<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

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</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Sustainability

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The desire to preserve the special character and historical significance of unique places and buildings is at the heart of heritage preservation. But should heritage be “frozen in time”? Or can it sometimes be adapted for re-use in sustainable ways?
Safeguarding heritage for future generations can celebrate urban histories. But it can also make environmental sense. This includes conserving the embodied energy in buildings and retaining examples of design suited to the local environment.
However, some may see heritage protection as an imposition. This might include owners who wish to add modern sustainability features to a heritage building.
Say, for example, a home owner wants to improve thermal performance and energy efficiency by using double-glazing and solar panels. Would a council heritage officer reject such improvements?
If done well, heritage protection can add value to buildings, neighbourhoods and communities. The benefits can include:
<ul>
<li>preserving cultural and architectural assets</li>
<li>defining the character of places</li>
<li>contributing to social and community well-being</li>
<li>improving the overall built environment.</li>
</ul>
What is old is new again
Many of the world’s cities need to accommodate population growth and activities within existing urban areas. Even places and buildings that are treasured for their cultural value can face mounting pressure for demolition and redevelopment to accommodate growth.
Environmental challenges like climate change are also driving efforts to adapt built environments to be more sustainable and liveable.
How best to protect built heritage then becomes a key question. Fortunately, we can often sustainably modify built heritage for new uses.
Indeed, we have been recycling old places since the first cities were created.
“Adaptive re-use” is the process of repurposing built heritage for new functions. It’s based on the idea of “preservation through transformation”.
Sustainably retrofitting heritage buildings
The possibilities created by adaptive re-use can easily capture the imagination. Could a former chocolate factory be converted into retail spaces? Or a power station be turned into a bookstore, cafe, restaurants or museum? Or a market building be transformed into a museum and studios for artisans?
Adaptive re-use offers potential social, economic, cultural and environmental returns. There are now many successful examples of this. For example, London’s iconic Tate Modern gallery is housed in a former power station.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189732/original/file-20171011-16686-1se7f7f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189732/original/file-20171011-16686-1se7f7f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
From power station to art gallery: the Tate Modern in London. <a class="source" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/reservasdecoches/3661674044" target="_blank">Alquiler de Coches/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
Commentators have noted how since the 1970s formerly disparaged inner-city areas have become trendy around the world. Preserving heritage while allowing buildings and districts to evolve organically in response to current needs is possible.
Buildings are not the only heritage assets that can be adaptively re-used. There are many examples internationally where sites such as cemeteries have been re-used for parks and gardens. One may be seen in the Shandon Architectural Conservation Area in Cork, Ireland.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189724/original/file-20171011-16660-1yvg06y.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
This historic, heritage-protected graveyard in Shandon has been adapted into a pocket park. Tony Matthews
In Sydney, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens are a recycled former water storage reservoir. It’s now a beautiful urban park. As well as recreation and relaxation, the park offers urban cooling.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189707/original/file-20171011-2038-1uu94bj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189707/original/file-20171011-2038-1uu94bj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Paddington Reservoir Gardens in Sydney were formerly a water storage reservoir. <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paddington_Reservoir_Gardens_2010.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA</a>
Adaptive re-use is different to “facadism”, where only the external shell of a building is saved. Adaptive re-use attempts to preserve the interior of building too (wherever possible), sometimes incorporating old fittings in playful ways. Facadism is a less elegant and useful version of heritage protection.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189702/original/file-20171011-2038-1bj2o0l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189702/original/file-20171011-2038-1bj2o0l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
 An example of ‘facadism’ – only the shell of the building is retained. <a class="source" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.flickr.com/photos/newtown_grafitti/6835379279" target="_blank">Newtown grafitti/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
So what is allowed in adaptive re-use?
Given the many possibilities for repurposing buildings and places, we need to keep in mind what steps can be taken to preserve heritage and improve sustainability. Legal, practical and financial questions are central to decisions on adaptive re-use.
A raft of international and national laws, conventions and organisations have emerged in recent decades to guide heritage management. These include the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the Burra Charter and the UNESCO World Heritage List. And practical guidance to protect built heritage while sustainably adapting it is becoming more common.
The European Union has developed guidelines and best practice examples for local governments. These provide guidance for achieving ambitious energy efficiency standards when renovating historic buildings. This is seen as a way for heritage buildings to become beacons of sustainable development at the community level.
ICOMOS Australia also has a range of information about guidelines for sustainability retrofits and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings.
For example, let’s return to our earlier example of fitting solar panels to a heritage building. In South Australia the use of solar panels on heritage buildings needs to ensure they are not visible from the street. Hobart City Council has very specific guidelines for incorporating solar in heritage buildings. In Queensland, sustainability upgrades must not damage or obscure views of the heritage building, must not damage the “significant fabric” of the building, and must be sympathetic in size, scale, colour, materials etc.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83975/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Adaptive re-use offers great potential to protect built heritage while meeting principles of sustainability. Practices that combine built heritage protection and sustainable development are gaining momentum in many cities. Comprehensive, integrated and strategic guidance is the first and best step towards supporting the exciting possibilities.
Jason Byrne, Associate Professor of Environmental Planning, Griffith University.
Tony Matthews, Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Planning, Griffith University.
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sustainable-re-use-and-recycling-work-for-heritage-buildings-and-places-too-83975" target="_blank">original article</a>.
Main photo: The old Pratt Street power plant in Baltimore in the US is now home to commercial uses. But the heritage preservation is compromised by advertising that is not sympathetic to the building style and design. Source: <a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BaltimorePowerPlant.JPG">Wikimedia Commons</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sustainable re-use and recycling work for heritage buildings and places too

