What is sustainability?
Sustainability at the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) means we facilitate trade and economic growth, while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the environment, the well-being of our people, and the community.
Initiatives aimed at reducing the Port of Brisbane’s ecological footprint include a baseline emissions survey, energy efficient and waste reduction projects, an employee education program, and a commitment to a green built environment at the port.
Our approach
Port of Brisbane Emissions Survey
In June 2010 we completed an inventory of emissions from landside operations at Fisherman and Whyte Islands. Together with the waterside inventory concluded in 2009, PBPL has gained considerable knowledge of the vehicle and vessel characteristics in the port’s precinct, their operations and fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. These inventories enable us to understand the magnitude and source of emissions, prioritise actions to reduce emissions, and benchmark our efforts over time.
The survey has established that ocean-going vessels are the port precinct’s greatest consumer of fuel, and emitter of greenhouse gases and air pollutants. Non-road equipment, including cargo and bulk handling equipment, are the largest landside source.
What are we doing?
Greenhouse gas emissions
During 2009/2010 PBPL’s greenhouse gas emissions were 15,500 tonnes of CO2e, a drop of 16% from the previous year. Over three-quarters of our emissions are attributed to diesel use, and most of this is to run our dredgers. Our annual emissions are significantly influenced by the dredging campaigns for our purposes and our east coast dredging clients.
Energy efficiency
We use electricity for street lighting, buildings, storage of refrigerated containers, sewerage pumping and cathodic protection of our wharves. We have installed low-wattage LED outdoor lighting at the Multi-User Terminal, Port Office car park, and some street lighting on Fisherman Islands.
Supply chain and contracts
The goods and services we purchase and the commercial contracts we manage provide opportunities for sustainable outcomes beyond the greenhouse gas emissions directly attributed to our operations.
All new leases with tenants include a Good Environmental Practice clause, and our construction and dredging contracts include sustainability criteria, as well as the disclosure of fuel use and emissions for our compliance with National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting obligations.
We purchase IT equipment, including monitors and printers that comply with the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool standards. We also purchase recycled copy paper for our printers and our letterhead and major publications are printed on recycled paper.
Given the breadth of capital and maintenance contracts we manage for PBPL and port, there remains significant potential for continual improvement in the economic, social and environmental outcomes from our procurement.
Green buildings and development
We are committed to sustainable commercial and industrial development. We have a vision for the Port of Brisbane to be a world-class industrial trade and transport hub, with a focus on excellent development standards.
Our precinct-based Land Use Plan sets a building standard for development that contributes to the overall operations, amenity and sustainability of the port, and incorporates best practice principles of safety, risk and environmental management.
Innovative design solutions that go above and beyond the relevant building and development code requirements are actively encouraged.
The Port Central precinct – the master-planned commercial and retail hub of the port – sets a ‘green’ benchmark for future development. Based on the ‘green star’ rating system of the Green Building Council of Australia, the precinct has two 5 Star Green Star office buildings – Port Central 1 and PBPL’s new headquarters, Port Office. To receive a 5 Star rating signifies ‘Australian Excellence’ and a commitment to investing in innovative technology and sustainable development.
Waste reduction
We have installed a composting toilet at the Port Gate (Whyte Island) boat ramp, which is located close to port facilities. This facility has the ability to treat 100% of the water and sewerage into wastewater, suitable for irrigation.
The system uses natural process such as worms, bugs and beetles to break down the waste with no odour and little use of electricity. The water from the system is Class A water quality and is used to irrigate the surrounding landscape at the boat ramp.
Water conservation
Our Water Efficiency Management Plan incorporates the monitoring and measuring of water use at Port Office, our Operations Base, Visitors Centre, reclamation site office, and various construction sites.
PBPL is not a large consumer of potable water, but we have reduced our consumption at these facilities from 23.5 megalitres in 2005/2006 to 2.5 megalitres in 2009/2010. This is an overall reduction in water consumption of 75%.
We have also 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.
Material selection
Port infrastructure requires significant raw materials in its construction and, for roadways, ongoing maintenance.
In 2009, the Port of Brisbane became one of the first organisations in Queensland to use an innovative recycled asphalt product mix, in the construction of its roads. The asphalt, which uses 30% less energy to produce, produces 50-60% less dust, and a 30% reduction in CO2, has performed well.
In October 2010, a small building foundation was poured using Earth-Friendly ConcreteTM. This material has significantly less embodied greenhouse gas emissions than traditional cement.
In trialling these materials, PBPL not only learns about emerging products, their application and durability, but offers contractors the opportunity to embrace innovative approaches.
Natural environment
The Port of Brisbane adjoins the Morton Bay Marine Park, which is an area of high ecological value. We have established vegetated areas around the port, which act as natural buffer zones between the port and nearby residential areas, and promote ecological activity.
We work to minimise any impacts on the natural environment from the port’s operations by conducting detailed environmental monitoring programs of the marine, and flora and fauna habitats.
A recent study of the Future Port Expansion’s seawall reveals that this man-made structure supports a new, diverse and abundant flora and fauna community, comprising a range of algae, corals, sea anemones, oysters and sea squirts.
Careers
We manage an employment portal for the businesses at the Port of Brisbane and those companies involved in the shipping logistics chain. The portal – portcareers.com.au – was developed to 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.