided the most appropriate rail route would be through underground tunnels that would minimise environmental and social impact through the reduction of ground disturbance and work above ground.

How has using the ISCA framework helped to drive more sustainable outcomes for your project?

The project is undertaking an IS rating which provided the overarching framework that has been embedded within the project systems ensuring sustainable practices in every aspect of the job. The team is committed to delivering a sustainably responsible project and has formed the project objectives based on the ISCA framework:

• Support the development of, and contribute to the sharing of sustainability knowledge within and outside the project.
• Identify and implement methods to minimise water consumption and the need for potable water where possible.
• Identify and implement methods to minimise energy use and the production of greenhouse gases and vegetation clearing.
• Model and monitor energy, greenhouse gas and vegetation clearing.
• End-to-end sustainability focus – request that potential suppliers provide details of their sustainability policy and implementation during the selection process.
• Sustainable sourcing of materials to include reducing virgin material consumption, preferentially selecting materials which are sourced locally, and preferentially selecting materials which have lower environmental footprints.
• Identify options for recycling waste materials within and outside the project boundaries.
• Where possible, enhance the ecological value of the project footprint.
• Implement opportunities to enhance Aboriginal heritage and cultural values in consultation with the Whadjuk Noongar people.
• Reduce the likelihood of crime through implementing appropriate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) guidelines during design, construction and operation.
• Develop a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy that incorporates community feedback and is independently reviewed and implemented.
• Implement urban and landscape design based on an analysis of the existing local area and context.
• Identify and implement at least three State-first innovations.

What’s the next stage of the Forrestfield-Airport Link project? 

The next year of the Forrestfield-Airport Link project will be very busy and exciting, with completion of tunnelling from Airport Central Station to the Bayswater tie-in, which will include tunnelling under airport infrastructure and the Swan River. TBMs Grace and Sandy will have finished tunnelling and emerged at the Bayswater dive structure in mid-2019. Redcliffe Station concrete works will have been finalised and the roof will be in construction. At Airport Central Station the structure will be built and internal fit-out of the station will have commenced.  At Forrestfield Station, all concrete works, the roof and internal fit out of the station will be completed, and electrical and mechanical fit-out will have commenced. All works will be progressing towards the new Forrestfield Line opening in 2020.

ISCA Brisbane Launch of IS Rating Tool Version 2.0

ISCA’s Brisbane community of infrastructure professionals came together on 28 June to celebrate the launch of ISCA’s version 2.0 of its rating tool, which has been developed in collaboration with industry across Australia.

The collaborative efforts of ISCA’s members and 103 industry representatives towards the development of version 2.0 received special mention from ISCA’s General Manager Infrastructure Innovation Nicola Boyd, “Of the 9,670 hours taken to develop version 2.0, 2,000 hours of those hours were in kind from 154 people and 103 organisations.”

The purpose of the event was to highlight the key changes in version 2.0, the additional sustainability benefits and how the new rating award levels of bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond compare to the previous ratings of commended, excellent and leading.

Key changes to the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating tool version 2.0 are:

• the introduction of a new voluntary planning rating;
• credits written for each phase of the infrastructure lifecycle;
• more clearly defined criterion and ‘must’ statements in the technical manual;
• an expert verification process; and
• both new and updated categories and credits.

Projects that utilise IS version 2.0 will achieve greater sustainability outcomes as version 2.0 has been developed in alignment the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  These outcomes include infrastructure planned and delivered to solve a societal problem, greater social returns through-out the supply chain and increased transparency.

Attendees at the launch also learnt of the IS Supply program, which will be managed by Ms Boyd. This new service will match suppliers with projects and is free for ISCA members.

The launch was also an opportunity for participants to register their interest for IS version 2.0 training including an ISAP update webinar (free for all ISAP’s) in August and category specific webinars (IS v2.0 unwrapped) and training, which is now available.

ISCA would like to thank Mr David Jackson, from Queensland Treasury for presenting at the event and the Queensland Government for generously hosting the event at their Albert Street offices in Brisbane’s CBD.