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The global benchmark for environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of real assets, GRESB has named the Australia and New Zealand real estate market as the world’s most sustainable.
GRESB assessed 850 real estate companies and funds, representing more than 77,000 properties and AUD $4.6 trillion in global assets under management.
The Australia/New Zealand regional score was 73, compared with a global average of 63.
In 2016, Australia/NZ scored 74, compared with the global average of 60.
Ruben Langbroek, Head of Asia Pacific at GRESB said a record 66 Australian companies with AUD $205 billion in assets reported to GRESB this year, up from 55 last year.
He said this uptake is a direct result of increased investor demand for ESG-related disclosures.
“Transparency on ESG performance of property companies and funds supports investors, such as superannuation funds, to make better informed decisions on where and how to allocate their capital," he said.
“Importantly, it also enables them to identify material topics for engagement with their investment managers, with the aim of enhancing and protecting shareholder value.
“The results for Australia and New Zealand underline that investor interest, supported by accurate ESG performance benchmarking and building-level certification programs, is empowering the spread of leading practices in sustainability.
“The region’s integrated approach to sustainability supports the industry’s efforts to create healthy working environments, efficient buildings, inclusive communities and resilient cities.”
Romilly Madew, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia’s said green building certification programs, like Green Star and NABERS, are now institutionalised in mature real estate markets like Australia.
“Disclosure and transparency continue to drive the market in Australia, influenced by a host of factors from the Paris Agreement targets and Sustainable Development Goals, to disclosure requirements through the stock exchange and the Green Building Council of Australia’s zero carbon agenda,” she said.
“Australia continues to be recognised globally for its high level of transparency, collaboration and knowledge- sharing, as well as its accountability for sustainability at the highest levels.
“GRESB can help investors understand important non-financial metrics that are influencing the value of buildings across global markets.
“Leading companies understand this, which is why 20 per cent more Australian companies are now reporting to GRESB than a year ago.”
Lendlease’s Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial was ranked number one of all 850 companies and funds globally.
Lendlease International Towers Sydney Trust and Lendlease One International Towers Sydney Trust were jointly named the most sustainable development funds globally, and the Asian Retail Investment Fund 1 recognised as the regional leader for the retail sector in Asia.
The Australian Prime Property Fund Retail ranked number two in Oceania.
Josh McHutchison, Lendlease’s Managing Director, Investment Management, said around the world, we continue to see more and more investment in sustainable world-class assets.
“Established rating tools like Green Star provide investors with an independent verification of performance and helps us position our funds to meet the demands of leading investors,” he said.
Dexus Wholesale Property Fund was named a global sector leader for diversified office and retail groups.
Darren Steinberg, Dexus Chief Executive Officer said being named a global sector leader recognises our success in delivering world class, sustainable properties and is testament to the hard work and efforts of our sustainability team
Stockland was ranked first globally among listed companies for the diversified office and retail sector.
Stockland also announced today they will invest $23.5 million roll out Australia’s largest ever property solar project at 10 of its shopping centres across the country.
Davina Rooney, Stockland General Manager for Sustainability, said Stockland, sustainability is integral to what we do, creating vibrant and thriving places to shop, work and live, now and into the future.
“We continue to take a concerted effort to improve and measure sustainability across the business - within our assets, through our supply chain, the location and design of our communities and through tangible benefits to our customers and retailers,” he said
“We are 100% committed to investing in sustainability for the business and extremely proud to be setting this new standard in solar for Australian property.”
GRESB’s regional sector leaders for Australia/NZ are:
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Retail – Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Vicinity Centres
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Office – Listed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Dexus Office Trust
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Office – Private:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial – Lendlease
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Industrial – Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Frasers Logistics &amp; Industrial Trust
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Diversified – Retail/Office Mixed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Dexus Wholesale Property Fund
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Development fund – Listed:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Goodman Group
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="186">
Development fund – Private:
</td>
<td valign="top" width="239">
Lendlease International Towers Sydney Trust
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index named Mirvac the top real estate group.
Investment specialist group RobecoSAM, which compiles the rankings, singled out Mirvac’s “climate strategy and approach to biodiversity” as “particularly laudable”.
Mirvac's top ranking was underpinned by strengths in corporate governance, impact measurement and valuation, environmental reporting, and social reporting.
Mirvac’s CEO and Managing Director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz. said the result demonstrates our whole-hearted commitment to sustainability in its broadest form, which provides real value to our communities, customers, partners and investors.
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Australia posts seven years of global sustainability leadership

