This is an archive copy of a document originally located at http://www.dtscg.vic.gov.au/4A256B7500063206/ImageLookup/EnvironmentAdvisoryCommitteeReport/$file/Commonwealth%20Games%20Advisory%20Committee%20Report%20.doc.

A. Introduction

B. Assessment Criteria for Environmental Measures

C. Priority Recommendations

D. General Recommendations

E. Public Transport and Air Emissions

F. Sustainable energy and greenhouse

G. Waste avoidance and resource recovery

H. Water Quality, Conservation and Recycling

I. Protection of the natural environment

J. Next Steps

Appendices

The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Environment Framework sets out the Government’s vision to achieve a legacy of sustainable assets and behaviours. This Committee’s mission was to distil the relevant lessons learnt from other major events such as the Sydney Olympic Games, undertake a public consultation process and report back to the Minister for Commonwealth Games on how to meet the Government’s vision for environmental performance as outlined in the Environment Framework.

The Committee was encouraged by the level of enthusiasm displayed by individuals and groups that participated in its process. It believes one of the critical factors in the environmental success of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games (‘the Games’) will be harnessing the enthusiasm and working with the diverse range of people keen to participate in the ongoing process of making the Commonwealth Games sustainable – environmentally, economically, socially.

The Committee is aware the Commonwealth Games is a significantly different event to that of the Olympic Games, and that the Melbourne Commonwealth Games will be one third the size and scale of the Sydney Olympic Games. Melbourne already has most of the infrastructure requirement for the Games.

The Games need to be delivered in a cost effective and financially responsible manner. The Committee is of the view that resources for Games should be targeted to minimise the ecological footprint and maximise the amount of behavioural change, particularly in areas of public transport and energy use, litter and the appreciating the value of natural resources.

In this context the Committee strongly believes that principles of the waste hierarchy should be adopted more broadly and underpin all areas of Games delivery.                

The Committee’s priority recommendations reflect this hierarchy and can be summarised in the following themes:

• Waste is a resource management issue and should be recognised in all contracts with the objective of minimising waste.
• Energy management should aim for carbon neutral Games.
• Water management should be integrated to produce a waterwise event.
• Walking, cycling and public transport be the preferred transport options.
• Net energy resource use should be offset by carbon sequestration.
• The above outcomes should be delivered through sustainability covenants, procurement criteria and appropriate monitoring.

The Committee has adopted a template of environmental base standards, enhancement initiatives and legacies. This approach has been outlined in the introduction to this report. The Committee has assumed that the performance measures outlined in the Government’s Environmental Framework for the Games will provide the baseline for the sustainability program. It has concentrated on those activities that will provide a long-term legacy either by permanent behaviour change or demonstration of processes that will minimise resource use thus providing net community benefit.

The Committee has developed assessment criteria to be used to assess environmental measures in proposals and tenders. The Committee has recommended that there are opportunities to demonstrate a range of sustainability measures such as the use of artificial wetlands to improve quality of stormwater for reuse, co-generation at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) and infrastructure to encourage public place recycling as well as facilities to handle organic waste. Waste minimisation can also be demonstrated in demolition and construction activities at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as a high profile site.

Significant reductions in resource use can be achieved by behavioural change and the Committee has made a number of relevant recommendations. Wherever possible existing programs have been drawn on as models or extensions proposed, to ensure maximum leverage and consistency of approach.

In respect of energy and transport, where resource use cannot be avoided or reduced, the Committee has recommended the purchase of green power and a program to sequester residual carbon, leveraging existing programs. This will not only improve the sustainability of the Games but also provide a legacy in rural Victoria.

The Committee is advocating sustainability covenants as the vehicle to achieve coordinated implementation of its recommendations. Sustainability covenants are voluntary negotiated agreements between the proponent and relevant agencies that put in place a continuous improvement plan for making an activity (of a business, development, etc..) more sustainable.

The Committee has suggested outcomes and targets, which could form the basis of a sustainability monitoring program and recommended the establishment of a Environment Stakeholder Reference Group to oversight this program. Sustainability covenants would set in place an integrated framework of key performance indicators, monitoring, reporting, and auditing, providing rigour and transparency.

The Commonwealth Games provide the opportunity to showcase Melbourne over and above its role as a world-class sporting centre. Although the cultural and social activities along with its intellectual stimulation are the obvious manifestations of the Melbourne experience, this is underpinned by its environmental quality making Melbourne one of the world’s most liveable cities. Consistent with this the recommendations in this report have been formulated to enable the Games to provide a demonstration of Victoria’s maturity in developing an ecologically sustainable approach to its social and economic activities.

As a basis for delivering a sustainable Games the Victorian Government released its Melbourne Commonwealth Games – The Environment Framework on 2 July 2002. The Environment Framework outlines the Government’s vision:

The Environment Framework sets out eight areas of environmental performance that Government seeks to achieve for the Games. The Framework covers all aspects of operations and infrastructure.

This report presents the advice of the Commonwealth Games Advisory Committee (Environment) in response to the Framework in the context of its Terms of Reference and reports on its activities and considerations for the period 2 July 2002 to 13 September 2002 (see Appendix 1 for Committee member profiles). In framing its recommendations the Committee has identified the base requirements for each area reflecting statutory requirements, Government policy and accepted good environmental practice. The Committee has assumed that normal operations of the Games, including the construction and other preparatory measures, will be in accordance with the base requirements. In addition the Committee has identified a range of optional enhancements for consideration in determining successful tenderers or which may provide ongoing legacies for Victorians.

The Committee has made every effort to provide detailed recommendations in response to its Terms of Reference that reflect both practicability, cost effectiveness and net community benefit but recognises that further analysis and consideration may need to take place with parties responsible for implementing the recommendations.

The Commonwealth Games Advisory Committee (Environment) was established to advise the Government on how to achieve its environmental vision for the Commonwealth Games. The Committee’s Terms of Reference are to advise the Minister for Commonwealth Games on:

• Measures that address sustainability issues such as environmental performance, cost effectiveness and net community benefit.
• Assessment criteria for environmental measures for infrastructure projects.
• A monitoring and reporting mechanism for overseeing environmental performance of the Games.

The Terms of Reference also required it to undertake public consultation on the Framework for a period of not less than 21 days and to report to the Minister for Commonwealth Games by 30 August 2002. The Minister subsequently approved an extension of two weeks for receipt of this report in recognition of the breadth of issues and measures that have been put forward to the Committee and consideration of what will be best practice in 2006. See Appendix 2 for the Committee’s full Terms of Reference.

The Commonwealth Games represents the largest event ever to be held in Victoria. It will be significantly larger than any event Melbourne currently hosts – both in terms of people (athletes, officials and spectators) and complexity of its multi-sports nature. The Committee believes that this provides a unique opportunity to put into practice the philosophy of ecologically sustainable development.

Sustainable development is a global concept that increasingly is seen as embracing economic prosperity, social equity and ecological integrity (for further information see Appendix 5). The Games can demonstrate the practical application of sustainability in the provision of infrastructure, operations and management of the public domain.

As a major international event, the Games provides an opportunity to demonstrate practical approaches to everyday problems such as waste management, water stewardship, provision of energy and transport in a cost effective manner that minimises impacts to the environment. In this way the Games can be a vehicle to demonstrate the interdependency of people and the ecosystems that support us.

In addressing its Terms of Reference the Committee has drawn on the experience of the Sydney Olympic Games, the many submissions received (Appendix 3) and discussions held with community representatives, experts in various fields and representatives of Government departments and agencies (Appendix 4).