By Marie-Louise ter Beek

What To Expect at The 2018 Western Australia Conference

Four of Australasia’s largest infrastructure transport projects will be speaking at ISCA’s 2018 WA Conference. The one-day conference, in partnership with Forrestfield-Airport Link, Jacobs and AECOM takes place on Wednesday, 18^th July.

Anthony Kannis, of Perth’s ambitious public transport rail network, METRONET, will be joined in a panel session with Westport Independent Chair, Nicole Lockwood. Attendees will hear their vision, plans and desired outcomes in connecting WA with transport infrastructure. Joining them on the day will be Chris Meale, the former director of New Zealand’s largest rail project City Rail Link, and there will be a pre-recorded video presentation from Sydney Metro, who will share insights into Australia’s largest metro rail project.

Dr Steve Lennon, Divisions Vice President of the United Nations of Australia will deliver a keynote presentation on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in the context of infrastructure.

The conference also includes a site tour of the $1.86 Billion Forrestfield-Airport Link project. Delegates will experience an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the under-construction project, which is the first IS rated project within the Government’s METRONET program. By attending, you will be one of the first to experience the dual-tunnel, and see where more than 60,000 pre-cast concrete segments have been created on-site. Attendees will also view tunnelling activities, including waste water treatment and a reverse osmosis plant.

The afternoon session will be an interactive workshop session focused on innovation, inspiration and interaction, and includes a variety of topics; such as the circular economy, recycled plastic road materials, transport futures, climate change resilience, and making Perth the most water sensitive city in the world.

In the evening, delegates will enjoy networking drinks to celebrate the official WA launch of the IS Version 2.0 rating tool. The latest innovation of the tool, ISv2.0, provides a quadruple bottom line reporting framework and alignment to delivering the UN SDGs, as well as new themes and categories that equip the industry for the Modern Slavery Act.

This event is suitable for all WA infrastructure stakeholders; including engineers, project managers, designers, sustainability professionals, executives, government officials, students and more.

To see the full agenda or for registration details, click here. Spaces are limited.

WA Conference Preview: Forrestfield-Airport Link Site Tour

Delegates of the 2018 WA Conference will have an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the under-construction Forrestfield Airport Link project, the first IS rated project of the WA Government’s ambitious METRONET program.

Be one of the first to walk through the rail tunnel and see where all the on-site production of the 60k plus pre-cast concrete segments are. View the tunnelling activities including waste water treatment and reverse osmosis plant.

The $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments and will deliver a new rail service to the eastern suburbs of Perth – with three new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central and Forrestfield.

The rail link forms part of the METRONET vision to create liveable communities connected by world class public transport.

It is the largest infrastructure project being undertaken in Perth, with unique challenges of boring twin tunnels underneath the Swan River and Perth Airport infrastructure, as well as construction within both State and Federal jurisdictions. We aim to showcase the project at the 2018 WA IS Conference with a tour of the major sites, including:

Carolyn Way segment facility

• Tunnel segment production yard and concrete batching plant. The yard will produce 60,000 pre-cast concrete segments.

Forrestfield site

• Operation and processing plant for tunneling activities, including Slurry Treatment Plant, Grout Plant, Waste Water Treatment Plant, Reverse Osmosis Plant,
• Construction of Forrestfield Station and stowage building,
• Tunnel segment storage.

Airport Central site

• Construction of Airport Central Station directly south of the control tower at Perth Airport’s Terminal 1. This is a 20,495m2 construction site,
• TBM Sandy’s final gantries as she exits the underground station box.

Bayswater site

• Construction of the dive structure where TBMs Grace and Sandy will exit the tunnels, and the new Forrestfield line will merge with the existing rail network. This will see 8.5km added to the rail network.

In addition, we will be driving past other important sites on the project.

To ensure safety of the congregation, a number of sites will be selected where an exclusion zone will be established for closer viewing of the work areas. The other tours will be viewed from the safety of the coaches.

To find out more information about or to register for the 2018 WA Conference, click here.

ISCA Impacts Report

Infrastructure Industry | 2018

Click here to view the report

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has published the 2018 Impacts Report to highlight the collective effort made by Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rated projects to deliver more sustainable outcomes for people and planet.