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/80677/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Our cities have now been named as the saving places of a planet in crisis. And yet we cannot decide on the principles that make for a good city. Everybody has a view, but some views are more sustainable than others.
What we desperately need is a big and general public dialogue about the principles that make for a good city. This is the basis of our project, Principles for Better Cities, led by the City of Berlin. It provides a platform for the Ecocity World Summit in Melbourne this week.
<h2>Broader vision is needed</h2>
We need to get beyond the current tendency to become fixated on spruiking different high-level concepts. For example, IBM, Microsoft and Big Tech have put their money – or actually other people’s money – on the smart city.
But the concept of the smart city is too often reduced to narrow technological monitoring and big data collection. McKinsey says that a good city will achieve “smart growth”. But tell that to Brussels, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto and Vienna, global cities that are declining in size.
The Mercer group and The Economist tell us liveability is the key. However, they narrowly developed their indices for corporations seeking to decide on how much they will pay their executives for moving to less liveable cities. This raises a further question: “Liveable for whom?”
The Rockefeller Foundation is backing the resilient city. This too is an important concept. But much of its appeal to governments is in saving resources as they seek to defer increasing climate risks through pushing responsibility back to resilient communities to self-manage their recoveries.
<h2>A common problem of definition</h2>
What actually is a good city then? 
Depending on who you ask, they are sustainable cities, liveable cities and resilient cities, but they are also adapting cities and carbon-neutral cities. Or they are caring cities, inclusive cities, just cities, peaceful cities, information cities and networked cities. To confuse things further, they are also prosperous cities, learning cities and innovative cities.
Just by listing these urban forms, the problem starts to become clearer. These are just concepts with shifting or weak definitions. They mean anything “good” and apply variously to anybody’s projections.
The second problem comes with deciding what is actually good about these different emphases.
As part of this difficulty, assigning different indicators to each of these urban forms is extraordinarily difficult. Is a city more liveable because it has a Mediterranean climate? That is what the current liveability indices would suggest. 
Is a city more resilient because its “man-made assets” are more robust? (Excuse the gender-specific language here.) That is what the core resilience literature tells us.
<h2>Who decides?</h2>
The third problem centres on the question: “Who decides what is good?”
The principles and indicators tend to be decided by elite researchers working at a distance from the field, or by teams using sets of secondary data that may or may not be appropriate. 
Elite teams develop black-box indicator sets (such as liveability indexes) that remain commercial-in-confidence. The data drive the index construction without consideration of the meaning of that data. For example, one index ranking better cities in the greater Sydney region is driven by an indicator that suggests a key consideration is being closer to the beach or mountains.
The fourth problem becomes how do we order and prioritise the many claims about what is good. There are so many considerations that the number of potential principles becomes overwhelming. 
This happened to the New Urban Agenda, developed by the United Nations over the last two years. It has hundreds of principles, all thrown together in an incomprehensible list. Cities are understandably confused.
<h2>Towards an inclusive, holistic approach</h2>
Our Principles for Better Cities attempt to respond to all these problems. Complementary to the New Urban Agenda, Principles for Better Cities is an initiative of the World Association of Major Metropolises, which has been working with cities on a set of basic principles to guide good urban development.
This set is based on the proposition that, rather than just adding together a list of proposals from different current or immediate concerns, the principles should begin from a general framework that concerns the human condition.
We start with the idea that there should be basic principles that relate to the following basic domains of social life:
<ul>
<li>
Ecology – cities should have a deep and integrated relationship with nature.
</li>
<li>
Economics – cities should be based on an economy organised around the social needs of all citizens.
</li>
<li>
Politics – cities should have an enhanced emphasis on engaged and negotiated civic involvement.
</li>
<li>
Culture – cities should actively develop ongoing processes for dealing with the uncomfortable intersections of identity and difference.
</li>
</ul>
These have become the top-level principles for going deeper and deeper, elaborated across more and more specific subdomains of practice. 
And here is the completely novel dimension. These principles have been and will be debated by people. None of these principles are fixed, hidden, confusing, or commercial-in-confidence. They are the outcome of open dialogue.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-james-95757" target="_blank">Paul James</a> is Professor of Globalization and Cultural Diversity, Western Sydney University.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/belinda-young-388954" target="_blank">Belinda Young</a> is Project Officer – Ecocity, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-gleeson-9823" target="_blank">Brendan Gleeson</a> is Director, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-wiseman-252" target="_blank">John Wiseman</a> is Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne.
All are authors for <a href="https://theconversation.com/au" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