The challenge for those involved in preparing for the Commonwealth Games will be to deliver a Games that is cost effective and provide a net community benefit while having minimal environmental impact.

The Games will seek to also leave an environmental legacy in changed behaviour, facilities that achieve high environmental performance and through changed practices in key areas of the Victorian economy. The Games also offers an opportunity to reinforce the acceptance of environmental principles and practices throughout Government.

In framing its recommendations the Committee has identified the base requirements for each area reflecting statutory requirements, Government policy and accepted good environmental practice.

The Committee has assumed that normal operations of the Games including the construction and other preparatory measures will be in accordance with the base requirements. In addition the Committee has identified a range of optional enhancements for consideration in determining successful tenderers or that may provide legacies for Victorians.

The Victorian Government’s Commonwealth Games Environment Framework sets out eight areas of environmental performance that Government seeks to achieve. The Framework outlines a commitment for Games related infrastructure to have the smallest ecological footprint practicable.

While the Committee’s Terms of Reference require it to advise on assessment criteria for environmental measures for infrastructure projects, the Committee found that its assessment criteria were equally applicable to operations. The Committee has made some more specific comments on specific infrastructure projects.

The Committee’s assessment criteria seek to deliver against the Framework in terms of environmental base standards and enhancement initiatives, and the Committee’s objectives of a carbon neutral, zero waste and waterwise Games.

• Environmental base standards ensure all statutory, regulatory and Government policy environmental commitments are met. It also includes standards that are currently regard as common practice.
• Enhancement initiatives encourage contractors, suppliers and infrastructure proponents to strive for innovative, cost efficient, environmental outcomes, above and beyond the base environmental standards.
• Legacies provide lasting community benefits well after the Games.

Consequently recommendations are categorised as follows:

• Black text indicates base environmental standards.
• Magenta text indicates enhancement options for consideration.

• Boxes indicate initiatives that will deliver legacies.

The Committee’s assessment criteria for enhancements are composed of three parts: general criteria, area specific criteria and site specific infrastructure priorities.

• The extent to which enhancements are directed towards achieving carbon neutral, zero waste and waterwise.
• The extent to which enhancements stimulate local industry dealing in sustainable products.
• The extent to which the enhancements will provide a legacy and net community benefit.
• The robustness of enhancements in practice (i.e. whether they will deliver the claimed outcomes over a reasonable lifetime without excessive maintenance).
• The cost effectiveness and fiscal responsibility.
• The consideration of innovative investment opportunities.

• Achievement of significant multiple benefits.
• Target resources to showcase a small number of iconic initiatives as the outstanding legacies of the Games that may:

• Create sustainable markets for new and existing leading edge technology.
• Develop the capacity to meet ongoing demand for new and existing leading edge technology.
• Shift community attitudes and industry trends.

• Leverage existing programs.
• Consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

• Carbon neutral – Management of energy use to minimise the environmental impact, in particular greenhouse gas emissions through:

• Demand management.
• Energy efficiency design criteria.
• Minimising embodied and embedded energy in materials.

• Zero waste – Working towards delivering Games infrastructure and events that produce the minimum discards through:

• Designing and purchasing for waste avoidance.
• Using second-life materials.
• Recovering resources from the waste stream.

• Waterwise – Integrated management of water should be approached from a perspective of stewardship of a precious resource through:

• Water sensitive urban design.
• Maximise water harvesting and reuse.
• Built in demand management systems.
• Protection of the receiving environment.

The Committee makes the following comments on possible legacies for infrastructure projects based on the assessment criteria above.

The Games’ Village offers the opportunity to change the way modern inner urban infrastructure can be considered and built and put in place a new standard of environmentally friendly living.

• If at Parkville:

• Wetlands establishment for stormwater treatment.
• The potential opportunity for sewer mining should be explored with respect to the synergies with the Zoo (a high water user) and watering of Royal Park in a dry condition.

• If at Docklands:

• Innovative collection of greywater and stormwater for reuse in a high rise building (e.g. toilet flushing) and innovative stormwater collection.

The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre offers the opportunity to:

• Incorporate energy efficient design principles through the capture and retention of heat.
• Demonstrate water efficiency measures (backwash).
• Include co-generation.

The Committee’s strategic approach has been to:

• Avoid the use of materials, energy and water.
• Maximise the efficiency of materials, energy and water use.
• Use renewable energy for all energy needs.
• Maximise the re-use of materials and water.
• Recycle all materials, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Offset residual energy emissions through carbon sequestration.

In line with recommendation 11 below, it is proposed that voluntary sustainability covenants be established between the State’s environmental agencies and Melbourne’s public transport service operators. The covenants should ensure people are not only moved around efficiently, but that their experience encourages them to make greater use of the city’s public transport.

The Committee recommends that a transport strategy be developed for the Games which for short trips maximises walking and bicycle riding, while for longer journeys encourages public transport usage or a combination of the above.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded [Third Assessment Report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001; Climate Change Projections for Australia, CSIRO, 2001],  that the earth’s climate system had demonstrably changed and that there was new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years was attributable to human activities. Under all IPCC emissions scenarios, carbon dioxide concentrations, globally averaged surface temperature and sea level are projected to increase during this century. An increase in the incidence of extreme events is also likely.

The energy sector continues to be the highest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Most of Australia’s CO₂ emissions arise from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon dioxide makes up the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions and is the most easily estimated and addressed. In order to progress towards a philosophy of zero net greenhouse gas emissions, it is proposed that the Games be carbon neutral.

The Commonwealth Games provides an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and operate a major international event in ways to address greenhouse gas emissions in a direct manner. The Games can also demonstrate energy efficiency, substitution and reduction measures and promote their wider implementation. It can also leave a legacy of wise and efficient energy use in buildings and operational practices.

There are social, environmental and economic impacts of landfilling our unwanted material: no-one wants a landfill in their backyard; methane emissions from decaying putrescible materials in landfills contribute 3% to Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions [Victorian Greenhouse Strategy, Department of Natural Resources and the environment, 2002]; and perhaps most importantly, apart from the direct costs of operating a landfill and maintaining environment and community protection from impacts of its operation, the leftovers that we deposit are resources we have not been clever enough to use. We dispose of these materials at the expense of extracting new raw materials to produce products of which we in turn waste a proportion.

To deliver a Games that is environmentally sustainable means the delivery of a low-waste Games. Zero waste refers to a range of policies and practices designed to achieve a sustainable use of materials and a minimum of waste discarded. Established programs such as EcoRecycle Victoria’s Public Place Recycling Standard, Waste Wise Office Program and Waste Wise Construction and Demolition Program already provide a structure and benchmarks that will assist in the delivery a low-waste Commonwealth Games. Major events such as Melbourne Grand Prix already run as "Waste Wise" events and have established a point of reference from which we can seek to improve our performance. The Commonwealth Games provides a unique opportunity to entrench the zero-waste philosophy within our community and showcase these values to other Commonwealth countries. Changing community attitudes and behaviour towards waste is a critical element of the move towards a sustainable society.

Litter is a very visible indication of the impact society has on the environment. Litter has caused injuries to human beings and has been a cause of death and suffering for our native fauna and marine life.

It has been estimated that over a decade ago cleaning up litter from our streets, waterways and parks and gardens was costing us over $50 million per year [Victoria's Litter Reduction Strategy, Environment Protection Authority, 1995]. For example, the City of Melbourne alone swept up 5,964 tonnes of dropped litter, dumped rubbish, leaves and dirt from its streets in 2000-2001 [Snap Shot: A year in the City, City of Melbourne Annual Report, 2000-2001, City of Melbourne, 2001].

