Peter Cane

Meet Peter Cane: the Project Manager with a perfect balance of grit and expertise to advance the Port’s property portfolio sustainably.

When Peter joined the Port of Brisbane in 2018, he hadn't envisaged it was the beginning of a journey that would lead him and the Port team to start a new era of sustainably developed buildings at the Port. With the desire to make things happen and the unparallel support of his leaders, Peter set a new benchmark for developing sustainable assets that both support our pursuit of net-zero emissions and create a more profitable portfolio in the long run for PBPL and our customers.

UP FOR A BIGGER CHALLENGE

When Peter finished his Engineering degree, he did what many engineers do; he began working in the construction sector. Ready for a change of pace, Peter moved into the commercial property development field. "I didn't want to always be working on sites just focused on delivery. I've always preferred working on the Client side. I wanted to be involved in the front end of projects, working through concept, feasibility, budgeting, design, approvals, and procurement; there is so much that happens before you engage a builder and start building. All the hard work and decisions leading up to that point, before you even start building, really dictate if the project is going to be successful or not. I didn't want to just build things; I wanted to develop them."

When Peter joined the PBPL four and a half years ago, he saw it as an opportunity to make a difference. He recognised that the Port was going through a strong growth phase and saw genuine interest in pursuing sustainable development aspirations and was convinced he wanted to be a key part of that journey.

DELIVERING OUR SUSTAINABILITY ASPIRATIONS

The Port examined ways to deliver sustainable built form solutions that met customer expectations. Understanding current outcomes and exploring new technologies was key in determining how we could improve our sustainability outcomes across our property portfolio. Leveraging the work already in place with the green star rating system enabled the Port to identify and then implement changes in building technologies, changes to product selections and ultimately deliver built form outcomes that are very sustainable.

“When I came on board, the Property and Development team were starting to increase the focus towards more sustainable development, working with our customers to pursue opportunities to improve the performance of our assets.  I’m proud of the journey we’ve been on over the last few years to challenge ourselves to deliver industry-leading outcomes in our new developments.  We’ve invested a lot of time reviewing our processes from those initial customer interactions right through to practical completion to ensure we embed leading-edge practices and deliver improved asset performance.

MAKING A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

In only four years of working at the Port, Peter can already see the significant impact those small changes have made. "In the first couple of projects I delivered, we barely put a solar panel on the building, maybe a small one for hot water. Now we're putting decent-sized solar systems on every project."

But delivering a truly sustainable building doesn't stop at installing solar panels on new constructions, and Peter explained what it looks like in practical terms. "Solar panels is just one way to reduce energy; by installing translucent polycarbonate panels in 10% of the roof areas, we can make use of natural light, and in Queensland, it means that some warehouses don't even need to have the lights on. We also install LED lighting technology which is more energy efficient. We capture rainwater to reduce water usage and repurpose it to irrigate the garden and flush toilets. We install smart taps to prevent water waste. We select native plants for landscaping that are climate resilient and require less water. But it doesn't stop there. We’re always trying to be one step ahead. We recently found an organisation that recycles the material from demolished buildings—they crush, clean and sell it as a replacement for gravel, which is traditionally extracted from a quarry. These products have been successfully used in about six of our projects so far. We have trialled and implemented the use of earth-friendly concrete on a number of our projects, and we are now exploring what options for other sustainable materials are available in the market, including options for concrete and steel, which are energy intensive to manufacture."

“Our new approach to building infrastructure is not just environmentally right but also more profitable for the Port and our customers. It's a win-win for our customers and our investors. Our customers are saving by reducing their electricity bills and water usage, and the Port has assets that will hold their value and have reduced maintenance costs; we are producing premium investor-grade assets that will stand the test of time. Everyone wins." 

HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS SEE THE BENEFITS

Depending on the customer profile, sustainability might not have been at the forefront of their priority list. Peter explains that not all customers approach the project concerned about being environmentally friendly. "In office and retail, there's been a concern for a while, but in the industrial sphere, not so much. You have customers who are global leaders, and they do have an established commitment to sustainability, but you also have small owner-operated businesses who say, 'yes, it is a nice-to-have thing, but why should I bother?' We spend a lot of time during the design process to outline the benefits and connect them to the value proposition that comes from sustainable development. Once they see the project completed and they move in, the satisfaction rate is very high, they see how much savings it will result in and the efficiency they’ve gained with their new facility; it’s often more than they expected.

A JOB WITH A PURPOSE AND A STRONG TEAM BEHIND IT

Always chasing a new challenge, upon joining the Port, Peter was pleasantly surprised by the breadth of projects he could work on; "we are producing good products here; we're building really high-quality facilities. We work really hard to try to ensure the customers get what they want, and when we get positive feedback from customers after moving into their facilities, saying it is even better than they've imagined, that is the sort of thing that I particularly enjoy; when it all comes together, it's pretty satisfying."

Peter recognises that the project's success relies on having a robust, capable and supportive team that is committed to delivering the best outcomes for PBPL and our customers. "The Property team work really well together; we communicate well and are focused on a common goal. It’s a positive work environment where everyone can contribute ideas; we are working under constant pressure to meet commercial deadlines and deliver high-quality outcomes; however, there is great support, and the team knows how to release pressure by finding ways to have fun. It’s a great group of people who together achieve some amazing outcomes, and I am proud to be a part of it.”

A LEGACY FOR YEARS TO COME

The work Peter has delivered to PBPL so far has a far-reaching impact, a legacy for the future generation. "I firmly believe that the Port’s focus on sustainability is the right thing. Not just because it’s the right thing for our business to do in terms of the environment but also for PBPL to get the best outcomes for our operations, and I think we'll see the benefits for years, if not decades, to come. I personally get a high degree of satisfaction when we get to the end of a project; after 18-24 months of hard work, you see the physical result, the facility came together really well, the user is really happy, and you know that you and the team have done a good job; it's truly rewarding".

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