What actually is a good city?

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Two of City of Melbourne's key urban design initiatives are in the starters gates, with Lord Major Robert Doyle yesterday providing further information on the pair.

As of next month, the long-awaited upgrade to the southern end of Elizabeth Street will begin. Previously outlined on Apartments.com.au during its infancy, the project will seek to transform the area into "a more functional, safe and attractive gateway for the thousands of pedestrians who use it every day,"

Having 9,300 per hour cycle through the bottom end of Elizabeth Street during peak times, the $2.2 million upgrade will include removing auto traffic southbound between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street by October this year. In turn pedestrian space will be more than doubled.

Five key components constitute the Elizabeth Street upgrade:

<ul>
<li>Southbound traffic lane removed</li>
	<li>New pedestrian area</li>
	<li>Tram stop stays</li>
	<li>Western footpath upgraded</li>
	<li>Northbound traffic lane stays.</li>
</ul>
The Elizabeth Street upgrade joins projects such as the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/guide-to-parks/Pages/west-melbourne-parks-expansion-opportunities.aspx">West Melbourne parks expansion project</a> and <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard">Southbank Boulevard's pending transformation</a> in consuming sections of the existing road network in order to create greener, pedestrian friendly outcomes.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image84_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="419" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_8.jpg?itok=-Vup6nYX" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM</figcaption></figure>Greener outcomes are also what City of Melbourne has in mind with yesterday's announcement that Council will allocate $1.2 million from its new Urban Forest Fund in order to encourage the greening of the city.

Under the plan, "City of Melbourne will partner with philanthropists, property developers, community groups and other Government organisations on greening projects. The initiatives could include planting trees, creating parks, green walls, roofs and facades and storm water projects."

The image above is what City of Melbourne hopes to be the eventual outcome of the scheme, highlighting the 236 hectares of intensive (heavy) green roofs and 328 hectares of extensive (lightweight) green roofs earmarked as capable of being receiving the green treatment.