Litter is a result of a number of interrelated issues such as:

• A lack of understanding of the environmental, social and financial impact of dropping each piece of litter.
• A lack of appropriately placed and signed infrastructure for individuals to utilise to place their litter into.
• Allowing litter "hot spots" to generate.
• The practice of wanting to clean up litter rather than avoid it (such as at sports grounds or in theatres).
• Inappropriate packaging of materials.

To prevent the creation of litter will take a substantial shift in our attitudes that will in turn impact on our behaviours. Over the next four years we have an opportunity to develop an integrated series of programs and put infrastructure into place that will result in the Games being a substantially litter free event, leaving a legacy of changed attitudes and behaviours.

Water is arguably the most multifaceted segment of our environment supporting aspects of agriculture, fisheries, transport, recreation, health, tourism, aesthetics, other engineering or science based uses and life itself. Its uneven global distribution relative to human needs is seen by many as likely to create major international tensions in the coming years. Australia’s future population and wellbeing is more likely to be constrained by access to clean fresh water supplies than by any other resource limitation. It follows that in Australia, water has iconic status in environmental, social and economic terms. For the Games to be environmentally sustainable they must therefore be waterwise.

The Committee is recommending, as an aspirational target, that the Games should be carbon neutral and that an emphasis should be placed on avoiding carbon generating energy sources. However, we understand that practically a carbon neutral Games cannot be achieved without the use of offsets developed by planting appropriate vegetation.

Some transport-related greenhouse gas emissions cannot be avoided. Bringing competitors, officials and other guests to Melbourne will generate significant emissions through air transport. Likewise, emissions will results from some Games’ fleet vehicles and buses.

The use of carbon sinks through revegetation projects can act as offsets for greenhouse gas emissions from transport (international and domestic) and residual energy use during the duration of the Games. The Games provides the opportunity to link the environmental needs of a major event to broader environmental concerns such as salinity control and catchment management.

There are a number of ways that this carbon can be offset and a number of financial and institutional arrangements to achieve long-term sequestration which can be progressed in the context of the Games.

It is recommended that where energy emissions can not be mitigated by other initiatives outlined in this report, e.g. demand reduction, purchase of green power, that plantings be undertaken to sequest carbon and hence offset emissions.

There is also the opportunity to generate multiple benefits for biodiversity and salinity mitigation through Games' offset plantings. For example, a Games' offset planting program could target Landcare Groups and private plantings which provide necessary habitat linkages between remnants of endangered habitats. The Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands would be appropriate in that it is a target for a major action plan in Victoria, it adjoins the Commonwealth Rifle Range venue at Welsford Forest in Bendigo, Landcare Groups are active in the target area, it can provide regional benefits and salinity mitigation benefits could also be achieved. Development of linkages on private land will be a key action to restore these highly fragmented habitats. Partnership funding through the Natural Heritage Trust would be possible.

The Committee recommends using existing expertise to facilitate the tree planting projects that would be required through establishing a partnership with groups such as Greenfleet and LandCare Australia Limited. LandCare played a role in tree planting in the Sydney Olympic Games and Greenfleet currently administer a program for offsetting emissions arising from private vehicle. A partnership between these two groups could generate benefits in rural and regional Victoria. This provides another opportunity for the Games to leave a legacy through one or more revegetation projects.

The amount of trees required to be planted to offset the carbon emissions of the Games would need to calculated as part of the ecological footprint (see recommendations 11 and 12 below).

This project will assist the achievement of Government environmental, regional, investment and greenhouse strategies, and facilitate further private investment in tree planting and carbon sequestration.

The Committee, in exploring the options for ethical investment in the Games, was made aware of a proposal for significant ethical investment by Vic Super in plantations in the Goulburn Broken Catchment which would not only sequester carbon but would also mitigate dryland salinity and provide rural and regional development opportunities in areas where traditional broadacre farming is no longer environmentally or economically sustainable. The Committee notes that, such proposals to proceed, the Victorian Government must develop a framework for the trading of ecosystem services provided by such plantings. These services would include carbon sequestration, dryland salinity mitigation and water quality improvement.

The Victorian Government would create a major legacy for the future management of the natural environment if it developed an operational framework for ecosystem services trading.

The Victorian Government has unequivocally committed to the delivery of the Games being undertaken in an environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsible manner. The Games are being established as a sustainable event and as such sustainability initiatives are being built into the infrastructure and operations of the event. Procurement is the third leg of the sustainability stool. Without sustainable procurement, we cannot have the sustainable Games.

The total value of procurement for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne will be of a magnitude that it can and will influence the supply and demand chains. It is therefore through purchasing that Victoria can demonstrate leadership in environmental performance, showcase sustainable development, strengthen markets for environmentally sustainable products and influence suppliers and consumers and leave a legacy in the form of sustainable goods and services.

This procurement initiative for the Commonwealth Games is consistent with the current direction of establishing environmental management systems complete with an environmental purchasing policy throughout the Victorian public sector.

Criteria need to be developed in conjunction with relevant experts as a matter of priority [For example, Monash sustainability Enterpises (Monash University)]. These criteria and related specifications should be contained in expressions of interest for the supply of goods and services to the Games and in contracts not yet entered into (at the date of adoption of this policy) for the provision of infrastructure.

The criteria and associated specifications will include (but may not be limited to):

• Products – Recycled content, locally produced (eg stationery, bathroom requirements, office products, packaging, concrete, ferrous and non-ferrous metal products, sand, compost), energy efficient (eg lighting, vehicles, appliances and equipment), water efficient (eg appliances, landscaping), Renewable products (eg timber from renewable sources), re-usable products, eco-efficient materials (eg refrigerants meeting the Montreal Protocol, have low greenhouse potential, ecologically preferable) Low risk products (products that minimise the quantity of priority wastes).
• Byproducts – packaging (eg bulk packaging, reusable packaging, consistency with the National Packaging Covenant ).
• Services – energy and water efficient processes (eg integrated water management systems), natural resource management (eg integrated pest management, use of compost made from recycled green waste, landscaping with indigenous plants), waste avoidance and minimisation (eg double sided-copiers, closed loop waste management system).

All purchases will be required to meet the environmentally sustainable criteria or specifications that have been established while being not unreasonable in price and meeting all other specifications with respect to quality, fitness for purpose, and health and safety performance.

Environment+price+performance = ESP

Potential suppliers will be asked to assess their product or service against the established criteria or specifications and provide information on that assessment for each product or service they could potentially supply to the Organising Committee – Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Pty Ltd (M2006) or Office of Commonwealth Games (OCGC). This information will then be assessed by the Sustainable Procurement Advisory Committee and a list of Preferred Suppliers, Products and Services will be developed for the organisations.

For one-off purchases or un-assessed suppliers an Eco-Foot Score Card will be developed for use by the person making the purchase.

For tenders, all bid or tender documents will include information on the Commonwealth Games requirement to purchase environmentally sustainable products and services. Tenderers will be asked to provide information in their bid as to how their product or service aligns with the environmentally sustainable criteria or specifications. Tenders will be assessed using the environmentally sustainable criteria as essential assessment criteria.

The criteria should also be taken into consideration when negotiating with sponsors.

There are existing product and services data, procurement websites and local databases, [Recycled Products guide, EcoRecycle Victoria; For example, www.epa.gov/oppintr/epp, sc@unep.fr, europa.eu.int/comm./environment/ecolabel/index.htm., and local databases], that can be used to assist the development of the criteria.