Since the sustainability framework for infrastructure was developed in 2012, the IS rating scheme has engaged more than $97billion worth of infrastructure spend across 86 projects in Australia and New Zealand. ISCA’s IS rating tool measures the impacts of these projects, which have avoided;

• 18.7million tonnes of CO₂-e; equivalent of powering the households of Brisbane for a year
• Material use by 74%; which has equivalent environmental benefit of diverting all household waste of Dunedin for 2 years
• 67,000 Olympic swimming pools in water

The Impacts Report also features exemplar case studies, key learnings, thought leadership pieces and trends in sustainability within and outside the infrastructure industry. Including features from;

• Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) on clean energy opportunities in Australia’s infrastructure sector,
• Cardno’s innovative approach to water resilience with Wellington Water,
• Arup addressing sustainability from the start; case study,
• Hyperloop Transportation Technologies’ vision for a sustainable future transportation system,
• Supply Chain Sustainability School’s update on the Modern Slavery Act,
• Queensland Department of Environment and Science; collaborating for the best outcomes,
• Auckland Council’s approach to building a sustainable park in Scott Park,
• Lendlease case study of Caulfield to Dandenong LXRA project,
• McConnell Dowell’s approach to driving innovation,
• Virgin Australia taking bio-fuels to new heights,
• Liberty Steel delivering on its sustainability promise,
• John Holland and Mainroads WA’s case study of the award winning Northlink project.

The infrastructure industry is responsible for more than 50% of Australia’s green-house gas emissions. ISCA enables sustainability in infrastructure through a third-party rating program, training and knowledge sharing and creating a community of practice around sustainable infrastructure. To date, more than $97 billion in infrastructure projects is engaged in the IS rating scheme across Australia and New Zealand.

 

Chris Meale is the international keynote speaker at the WA Conference on July 18. We sat down with the former Project Director of City Rail Link to gain insights into his 20 year plus career in rail delivery projects in Australia and New Zealand.

To register for or find out more information about the Western Australia Conference, please click here.

Q1 You led the City Rail Link Project as Project Director since 2012 up until your retirement in March 2018, what are you most proud of?

A Being part of an inspiring, talented and committed team charged with delivering New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project, (certainly the largest to be constructed in the middle of a NZ CBD), and the first to involve underground passenger rail services, in what will be a truly transformational project for Auckland, not only in a transport sense but also as an enabler of economic and development growth.

From startup in 2012, when it was little more than an unfunded political dream, the project is now three years into construction, having navigated many challenges, technical, budgetary, political, legal, community disruptions, challenges which continue today. I’m proud of that.

It has also been pleasing to have had the freedom to set up the project with the aim of being an exemplar in sustainability principles and practice and to be pushing some boundaries here, including our partnership with manu whenua and ISCA.

The project construction has some years to run, but I am confident that once open, it will transform the role of rail as the backbone of Auckland’s public transport system and serve its citizens for many decades.

Q2 Before working on NZ City Rail Projects, where have you worked?

A I have spent the majority of my career, working in the infrastructure project space, initially in the power sector on both Hydroelectric and Thermal projects in NZ and the UK, a period in the major buildings arena in NZ, Australia and the Pacific, and for the last twenty years or so in rail. I moved to Sydney just before the 2000 Olympic games, and had a number of leadership roles on some  rail projects there, including Epping to Chatswood Rail Link, (which is now part of Sydney Metro North West) Parramatta Station redevelopment, Sydney Metro in 2009, and then continued as Project Director with TfNSW on the design development of Chatswood to Sydenham Junction element of what is now the new Sydney Metro. I led the redevelopment of Wynyard station before returning to NZ in 2012 to commence my role at CRL.

Q3 Can you describe the similarities and differences between transport challenges in Australia compared to NZ?