In order to facilitate the transition to a greener CBD and surrounds, City of Melbourne have what is thought to be <a href="http://commedia.cmail19.com/t/i-i-uuyhjll-l-r/">a world first online tool</a> which maps all the rooftops which have the potential to be turned into solar, cool or green roofs. 
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silvermb

CoM launches two projects aimed at enhancing the CBD

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Developments on government-owned land in Sydney will become carbon neutral, water positive and produce zero waste by 2028, under a new sustainability strategy released for public comment today.
UrbanGrowth NSW’s Draft Sustainability Strategy sets a number of goals and 31 targets for sustainable development across the organisation’s urban transformation projects and greenfield developments.
“UrbanGrowth NSW has a legacy through Landcom as a development industry leader in sustainability, and was among the first development agencies to report on sustainability performance,” said UrbanGrowth NSW Acting Chief Executive Michael Brodie.
“Our new targets will be monitored annually to ensure they remain at, or exceed, industry leading standards. We want to create a legacy of sustainable places for future generations in New South Wales.
“UrbanGrowth NSW will be responsible for the targets on land within our delivery control. Our delivery partners, such as developers, will need to meet our targets, which will be clearly established during Expressions of Interest or tender phases, and embedded into our delivery contracts,” said Mr Brodie.
The Draft Sustainability Strategy is aligned with global commitments from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda, the COP21 Paris Agreement, and the 100 Resilient Cities program.
“Our aim is to create innovative and productive urban places with world class liveability, resilience, inclusion, affordability and environmental quality,” said Senior Manager of Sustainability Lauren Kajewski.
“The 31 sustainability targets will lead to greater water and energy efficiency, reduced waste, innovation, less car dependency and higher liveability across Sydney.”
The targets include:
<ul>
<li>reducing the use of potable water (drinking water quality) by 50%</li>
<li>diverting 95% of all construction waste from landfill with a focus on recycling</li>
<li>100% of timber sourced for construction to be Forest Stewardship Council Certified</li>
<li>20% of all new housing designed and built to Liveable Housing Design Silver certification (in addition to any legislative requirement); and</li>
<li>all developments to incorporate high-speed broadband and free wifi in key open spaces.</li>
</ul>
UrbanGrowth NSW is seeking industry and community feedback through an online survey over a 10- week period from 1 March to 7 May 2017.
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UrbanGrowth NSW building a sustainable Sydney