Sustainability covenants are a recent initiative introduced under the Environment Protection Act 1970 [Enviornment Protection (Resource Efficienty) Act 2002 (http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Waste/resource_efficiency_act.asp)]. The voluntary sustainability covenants are for industries and companies to enter into with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to promote the efficient use of resources and reduce ecological impacts. The Covenants provide a transparent means by which those undertaking activities with the potential for significant environmental impacts commit to developing an ecologically sustainable approach to delivering the activity. Covenants include key performance indicators or milestones that provide the basis for rigorous auditing by independent environmental auditors.

The introduction of voluntary sustainability covenants provides support to industry innovation in environmental management. The legislation:

• Recognises the work already being done by industry leaders in relation to waste management and reduction, and establishes their example as one for all industry to follow.
• Establishes voluntary sustainability covenants as an innovative vehicle to encourage business to work in partnership with Government to address major environmental issues associated with the production, use and disposal of goods and services.
• Enables industries to receive formal legal recognition of their status as committed environmental performers through the statutory nature of the voluntary covenants.

• Supports covenants through a regulatory underpinning that ensures progressive businesses suffer no short-term commercial disadvantage for their environmental leadership.

The Committee believes that Sustainability Covenants should be applied to the Commonwealth Games in two ways:

• Overarching sustainability covenants should be developed with M2006 and OCGC in order to establish a strong framework through which sustainability initiatives can be delivered, monitored and reported on; and
• Subsidiary sustainability covenants should be encouraged as part of tender process with major contractors who will deliver both infrastructure and operational essentials for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Significant contracts would be the building of the Games’ Village, upgrades of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, development of the Lawn Bowls Centre, the operation of the principal Games’ venues and the operational contracts for the catering, waste management, cleaning etc.

Any environment management plans including those called for under legislation or contracts (e.g. waste minimisation plans), or Environment Improvement Plans can be packaged into Sustainability Covenants.

An Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), [Guidelines for Preparation of Environment Improvement Plans - Information Bulletin 739, Environment Protection Authority, June 2002; Environment Improvement Plans - Information Bulletin 394, Environment Protection Authority, October 1993], is similar to an Environment Management Plan (EMP) and is a public commitment by an organisation to deliver a high level of environmental performance in the activities it undertakes. The EIP details the organisation’s product or service, its processes and equipment and anticipated environmental targets and outcomes. It is negotiated in conjunction with the relevant State agencies and other appropriate stakeholders. Where possible an EIP contains clear timelines for completion of activities and details about ongoing monitoring (auditing) of the plan and reporting requirements.

The legacy value of establishing the subsidiary covenants is their on-going nature which will provide for sustainable operation of sporting venues and a body of construction, catering, cleaning and waste management contractors who will provide leadership in their industry sector.

To measure the performance of sustainability covenants, the ecological footprint (‘ecofootprint’) is a tool that allows us to summarise Victoria’s level of sustainability in a single value – the area of land required to sustain our level of resource consumption and waste disposal. Using ecofootprint we can estimate the area of land needed to support a household, a school, a business or a society or a major event as they currently operate.

The development and application of ecofootprint as a measure of sustainability is particularly important for Victorians as we strive to identify and define the impact of our actions upon our environment. It is a potentially powerful communication tool because it quantifies, in a simple, readily understandable way, how our every day activities affect our environment – the environment we will hand on to our children and grandchildren.

For example, international studies using the ecofootprint concept have shown that if everyone else in the world consumed resources and energy and produced wastes the way Victorians currently do, we would need at least three earths to support such behaviours.

Using this measure of our demands on the planet, we can calculate the degree to which simple alternatives to everyday behaviours can reduce the size of our ecofootprint. This message is vital, not only to encourage all Victorians to adopt more sustainable practices, but also to show us how. [Eco-footprint (http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/eco-footprint/default.asp)]

The Committee believes that the development of a Commonwealth Games’ ecofootprint would provide a very useful benchmark not only for Victorians but for future major events, including Commonwealth Games in other countries. It provides a simple yet effective way to report the sustainability outcomes of the event and serves also to inform the community about the impacts of our activities.

The environmental impact of the Games (the ecofootprint) and the impact of the environmental measures need to be measured to:

1. Ensure an informed understanding of the impact of the Games (e.g. the energy requirements of international travel are often neglected).
2. Assess the effectiveness of initiatives in reaching the targets set and ecofootprint.

An inventory of anticipated resource usage needs to be completed as a priority to ensure the resources are targeted effectively.

To ensure the legacy of the lessons that will be learnt and the behavioural change, communication of the environmental initiatives and their success or otherwise is critical. The ecofootprint provides the information to assess this and sustainability covenants are the mechanism by which all the recommendations should be implemented.

• Ecofootprint.
  
• The targets outlined in this report.
  
• Auditing, monitoring and reporting system.
  
• Environment Improvement Plan. [Guidelines for Preparation of Environment Improvement Plans, EPA Information Bulletin 739, June 2002]
  
• Environmentally sustainability assessment criteria for procurement and sponsorships.

Measures taken to make the Games ecologically sustainable will provide an opportunity for promoting environmentally friendly choices. A communications strategy should be developed to identify opportunities to promote the integration of environmentally friendly behaviour as part of the Games.

In informing people of options for commuting to Games venues, the opportunity should be taken to explain the environmental benefit of walking, cycling and taking public transport over private vehicles. Similarly, measures taken to manage waste at venues should incorporate messages about the environmental benefits and all water initiatives be made information features to promote the waterwise philosophy.

As a waterwise venue, the Games Village should display information on daily water use as a means of conveying the savings of potable water to the general public. It is a potentially powerful communication tool because it quantifies, in a simple, readily understandable way, what affect our every day activities are having on our environment – the environment we will hand on to our children and grandchildren.

The Games provides an opportunity to shift industry towards sustainable operations. Sustainability covenants and procurement standards could challenge businesses to lift their environmental performance in such a way that is cost neutral / provides competitive advantage.

The Enviro 2006 conference also provides an opportunity to showcase sustainability technology, as do a number of enhancement features at Games venues (e.g. water tanks and co-generation). The baton relay provides an opportunity to showcase zero emission vehicles.

The Enviro conference is a biennial conference and trade exhibition that brings together the water, waste and environment industries to discuss and showcase environment business in a global environment goods and services market estimated to be valued at $US 550 billion.

It was successfully staged in Melbourne this year and attended by 2,590 delegates. To encourage more sustainable practices across business and industry, the Enviro conference offers an excellent opportunity to demonstrate leading edge technology, share experiences and advance the environment agenda across industry.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Victoria, the Australian Water Association, Waste Management Association of Australia, Environment Business Australia and the Clean Air Society collaborate to stage the Enviro Conference in 2006 in Melbourne.

Staging the event in Melbourne, either directly before or after the Commonwealth Games offers the opportunity for validating the sustainability features of the Games, including the alternative technologies employed in the infrastructure construction and operation of the Games. An award system for industry participants in the sustainability facets of the Games can culminate at Enviro 2006.

In addition the possibility of working with the organising committee to feature environmental issues in other Commonwealth countries provides an opportunity for providing technology and knowledge transfer. This could include specific environmental training for other Commonwealth country environmental professionals as part of the Enviro 2006 program.

The staging of the 2006 Commonwealth Games provides an opportunity for Government to lead by example in operating the Games in an environmentally sustainable manner. Victorian Government departments have been developing policies, processes and programs to ensure environmentally sustainable operations [Waste Wise Government Program, EcoRecycle Victoria (www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au)]. The Games provide the opportunity to ensure adoption and implementation of the policies and programs and to demonstrate leadership.