A Apart from the obvious difference of scale, the challenges that face both countries are similar, that of dealing with the transport infrastructure needs of large rapidly growing urban communities which are struggling to find acceptable solutions in the face of funding and space constraints, all the while subject to the various and varying wishes of our politicians. Politically, in Australia there is the State/ Federal contest, in New Zealand we have the City/ Central Government version. Depending on the luck of any party alignment or not, this can prejudice any efficient and unified approach to solving the problems.  All our major cities are struggling with the need to now provide transport infrastructure alternatives to motorways through densely populated urban areas, having come through forty plus years of road building as the solution.

Occasionally we see outstanding examples of some leadership and visionary thinking, which if fostered and politically supported can bring about results in cities benefitting for the long term. John Bradfield’s (the engineer responsible for the Sydney Harbour Bridge) work for Sydney of a hundred years ago has always been an inspiration in that context for me.

Q4 What impact has sustainability and sustainability frameworks such as ISCA had during your career in transport infrastructure?

A As a young mechanical engineer coming from a long line of engineers, working and hopefully maturing in an infrastructure design construction and operation arena, I have always held the view that we should be building assets of quality, planned for efficient whole of life operation, ease of maintenance, minimal energy consumption (that goes way before I ever heard of low carbon emissions!) Preserving the future for my grandkids. This has been a guiding principle for me throughout my career.

I was involved with commercial building projects in the early days of WGBC rating schemes and saw the benefits of establishing targets for our design work there.

While the ISCA IS framework is comparatively new, I was pleased to promote its introduction to CRL, from the need to move the sustainability discussion from one of ideology to setting some specific targets and embodying these into contractual requirements of our various supply and delivery contractors and partners. On the CRL project we have established a very successful relationship with the ISCA team and with others influenced some changes to the IS rating framework to make it more reflective of the NZ scene, in areas of water use, and particularly in the emphasis on engagement with Manu Whenua principles.

Q5 You’ve got some great insights into what the last 20 years of transport infrastructure has done, what about the next 20 years? What do you see on the horizon of how we can do things better?

A Much is said in everyday life about the importance of team work and collaboration as the only real formula for success in any endeavour, be it in work sport or at home. I subscribe to this view.

The same is true in planning infrastructure for the next 20 years. The urgency to provide attractive transport solutions as our urban populations continue to grow at speed, will call for new approaches, including the evaluation and adoption of the best of the great number of new technologies appearing almost every day. My view is that for some time at least, these initiatives while improving capacity to some degree, the area where we need to do better, is to agree the long term transport programmes for our cities and then get on with them, always open to incorporating the technological advances that will continue to be developed.

There is a trap in my view, of continuing to sit and wait for a miracle cure that will avoid the need to make up for years of lost progress in continued infrastructure investment.

There are some positive signs emerging in NZ, with the recently improved collaboration between City and State organisations. The test will be the evidence of a real sense of urgency and commitment resulting in infrastructure delivery to clearly articulated programmes.

The birth of the new Carbon Footprint Standard for Products – What does it mean and how is it useful for New Zealand and Australia?

There is finally international agreement on how to calculate the carbon footprint of products. A few days ago 85% of the member states approved ISO FDIS 14067 (Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products – Requirements and guidelines for quantification”)

Carbon footprint messages are increasingly used as a competitive advantage in the market place. The standard clearly defines how the  calculation needs to be done, how the system boundaries are chosen, including the use phase and end of life.  The standard makes reliable and comparable parameters available to organisations and consumers so that we can compare “apples with apples”

What does the new standard mean for New Zealand’s and Australia’s industry? What are the critical details? How does is relate to other standards? Join Barbara Nebel from thinkstep Australasia and Sean Weaver from EKOS  for a 30 “Straight of the Horse’s Mouth” webinar.

About the speakers:

Barbara Nebel is CEO of thinkstep Australasia. She was involved over years in the development of the ISO 14067  as the Chair of the New Zealand Reference Group for Carbon Foot Printing Standards.

Webinar objectives include:

• Overview and purpose of ISO 14067
• Introduction to key aspects of the standard
• What does it mean for your business
• Understanding of the relevance of the standard for organizations, governments and stakeholders
• How does ISO 14067 relate to other standards ad specifications

Who will benefit?

• Environmental Managers
• Marketing Managers
• Product Developers
• Public Relations personnel
• Sustainability Managers

Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2625600073968681731

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