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GUEST OBSERVER
This year is the United Nations’ International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Taleb Rifai declared it gave: "A unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued."
Sustainable tourism comes from the concept of sustainable development, as set out in the 1987 Brundtland report. Sustainable development is:
"A development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
British environmental activist George Monbiot argued that, over the years, sustainable development has morphed into sustained growth. The essence of his argument is that little resolve exists to go beyond rhetoric. This is because environmental crises require we limit the demands we place on it, but our economies require endless growth.
At the moment, economic growth trumps environmental limits, so sustainability remains elusive.
What is sustainable tourism?
Tourism is important to our efforts to achieve sustainable development. It is a massive industry, and many countries rely on it for their economies.
In 2016, more than 1.2 billion people travelled as tourists internationally, and another 6 billion people travelled domestically.
According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, sustainable tourism is:
"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities."
Following on from Monbiot’s criticism, we might ask if efforts are directed at “sustaining tourism”, or instead harnessing tourism for wider sustainable development goals.
No place is off the tourism circuit
Looking at some of the tourism trouble spots, complacency is not called for.
Venice residents have accused tourists of “destroying their city”. Barcelona’s government has passed legislation to limit new tourist accommodation. The Galapagos sees mass tourism’s arrival threatening the iconic wildlife that attracts visitors.
No place is off the tourism circuit, so tourism grows with few limits. Ironically, tourists even want to tour Antarctica to see its pristine environment before it disappears (“last-chance tourism”). This is despite their impacts contributing to global warming and threatening this last wild place.
It is difficult to get a complete picture of the impacts of tourism because no-one is working to build a comprehensive view. So, insights are fragmented.
While we might be sceptical that UN “years” are often more rhetoric than real, we can nonetheless seize the opportunity to make tourism more sustainable.
How can tourism be made more sustainable?
Tourism can be made more sustainable through several achievable measures. Some look to technological solutions so we can continue business as usual. Others highlight conscious consumerism and ideas like slow travel.
But in a world in which growing populations with endless consumer demands are pitted against a fragile environment, we require more concerted effort.
1) Governments must implement policies that foster sustainable development by overcoming the growth fetish. Tourism then should be developed only within sustainable development parameters. Governments must tackle the environmental limits to growth and climate change challenges we confront. Tourism development requires integrated planning. So, we need the government tourism authorities – such as Tourism Australia or state tourism commissions – focused equally on integrated planning as the marketing they currently emphasise.
2) Consumers should be educated for responsible travel choices. For example, few realise that all-inclusive resorts result in economic benefits from tourism leaking out of the host economy back to the home economies of the big multinationals and corporations that often own such resorts (think Club Med). Civics education in schools could educate for responsible travel.
3) Local communities, often treated as only as one stakeholder among the many, must have a right to participate in tourism decision-making and have a say on if and how their communities become tourism destinations.
4) Workers of tourism must have their rights respected and given decent conditions. Tourism should not be allowed to continue as a low-wage and precarious source of employment.
5) The tourism industry needs to assume greater responsibility, submitting to local tax regimes and regulations so its presence builds thriving communities, rather than undermining them. This is increasingly essential as a social license to operate. The industry should also educate its clients on responsible tourism.
6) Non-governmental organisations are essential for reporting on the abuses of tourism, including land grabs, human rights abuses, community opposition and corruption.
Harnessing these essential stakeholders in a rigorous agenda for sustainable development, rather than sustaining tourism, would make the UN’s “year” more meaningful.
 
Freya Higgins-Desbiolles is affiliated with the Centre for Tourism and Leisure Management, University of South Australia. She can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-higgins-desbiolles-181651" target="_blank">contacted here</a>.
 
 
 
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Tourism industry grows without restriction – but there are ways to curb its environmental damage