The Committee has recommended that the OCGC (along with M2006) enter a Sustainability Covenant and an Environmentally Sustainable Purchasing program. The Committee recommends that by 2006 all other Victorian Government departments and agencies will have adopted and will be implementing an approved Environment Management System.

The Games provides a unique leverage point for Victorian industry and businesses to significantly advance their environmental sustainability and to be able to position themselves to take advantage of the Games’ opportunities such as sponsorship, product and merchandise suppliers, contractors and service providers.

The EPA has already begun a project working with 30 Victorian companies who generate about 40% of the solid hazardous industrial waste that goes to landfill for disposal. These companies are some of our largest employers and export earners for the State. An opportunity exists to broaden this program within existing budgetary allocations [Business Sustainability Program (http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/Business_Sustainability/), Environment Protection Authority. The Victorian Greenhouse Strategy has allocated $400K for the delivery of a business sustainability initiative. EPA has allocated $100K for the existing program. EcoRecycle Victoria has targeted reducing industrial waste as a key part of its Business Plan]. The program should include trade waste, energy and water conservation and be expanded to include priority industry sectors with medium and small enterprises. Discussions have already taken place between EPA Victoria, EcoRecycle Victoria, Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.

The Committee believes that developing and implementing this program will position Victorian industry to become sustainable suppliers to the Commonwealth Games. Further it provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ecological sustainability of Victorian industry to other Commonwealth countries. By linking the outcomes of the program to the Enviro 2006 there is an opportunity to reward those industries that successfully participate in the program.

Particular sectors that have key roles in the provision of a sustainable Commonwealth Games in Melbourne are the hotel and hospitality sectors. These industry sectors are particularly visible to Games’ patrons. Some companies and restaurants within the sector have successfully joined EcoRecycle Victoria’s Waste Wise Program. The Committee recommends that this program be expanded to include energy, water and waste management and that all major hotels and restaurants be encouraged to join. Components of the program should consist of audits, environmentally sustainable purchasing, staff training and the implementation of formal environment management programs where appropriate. For major hotels the adoption of sustainability covenants should be evaluated and implemented where possible.

In order for consumers and patrons to choose environmentally sustainable establishments a symbol system, ["Green Globe" environmental managment system (www.grenglobe21.com), Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism. This model provides a useful starting point and includes benchmarking indicators for the accommodation and restaurant sectors], or eco-label should be adopted and communicated through literature patrons receive when they get their Games’ tickets.

Food wastes from these facilities should be directed to organic recycling facilities as part of the program to divert all commercially generated organic wastes from landfill.

• Conduct waste, energy and water audits.
  
• Develop plans for energy and water conservation and waste minimisation and resource recovery. [Food for Thought program, EcoRecycle Victoria]
  
• Become Waste Wise businesses. [Waste Wise Business program, EcoRecycle Victoria]
  
• Conduct training and ensure staff are competent in environmental management practices.
  
• Implement a symbol system (eco-label) for consumer recognition to acknowledge conforming food outlets.
  
• M2006 to promote the symbol (eco-label) system.

In both international and domestic markets for food there is an increasing emphasis on the need for accreditation of food in respect of environmentally sustainable production systems. Some of Australia's export markets have already set targets and dates within the timeframe of the Games by when these targets will be achieved. Australian farmers and food processors will need to meet stringent standards to maintain access to lucrative markets.

Dairy products and some meat products are already pursuing these standards and a supermarket chain is also investigating this issue. The Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development's environmental best practice program encourages food processors to continuously improve their environmental performance. Requiring Games' food to be environmentally accredited from paddock to plate would create an impetus for certification programs and thus provide a legacy for our food exports.

While the Commonwealth Games will be mostly based in and around Melbourne the environment program will provide opportunities to extend benefits to rural and regional areas through offset plantings and targeted improvements to open space networks and rejuvenated recreational facilities.

The Sydney Olympic Games included a significant national program associated with the Torch relay. Similar proposals have been put to the Committee in respect of the Melbourne Games. Elsewhere in this report we have outlined possible partnerships with Landcare Australia Limited and Greenfleet and the Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality to achieve major tree planting to offset greenhouse gas generation and provide other benefits such as salinity mitigation and biodiversity enhancements.

We have also outlined elsewhere the opportunities to build on Parks Victoria 2020 Open Space program to enhance open space networks and rejuvenate recreational facilities. This would generate significant benefits for tourism and economic growth. The Games provide an opportunity to market Victoria's ecotourism assets to visitors to the State.

Volunteers, contractors and their employees and M2006 employees need to be skilled in recognising and managing environmental issues in the course of their work within the context of delivering the Commonwealth Games.

Some training will need to be delivered for volunteers to fulfil their duties. This should include the environment management systems adopted for the Games’. In addition some of the environmental legacies of the event can be explained in order that the volunteers can be sustainability ambassadors.

For contractors and their employees, it is important that any training conducted is vocational training that recognises and develops the competencies or skills of learners. Training packages for most industries have now been developed through the Australian National Training Authority, [For further information, refer to the National Training Information Service (http://www.ntis.gov.au/) or the Property Services Training Australia (http://www.pstrain.com.au/)]. Many existing training packages address the environmental issues within the particular industry sector. There is a specific training package that has waste management units that can be used by any industry sector. The advantage of the competency-based system is that prior learning and skills are recognised and therefore training is delivered only to those employees who need it. It is an efficient, cost effective system that ensures a competent workforce. When training is needed, it is delivered by registered training organisations. Once candidates has been assessed as competent in a particular unit they receive a nationally recognised qualification.

In the context of the Games training needs must be identified and delivered at a level appropriate to responsibilities and tasks.

Noise is the major environmental disbenefit that affects people in urban areas. It affects enjoyment of their homes in tens of thousands of cases and can be a significant factor in stress induced by sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance could pose particular difficulties to high performing athletes.

Lightspill can have a significant impact on local amenity, affect local wildlife and interfere with celestial observations. The Committee received strong representations from community and scientific representatives expressing concerns over light spill.

Victoria’s transport system is integral to the State’s economy and its citizens’ leisure and recreation activities. Melbourne is one of the lowest-density cities in the world and continues to extend its boundaries as its population grows. These characteristics have resulted in a city with a comprehensive road network.

Our reliance on road for freight and private vehicles for work and leisure is detrimental to Melbourne’s air quality and contributes to traffic congestion and noise pollution.

Transport energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are both substantial and growing rapidly. Emissions are dominated by road transport, which uses over 85% of Victorian transport energy. In 1999, transport made up 16% of the Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions projected to grow substantially over the next ten years, [Victorian Greenhouse Strategy, Department of Natural Resources and the Enviroment, 2002].

The Government’s Infrastructure Planning Council’s Interim Report, Victorian Greenhouse Strategy and the Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy have all identified the need to decrease the amount of road-based travel relative to other transport modes. Growing Victoria Together aims to increase the amount of travel in Melbourne taken on public transport from 9 to 20% in 2020, [Growing Victoria Together, Victorian Government, 2002].

The 2006 Commonwealth Games will place additional demands on Melbourne’s transport infrastructure and services. These demands range from handling arrivals and departures at Melbourne airport and transporting visitors to the city; moving the Games’ family (athletes, support staff and officials) and other visitors between accommodation and venues; providing for large numbers of spectators simultaneously moving to and from events running concurrently.

