What is sustainability?
Sustainability for the Port of Brisbane Corporation (PBC) means making economic progress, protecting the environment and being socially responsible.
In response to the recent drought, and the wider global debate on climate change, we are committed to working with the port community to showcase the Port of Brisbane as a sustainable business precinct.
Some of our more recent initiatives aimed at reducing the Port of Brisbane’s ecological footprint include energy efficiency projects, a green corporate fleet, an employee education program, and constructing green buildings.
Our approach
Climate Change Commitment
PBC has formalised sustainability initiatives and targets through its Climate Change Commitment. We aim to reduce PBC's greenhouse gas emissions, improve resource efficiency across its operations, understand climate change impacts at the port, and foster climate change awareness and action among its people.
Sustainability Steering Committee
In 2008, an internal Sustainability Steering Committee of cross-divisional senior managers was established to define, prioritise and enable the achievement of our corporate and port-side sustainability goals.
Employee Sustainability Initiative
The Employee Sustainability Initiative was developed to help improve their eco efficiency knowledge and action at work and at home.
The E-Team, consisting of representatives from all areas of PBC, has been established as part of the initiative to provide encouragement and support to employees as well as establish and deliver projects which allow employees to make positive changes through their day-to-day roles.
Supply chain and contracts
The goods and services we purchase, and the commercial contracts we manage, provide further opportunities for sustainable outcomes beyond the greenhouse gas emissions directly attributed to our operations.
We have developed a Good Environmental Practice clause for inclusion in our leases with new tenants and are currently examining all of our commercial contracts. We plan to introduce further sustainable measures this coming year.
What are we doing?
Energy efficiency
We have trialled a new lighting mechanism on a lamp tower at the BMT. The Australian-made Light SaveTM device was installed on a light tower at our Brisbane Multimodal Terminal resulting in 25% power savings, and a reduction of 100 tonnes of CO2e.
A Green Vehicle Policy was introduced in February 2008 and requires our new corporate passenger vehicles to comply with an environmental standard. The policy is based on the Commonwealth’s Green Vehicle Guide rating, which comprises the sum of a greenhouse gas rating (out of 10) and an air pollution rating (out of 10).
Our standard requires a total Green Vehicle Guide rating of at least 10.5, to which the greenhouse gas emissions rating must contribute at least 5. The introduction of this policy has led to an 18% improvement in rated fuel efficiency.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Since 2001, we have participated in the Commonwealth’s Greenhouse Challenge program since 2001. This has provided a solid baseline for an understanding of our greenhouse gas emissions.
During 2007/2008 the Port of Brisbane Corporations greenhouse gas emissions were 21,490 tonnes of CO2e.
These emissions were attributed to the following:
- diesel for dredging in the port precinct, and maintenance dredging services provided to other Queensland ports
- petrol and diesel for vehicles, forklifts and small craft
- electricity for our street lights, buildings, storage of refrigerated containers, sewerage pumping and cathodic protection of our wharves
- gas for cooking, and some water heating in our restaurants.
Green buildings and development
We achieved a 5 Star Green Star-Office Design v2 rating from the Green Building Council of Australia for the first commercial building (Port Central 1) in the master-planned commercial and retail hub, Port Central.
Port Central 1 sets the benchmark for the remainder of the Port Central precinct, and we will be measuring how well this building performs in terms of its economic, ecological and social impacts.
This benchmark is extended to developers of strategic port land through PBC’s Land Use Plan and Development Code. The Development Code guides and directs the physical and operational activities of all new development across the port. It includes fundamental sustainable design and building criteria which must be addressed as part of each development.
PBC received the 2007 Planning Institute of Australia (Qld Division) Industrial Planning "Award for Excellence" for these documents.
Careers
We developed, and now manager, an employment portal for the business at the Port of Brisbane and those companies involved in the shipping logistics chain. The portal – portcareers.com.au – was developed in response to the skills shortages in the port industry as well as promote the sustainability of jobs and careers at the Port of Brisbane.
The website advertises job vacancies within the port community and showcases the diversity of careers available at the port.
Waste
We recently installed a composting toilet at the Port Gate boat ramp, which is located close to the port facilities. This modern facility has the ability to treat 100% of the water and sewerage into wastewater suitable for irrigation.
The system uses natural process such worms, bugs, and beetles - and not harmful chemicals - to break down the waste with no odour and little use of electricity. The water from the system is Class A water quality and will be used to water the surrounding landscape at the boat ramp.
Water conservation
We have developed a water strategy that sees compliance as a base level, aiming to lead industry by achieving well beyond that level.
Our water strategy includes our direct activities, our contractors’ and port tenants’ activities, and our staff, and wide community water-use habits.
Since 2005, with the introduction of water-efficient fittings, education and alternatives to potable water, we have reduced our overall water consumption by 75%.
We have found alternative water for 95% of the construction activities around the port and by forecasting the port’s anticipated construction activities, we can plan activities without constraint, even under tough water restrictions. For example, we are now recycling the water required to cure each section of concrete wharves, by capturing the water, and pumping it back through a tank.
We work closely with our port tenants to investigate all water initiatives and reuse opportunities around the port. Future initiatives include water-harvesting opportunities, and post-development audits to ensure practices and fittings remain in place, and are delivering the expected outcomes.
Natural environment
Our port adjoins the Moreton Bay Marine Park, which is an area of high ecological value. We have also established vegetated areas around the port, as ecological habitat and natural buffer zones between the port and nearby residential areas.
We work to minimise any impacts on these areas from our operations. We conduct detailed environmental monitoring programmes of the marine and coastal flora and fauna, to assess their ongoing health.
Port of Brisbane Community
Sustainability Forum
A Sustainability Forum, comprising port operators on Fisherman Islands and Whyte Island, has been established to review joint opportunities.
Through our Sustainability Forum we are exploring the potential for low- and zero-emission energy sources.
Port emissions inventory
We are committed to understanding the greenhouse gas emission and air pollution attributed to operations at our port. In 2008 we stared gathering information that will contribute to a port-wide inventory.
Ocean going vessels visiting Brisbane from June through to August 2008 were asked to complete a survey which will contribute to our understanding of the emissions attributed to ship travelling in our precinct.
Landside surveys including electricity, cargo handling equipment and trucks are underway. Together, these surveys will provide a baseline to compare future air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions attributed to port operations.