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/70038/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
Sitting at home in the recent heat, your mind may start to wander to that fancy new air conditioner. 
But when it comes to making your house comfortable and sustainable, prevention is better than cure. By prevention we mean simple retrofits that will set you on the path to comfort and sustainability. 
As we spend more than ever on maintaining and improving our homes, we’re also becoming more aware of how their design and use impact on our health and society. Add to this climate change and rising energy costs. 
There are many ways to reduce energy and stay comfortable. Numerous reports suggest it should be possible to reduce your energy use by 50-80 percent using existing and available materials and appliances.
Appliance are the easy bit, and you can find the most efficient appliances using energy star ratings. But before you go out and buy that air conditioner, consider the following principles that can help you decide what you need to create a comfortable home. 
<h2>Prevention better than cure</h2>
For a long time the perfect “room temperature” was considered to be around 21℃. But we now understand that as humans we like temperature variations rather than vanilla indoor environments.
As explored in Lisa Heschong’s book Thermal Delight in Architecture(1979), most of us are not looking for a beige thermal environment after all. So to start with, we need a change in attitude. Bring back the cardigan for winter and the shorts for summer! 
The next point is basic knowledge about your climate zone. For instance, in Melbourne there are more heating days (159) than cooling days (35). So, if you are retrofitting in summer, remember the main annual task is actually letting the sun in in winter.
Even with climate change, Melbourne will still require heating on more days than cooling for decades to come, whereas in Brisbane the priority is keeping out the heat and catching the breeze. 
So Melbourne homes need reversible sunblock. You can use plants with seasonal foliage to shade summer windows, or temporary techniques like temporary sail shades or movable window awnings can work. Plants can also cool outdoor spaces through evapotranspiration, which helps combat the growing “urban heat island” problem and makes the backyard a more pleasant place to be.
Despite some bad press over the years, insulating ceiling, floors and walls where possible remains the best way to address 50-80% of heat gains/losses. In many homes ceiling insulation is cheap and easy to fit and can even be topped up. Insulated homes have also been found to perform better during extreme weather events and are quieter, more comfortable and natural places to be.
In summer sun, black roofs are bad news. Coating surfaces can reflect excess heat. Coating technology has been employed in paint products for your walls and roofs, and is also being developed in landscaping materials for the backyard.
Single-glazed windows are responsible for 10-35% of heat gains/losses in our homes. A range of double-glazed window products is now available, or you can even get a secondary glass pane to place over existing windows. 
Double-glazed (or triple-glazed) homes are more comfortable in extreme weather, and are also quieter and more comfortable. Add drapes and blinds for added temporary use to keep out sun or keep in warmth when needed.
While these preventive passive measures might seem basic, the fact is that (a) technologies, markets and pricing are changing rapidly, so it makes sense to be open to new retrofitting ideas and products; and (b) comfort remains the big-ticket item and it will only get more so as climate change affects all of our homes. Addressing this first will reduce the requirement for other technologies and appliances.
<h2>The principles of retrofitting</h2>
Another area of technology progress is digital data systems to monitor indoor energy services. Energy supplier portals, temperature loggers and smartphone apps are now widely available.
For the more enthusiastic, if you buy a couple of temperature loggers and place one in your main living area and one in your main bedroom you can collect data at intervals as small as one second. You can use this data to identify how your house is performing and how you are using it. More importantly, you can satisfy yourself that the retrofit you’ve just paid for has made a difference.
We’ve only covered a few focus areas in this article. There are many good options we haven’t dealt with. However, we propose three principles for any retrofit project:
<ol>
<li>
prioritise big-ticket items (such as thermal comfort) – what do you need most and what uses the most energy? – to plan and design around your climate zone and home needs
</li>
<li>
prevention is better than cure – focus on passive elements before turning to appliances
</li>
<li>
diversity is better than standardisation – don’t aim for 21℃, aim for controllable comfort, openable windows and adjustable systems room by room. Design in easy adjustment through movable technologies such as fans, curtains, plants and shades.
</li>
</ol>
With all the hard work done, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the new indoor environment, but be aware that, as with our climate, our conventions, routines and expectations of comfort are constantly changing. 
Some argue for evidence of a comfort dividend, where occupants of newly eco-retrofitted homes increase their use of heating or cooling appliances (or both). 
Undoubtedly, as consumption patterns change and social standards shift, we will need to adjust our eco-retrofit priorities. Homes are not just a material work in progress, but are sites of social and cultural life after all.
 
Trivess Moore is research Fellow, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/trivess-moore-12580" target="_blank">here</a>.
Andrew Carre is lecturer, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-carre-321635" target="_blank">here</a>.
Ralph Horne is deputy pro vice chancellor, Research &amp; Innovation; Director of UNGC Cities Programme; Professor, RMIT University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-horne-160543" target="_blank">here</a>. 
All authors for The Conversation.
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Thinking about a sustainable retrofit? Here are three things to consider

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Urban development and renewal expert, Dr Joan Clos, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations’ Habitat Program, will visit Australia in May.
Australia is a signatory to the New Urban Agenda (NUA), the UN’s 20 year road map for sustainable urban development.
The NUA sets a new standard for sustainable urban development and is designed to help countries rethink how they plan, manage and live in cities.
Compass Housing, in association with RMIT University, Victorian Department of the Environment, Land Water and Planning, CoDesign Studio and Eastern Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), is bringing together representatives from across the region to explore the implications of the new agenda and start work towards delivery of outcomes.
The conference Implementing the New Urban Agenda: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 4-5 May 2017.
Greg Budworth, Compass Housing group managing director,  said the Australian Government's adoption of the NUA last October was an important opportunity for housing and urban policy development.
“The conference in Melbourne will provide the first real opportunity in Australasia and the Pacific region for those with an interest in getting urban development right, to start developing an effective and strategic approach without further delay.
“We know our population is growing, it will potentially double in the next 50 years, and this is putting pressure on our urban areas, particularly capital cities. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures suggest two-thirds of Australians currently live in a capital city and this may increase to nearly three-quarters in the relatively near future.
“Housing affordability is already an enormous problem, and there are more than 200,000 families on the waiting list for social housing while 40 per cent of people receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance are still in housing stress.”
Professor David Adamson, conference chair,  said addressing these issues and delivering the key NUA objectives of “cities for all” and “no one left behind” would require the collaboration of a wide range of private, public, academic and not-for-profit agencies.
“Having the head of the UN Habitat Program in attendance in Melbourne is a fantastic opportunity and a sign of the global significance of the event,” he said.
“Dr Clos has had an illustrious career spanning public health, diplomacy, municipal government and urban renewal and will bring powerful insight and enormous practical experience to the task at hand,” he said.
 