Opportunely, the Games will largely be held at existing venues that are well serviced by public transport. In addition, Melbourne has the experience of staging major sporting events that require moving large numbers of spectators to and from venues, such as the Grand Prix. However, the Commonwealth Games represents the most complex event to be held in Melbourne and Victoria since the Olympic Games in 1956 in terms of both the number of people but also the complexity of its multi-sport nature.

The Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity for Victoria to capitalise on its event management experience and put in place a number of initiatives that will increase walking, bicycle usage and public transport and better manage road use, simultaneously managing the movement of people around Melbourne for the Games and ensuring that normal activities continue with the minimum disruption.

Increased use of public transport during and post the Games against pre Games levels.

Increased walking and cycling as a mode of transport during and post the Games.

Public transport usage after the Games is increased by 15% 12 months after the Games compared to 12 months prior to the Games.

Completing all sections of the Victoria’s Principal Bicycle Network on routes to Games’ venues by March 2006.

M2006’s vehicle fleet to comprise low emission vehicles reflecting the requirements of the Australian Design Rules in 2006.

The Victorian Government’s Active for Life Physical Activity Framework seeks to achieve a 3% increase between 2000 and 2005 in the number of Victorians who regularly physically exercise. An increase in walking and cycling helps meet this target and has environmental benefits as well as positive impacts on social, health and economic benefits.

The Committee believes that increasing walking and cycling has multiple benefits. The Commonwealth Games is also an excellent opportunity to increase the health and fitness of society through a renewed focus on sport and exercise. Walking and cycling are also, obviously, carbon neutral. Therefore an increase in walking and cycling has both environmental and health benefits and clear linkages to broader social outcomes the Games can deliver through increased health benefits and a carbon neutral Games. It is also consistent with the Department of Infrastructure’s aims, [2002-2005 Corporate Plane, Department of Infrastructure, 2002], to increase walking and cycling’s share of all trips. The Committee is recommending a variety of measures to this end.

Infrastructure is required to improve walking and bicycling paths in and around the city, especially Games’ venues. For example, eliminating gaps between marked bicycle lanes on roads and trails (such as the Capital City Experience Trail and the Northbank path) and marking paths with dedicated signs to enable easy navigation and accessible use.

In order to encourage and maximise the use of walking and cycling paths and to seek long-term behavioural change in individual transport choices, a communications strategy should from part of the overall transport strategy. In particular walking and cycling should be encouraged as a viable alternative to short term car trips (e.g. from home to train station or around the public domain), and residents and visitors should be informed of walking and bicycle paths that are available to them.

Use of private vehicles should be minimised for all parts of a journey (i.e. from home to public transport or to venues). Park-and-ride of bicycles should be encouraged in preference to park-and-ride of private vehicles. This will also address potential conflicts between pedestrians particularly during the congested train periods.

Secure parking facilities should be provided for cyclists at venues and major premier train stations. Where there is the potential for high pedestrian and bicycle traffic around venues, bicycle parking facilities should be located a small distance from the venue to avoid accidents.

The City of Melbourne’s City Plan 2010, [City Plan 2010,  City of Melbourne], highlights the need to improve the coordination of public transport timetables. Better integration of public transport modes by the Games, including shorter connection times, will provide spectators with a pleasant commuting experience and encourage Melbournians to make greater use of public transport. More intensive train, tram and bus services during the Games will also enhance the experience, (e.g. Hoddle Street/Punt Road bus services operating at five minute frequency) as will operating lower frequency transport services later at night.

The Committee believes that an integrated ticket scheme should be investigated for the Games, with all day, all-zone Metcards issued with Games event tickets. The cost of these tickets should be incorporated into the event ticket pricing.

Moving the Games family and visitors between the airport and Melbourne will be a significant transport issue for the operation of the Commonwealth Games. The Committee believe that there is a need to evaluate options to make the current bus service more attractive to patrons such as:

• Improved signage at the airport.
• Integrating ticketing with the Metcard fare structure.
• Extension to incorporate drop-offs at major hotels throughout the central business district.

To achieve a carbon neutral Games, the Committee is recommending that trams and trains should operate on Green Power generated in real time during the two weeks of the Games.

There are a number of public transport initiatives, both infrastructure and operations, which could avoid spectators travelling into the central business district to access some venues. For example, the Richmond Station renovation and upgrade currently under consideration could be brought forward and include features such as an aerial walkway connection to the MCG to improve pedestrian access to a venue that will continue to provide a legacy of improved access well into the future.

Whilst the Games will be a major focus for Melbourne during March 2006, the daily social and economic activities that currently occur will largely continue throughout the event. This will add to pressure on the road system as well as the public transport system.

The Sydney Olympic Games successfully utilised the city’s public transport for moving spectators to, from and between venues. The experience should be capitalised on for Melbourne and regional locations.

Improving road traffic flows in hot spots decreases road transport travel time as well as air pollution. The Committee recommends that the Government investigate the opportunity to enhance traffic flows in key areas by extending the current "real time" traffic management systems. This is particularly important to ensure that normal (non-Games) activities can occur throughout the Games period. In addition, priority lanes on freeways should be enforced to improve access for priority transport (e.g. buses and taxis) and muliple-fare taxi use should be actively encouraged wherever possible.

In Melbourne, car-free zones should be established around the major venues and other sites. In residential areas neighbouring Games’ venues, parking should be restricted to residents only. Each year the Grand Prix temporarily successfully restricts parking in neighbouring suburbs. Similar restrictions should be put in place for the Commonwealth Games.

While public transport is expected to be used for a high proportion of spectator travel needs, M2006 needs to provide a range of vehicles for operational and Games family needs. To minimise greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on air quality, the Games’ fleet should consist of low emission vehicles reflecting as a minimum the latest Australian Design Rule requirements. In addition the opportunity to showcase zero emission vehicles, such as fuel cell, solar, hybrid and/or other alternative fuel vehicles should be provided, especially where they contain local technology.

This environmental initiative may influence sponsors and supply arrangements and should be communicated to prospective vehicle manufacturers and marketers immediately. It is equally important to begin exploring markets for the Games’ fleet of alternative fuel vehicles to be transferred or sold after March 2006.

To ensure a legacy and appropriate recognition of achievements relating to the showcasing alternative technology, these achievements should be strategically communicated.

It is recommended that a partnership with organisations such as Greenfleet and LandCare be investigated for sequestering those transport-related carbon emissions that cannot be avoided by the above initiatives. This provides another opportunity for the Games to leave a legacy through one or more revegetation projects.

Indoor air quality also needs to be considered for Games’ venues. Indoor air quality should become a mainstream consideration in the design and construction of infrastructure. The consideration of indoor air quality needs to shift from "How long do I have to leave the doors open to air a space?" to minimising the selection of materials that actually impact on air quality in the first place.

Consistent with World Health Organisation guidelines, building materials, finishes and furnishings, which do not release harmful levels of volatile chemicals, should be selected. Comprehensive Indoor Air Quality Guidelines were developed in 1997 for the Sydney Olympic Games. These guidelines should be updated by EPA and Department of Human Services and applied to Commonwealth Games’ venues, particularly the Village.

While the refrigeration and air-conditioning industries have moved away from high ozone depleting potential substances, the gases now being used, such as HFCs and HCFCs, have very high greenhouse gas potential. Alternative natural refrigerants should be used for refrigeration and air-conditioning where practicable.

Coal fired electricity generation is the principal source of greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria, and in a sectoral sense, transport and stationary energy use are responsible for most of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions. The issues of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are therefore considered here together.

The Victorian Government recently released its Victorian Greenhouse Strategy. This context provides a strong strategic framework for ensuring that the Commonwealth Games incorporates the best available means of reducing energy use, of using green energy sources and minimising greenhouse gas emissions. The Victoria Government has also announced its intention to introduce a 5 star energy rating for new housing, [Regulatory Information Bulletin Energy Efficiency Standards for New Residential Buildings, Building Commission, September 2002; Government and Industry reach for five stars, Media Release, September 2002]. The operation of the Games in a carbon neutral manner will send a strong international signal on the importance of action to protect the environment, and can leave a legacy of buildings and changed behaviours which will influence future generations of Victorians.

Reduced demand and increased awareness of energy requirements.

Increased awareness of the impact of greenhouse gases.

Increased awareness and capacity for green power to supply energy requirements for day-to-day and major event activities.

Where it is not possible to avoid or reduce carbon emissions, emissions to be offset through carbon sequestration plantings.

Overall operational energy use of new sporting venues to be reduced by 30% relative to conventional practice in 2002.

Overall energy use be reduced by 50% in the Games’ Village compared to 2002 project homes.

Reduce embodied energy of housing and new facilities for the Games by 30% relative to conventional construction.

Use at least 60% slag cement with recycled concrete replacing aggregate, and 100% recycled steel reinforcing, in all new venues and the Games’ Village.

Almost all growth in emissions between 1990 and 1999 has resulted from energy growth. Emissions from transport energy use have increased by 12.6%, and from stationary energy by 31.7% over this period, with about three-quarters of emissions from stationary energy coming from electricity generation, [Australia's National Communication on Climate Change, Australian Greenhouse Office, 2002.].

Figure 1. Victorian Energy-related Greenhouse Gas Emissions by end use sector, 1995 – total 79.3 Mt. [Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 and 1995 - Sectoral Analysis of Emissions, Wilkenfeld G and Associates, 1998]

Table 1. Victorian greenhouse gas emissions by sector. [Victorian Greenhouse Inventory, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 1999]

Trends in energy related greenhouse gas emissions for Victoria show that stationary and transport energy use are increasing while all other sectors are declining in size.

These trends also demonstrate the critical importance of reducing energy use as a means of achieving an environmentally responsible Commonwealth Games. Reduction of energy use in all sectors will make important contributions towards achieving this objective. The greatest contributions in the residential sector will occur through avoiding electricity produced from coal-produced energy for space heating and cooling, water heating, the operation of major appliances and in the production of building materials. [Environmental Issues and their Impact on Metropolitan Strategy, Buxton M, Lumb J, Pears A, Wilson C, Wishart F, 2000]

Standard methodologies for evaluating the lifecycle energy/greenhouse impact of new developments should be adopted including materials, operational energy use and transport implications. For example, for new housing developments, a living cost analysis should also be carried out. This could be based on estimates of transport costs (including long term fuel prices and vehicle ownership costs, road usage charges, and an hourly rate for time spent travelling).

Existing and new buildings being constructed today fall far short of the standards of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions that will be required to play an appropriate part in meeting greenhouse targets, limiting the cost of building operation, and achieving high standards of comfort and productivity. It is critical then that new development projects achieve much lower greenhouse gas emissions than existing building stock. The construction of the Games’ Village, and of other facilities can demonstrate best practice and make a significant contribution towards changing current practices more generally.

The energy strategy recommended for the Commonwealth Games’ buildings is a reduction of demand for energy in Games’ buildings through substantial energy efficiency gains, combined with sourcing all remaining electricity needs for buildings from green power sources during the period of the Games. This approach will demonstrate that a major event need not rely on fossil fuel sources for electricity generation, and play an important role in changing broader behaviour.

Substantial reductions in building energy use will be achieved by reducing the demand for energy through improved energy efficiency at design phases. This should include building and subdivision orientation to maximise passive sunlight access, use of energy efficient building materials, the extensive use of solar units for hot water, use of energy efficient lighting including for public areas, energy efficient appliances, and use of natural/passive ventilation systems in place of air-conditioning.

A performance-based approach will be adopted of at least a 5 star energy rating system for new homes. This standard can be achieved in a variety of ways. The House Energy Rating Scheme (HERS) is a performance based assessment of the heating and cooling energy requirements of the building envelope and will soon be made mandatory for all new houses. Additional requirements are needed for other areas of energy use in Commonwealth Games’ housing (such as lighting and appliances).

The Commonwealth Games also provides the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of using green power for electricity generation. This will mean, that after achieving reductions in energy use through energy efficiency techniques, all electricity will be derived from wind, solar, and other non-fossil fuel energy sources throughout the Games. Green power could be purchased, or a dedicated number of wind turbines constructed leaving a renewable energy source as a legacy for use either by Games’ venues or other users on completion of the Games.

Co-generation also offers the opportunity to harvest excess energy production and re-use, particularly at the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Victoria has in place a well-established waste management and resource recovery system that has been readily supported by its community. In fact, Victoria has the second-highest recovery rate of waste materials in Australia – 44%, [EcoRecycle Victoria, 1999-2000] of the solid waste stream previously destined for landfill has been recycled. Despite this we still deposit over 4 million tonnes, [Derived from EPA landfill levy data and EcoRecycle Victoria's Annual Recycling Survey], of waste into landfills around the State each year.

This represents filling the Melbourne Cricket Ground with waste about every six months – and it is an increasing trend. About 1/3 of this unwanted material comes from household sources, 1/3 from industrial and commercial sources (including hotels, restaurants and sporting venues) and 1/3 from construction and demolition activities.

Hosting the 2006 Commonwealth Games is an opportunity to both showcase Melbourne’s existing achievements and, in the spirit of the Games, to strive for excellence in waste avoidance and resource recovery.

The Sydney Olympic Games set some useful benchmarks that can be used as a starting point. With respect to waste management and resource recovery the operation and infrastructure construction of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games achieved:

• Construction Waste – construction activities at the Sydney Showgrounds, the Sydney SuperDome, the Athletes’ Village and Stadium Australia resulted in over 90% of construction waste being re-used or recycled.

• Operational Waste – the integrated waste management and resource recovery system implemented in both front and back of house at the Sydney Olympic Games resulted in 80% of waste materials being recovered and reprocessed.

• Littering Behaviour – in a survey conducted after the Sydney Olympic Games, 90% of patrons stated that the Games’ events areas were not littered.[Understanding Why the Sydney Olympics Were the Green Games, Beverage Industry Council Project IWRP 17.4, Community Change]

The Committee, in applying its template of good practice, best practice and legacy, makes the following observations and recommendations in respect of delivering a sustainable Games.

Increased valuing of waste as a resource.

Organic waste from commercial sources diverted from landfill and used as a raw material and consequently reducing greenhouse emissions from landfill.

Reduced demand for landfill.

Reduced litter and increased awareness of litter as a significant environmental problem.

Improved infrastructure to increase public place recycling.

100% diversion from landfill of commercially generated organic waste.

95% diversion of waste from landfill from all Games’ infrastructure construction and event operations.

95% satisfaction rating (from surveyed Games’ patrons) that Games’ venues and public domain areas are litter free.

Experience in Victoria, which is supported by analysing the results from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, shows that there are significant issues with respect to container design, colour and signage as well as container placement in optimising litter reduction and resource recovery from a major public event. Poor container placement, design and signage encourage littering.

There is no National standard that can be applied and each State and sometimes each event manager, as well as each local government, will have a different set of infrastructure for the collection of litter and wasted resources. This is very confusing for the community and event patrons and will lead to the contamination of the resource and a lower recovery rate of resources to be diverted. There is a distinct need for a National Public Place and Event Recycling Standard to be developed.