 
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Global sustainable urban development leader to help inform Australian policy direction

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Frasers Property Australia have won the National Signatory of the Year category at the CitySwitch Green Office awards for renovations to their St Kilda office to promote staff health and wellbeing.
Frasers Property Australia upped their NABERS rating from four to five stars. HESTA was awarded a highly commended.
The National New Signatory of the Year went to KPMG with a 72 percent waste recovery rate  and reducing paper by more than 8 million sheets.
NSW winners included the State Library of NSW (Signatory of the Year over 2000 square metres), Architectus (Signatory of the Year under 2000 square metres), Norman Disney &amp; Young and Westpac (Partnership of the Year) and Marlin Communications (NSW Signatory of the Year).
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said CitySwitch has come a long way from the small program offered by three Sydney councils in 2005.
"It has spread across the country and is now receiving global recognition for the way it has engaged businesses of all sizes to make a difference on carbon emissions,” she said.
“It’s a heartening sign that Australian business is serious about its environmental impacts, and also that it has been quick to grasp the business benefits of a green economy. Since 2011, CitySwitch members across Australia have slashed emissions while saving a combined $34 million in electricity bills.
“CitySwitch National Signatory of the Year, Frasers, achieved a 4.5 star NABERS Indoor Environment Quality rating with improvements to lighting, air quality, natural ventilation and maximising use of natural light.
“The fact that CitySwitch is in line to receive a major international accolade is a credit to the businesses that have enthusiastically jumped on board this great initiative.
“I congratulate all finalists and winners and thank them for being a part of the CitySwitch Green Office program.”
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Best and brightest offices make sustainable switch

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<div class="intro">
Four development projects have made the shortlist for the NSW Government's Green Globe Awards built environment category.
The projects include 5 Martin Place, Sydney from DEXUS Property Group, Fairwater from Frasers Property Australia, 275 Kent Street, Sydney by Mirvac and Westpac: St. George, Barangaroo Branch
The winners will be  announced 28 October
DEXUS Property Group: 5 Martin Place, Sydney
5 Martin Place was developed by Cbus Property and DEXUS Property Group. The development sets a new benchmark for office buildings in Sydney with its clever architectural design, high-end materials and finishes, and good access to natural light and ventilation.
Frasers Property Australia: Fairwater (pictured above)
Fairwater, Frasers Property Australia's 38 hectare residential development in Blacktown, is built on an old golf course surrounded by communal outdoor areas and ecological precincts. It is the first 6-star Green Star - Communities rating to be awarded in NSW. This project represents initiatives in large-scale residential precinct development which locks in real outcomes in sustainable living for residents.
Mirvac: 275 Kent Street, Sydney
Westpac Place at 275 Kent Street is one of Australia's largest office buildings. As Westpac's head office it contains extensive office space plus a food court, child care centre and urban park. Built by Mirvac in 2015, the building was one of the first properties in Australia to achieve a 6-Star Green Star Performance rating. The rating represents World Leadership in operational management and complements the property's 5-Star NABERS energy rating.
Westpac: St. George, Barangaroo Branch
Westpac's focus on environmental solutions has resulted in the large urban renewal development at Barangaroo, Sydney. The development is the first retail fit-out in Australia to be awarded a 6-Star Green Star - Interiors rating by the Green Building Council of Australia. The fit-out design ensures water and energy consumption is minimised. All furniture and building materials in the fit-out demonstrate a reduced environmental impact over their entire lifecycle compared to standard products. Social innovations include the provision for community organisations to use the branch premises outside office hours.
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<div class="navigation-tile lvl-three">
For more information, <a href="https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/greenglobes/" target="_blank">click here</a>.
 
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