Having developed a National standard it is essential that it be implemented across Games’ venues and throughout the public domain, including transportation hubs and the airport. A consistent system will encourage high levels of recycling with reduced contamination levels, thereby enabling recovery of significant material volumes and serve to reinforce the waste avoidance values and anti-littering behaviour.

Perhaps the most significant waste generation is during the operation of the Games themselves. The Sydney Olympic Games achieved a recycling rate of 80% based substantially of Melbourne expertise. Given Melbourne’s well-established event recycling programs, [Public Place Recycling Standard, EcoRecycle Victoria, 2001] the Committee believes Melbourne can considerably improve on that rate, and seek to move towards a philosophy of zero waste. Lessons from the Sydney Olympic Games included ensuring that catering, vending operations, waste management and cleaning were integrated; that the educational message for waste management was spread via volunteers and educational material on all Games’ printed material; and that a standardised system was essential.

In order to achieve this the contractual and operational arrangements for the caterers, other vendors, waste management and cleaning contractors will need to include careful planning and system development from the outset of operational planning. The development of an EIP will ensure best practice and minimum waste generation.

• In accordance with established State Government Standards. [Seven Steps to a Waste Wise Event, EcoRecycle Victoria, 1999]
  
• Published following consultation with relevant agencies and industry groups.
  
• Part of the tender specification for catering, cleaning and waste management contracts.

It is estimated that about 17% of landfill deposits are waste food, [Waste Profile of Victorian Landfills,  Golder/Environment Protection Authority, 1999]. Greenhouse gas emissions from landfills contributes to climate change and it is the organic matter, mostly from food wastes, in landfills that produce most of these emissions.

Removing from food waste generated from commercial sources from landfills has become economically viable since the introduction of new technologies to process this material and recover the resources. Those products may be in the form of composts or energy or both. The compost, produced to meet Australian Standards, can go back into soil and thus into the food production cycle, effectively closing the loop. [Guide to Best Practice Composting of Green Wastes, EcoRecycle Victoria.]

In order for this to occur, food waste generated from commercial sources must be banned and technologies established that will:

• Meet the predicted production needs of the volume of materials that will need to be processed.
• Ensure environmental protection (against odour, leachate, air pollution etc).
• Develop and support end materials that arise from the processing.

To achieve this would be a significant legacy of the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Reducing environmental degradation arising from the disposal of used packaging and the conservation of raw materials are the underlying principles of the State environment protection policy (Used Packaging Material). It encourages the re-use and recycling of used packaging materials by supporting and complementing the voluntary strategies in the National Packaging Covenant.

The National Packaging Covenant, [National Packaging Covenant information: http://www.ea/gov.au/industry/waste/covenant/], based on the principle of product stewardship and shared responsibility, is an agreement entered into by Governments and industry participants in the packaging chain. It obliges those who are benefiting from the production of a product to assume a share of responsibility for the product over its lifecycle.

It is important that all 2006 Commonwealth Games’ activities ensure consistency with the tenets of product stewardship and that the packaging suppliers are signatories to the National Packaging Covenant. The principle of zero packaging waste to landfill for the Commonwealth Games should be adopted.

Building materials are valuable resources. Most often it is the economic cost of the materials that is valued, however embedded within a manufactured material is often a natural resource and when manufactured and transported considerable energy and other natural resources have become embodied in that material. If we are to move towards a sustainable society we need to stop disposing value-added natural resources to landfill.

Victoria has now well established programs, infrastructure and markets for materials from demolition or deconstruction and construction activities, [Environmental Guidelines for Major Construction Sites – Publication 480, Environment Protection Authority, 1995; Construction and Demolition Handbook, EcoRecycle Victoria;  onSITE - Construction and demolition waste minimisation (http://onsite.rmit.edu.au/), RMIT Centre for Design;  Guidelines for Preparing Waste Reduction Strategy for Construction, EcoRecycle Victoria, 2001; Model contract clauses for demolition and construction contracts, EcoRecycle Victoria; EcoSpecifer website (http://ecospecifier.rmit.edu.au/flash.htm), RMIT]

. Manufacturing facilities can now readily reprocess the majority of these materials into products that can replace the use of primary resources.

Our topsoils are also a precious natural resource. During construction activities any topsoil removed from the site should be set aside for the landscaping activities. Retaining topsoil on site ensures minimisation of the importation of topsoil from other areas. It also ensures that no exotic weeds or plant diseases, potentially resident in soils brought in from unknown sources, are introduced to the site. In addition any vegetation that has to be removed should be processed for mulch or compost to be used in the landscaping. The exception is vegetative matter, weeds or material that may cause harm to other vegetation. Any compost or mulch brought onto site for landscaping activities should be manufactured from recovered materials (such as green waste) produced to the relevant Australian Standard. This ensures sustainable markets for secondary materials.

• Recovery of materials from the demolition to be used where possible on site through the development of recovery plans for all materials.
   
• Other materials to be re-processed where necessary and recovered for sale and use as primary resources in accordance with the waste hierarchy. [Industrial Waste Management Policy (Waste Minimisation), Environment Protection Authority, 1990]

Water conservation, recycling and reuse are now standard practices. There is plenty of experience in Australia and elsewhere around the world in the practical application of technology and water management systems to provide confidence that a waterwise program could be successfully implemented through the Commonwealth Games. The objectives would be to conserve water through minimisation, capture treatment and reuse of grey water and stormwater run off; and protection of waterways by ensuring that offsite discharges are treated or filtered before discharge and contamination. It is proposed to protect natural waterways related to the Games, such as the lower Yarra and St Kilda Beach, through upgrades of the stormwater management system and infrastructure.

Wherever possible existing programs have been drawn on as models or extensions proposed, to ensure maximum leverage and consistency of approach. Information and education on waterwise management will be provided through a variety of means to ensure visibility of the initiatives.

The initiatives proposed here will need to be examined for their feasibility in relation to each venue taking into account contractual arrangements already entered into and budgetary constraints to which this Committee is not privy.

All venues should be required to apply, as a minimum, good practice, including continuous improvement, both during construction and during operation of the venues, building this into ongoing management systems so that it continues beyond the Games. The Committee makes the following recommendations, which are intended to set the benchmark for 2006 and become part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.

Increased valuing of our water resources, including stormwater and greywater.

Protecting the water environs of the Yarra River as a centrepiece of Melbourne.

60% reduction in overall potable water usage at the Games’ venues, Village and public domain gardens compared with 2000 usage, using standard household consumption rates for the Village.

The capture storage, treatment and reuse of stormwater provides the opportunity to gain environmental benefits from the provision of hard surfaces such as roof areas. In doing so there is a reduced impact on reticulated potable water supplies, reduced risk of flash flooding and increased security (in droughts) for garden and playing surface irrigation. It is proposed that consideration be given to use of greywater and captured rainwater for toilet flushing, irrigation, and wash down activities.

Artificial wetlands should be used to treat stormwater before offsite discharge and, where practicable, after reuse on site. This reflects the need to manage stormwater as a valuable resource while protecting the environmental values of offsite receiving environments.

Wetlands, natural and artificial, are now accepted as important components in the water cycle. Much experience has been gained in Australia in their incorporation into developments where they play a number of roles in relation to flood mitigation, water quality management, habitat enrichment and generally improving the amenity of the local neighbourhood. Where they are intended to be a feature in the ongoing operation of a venue it is proposed that they be developed and used during the construction phase of venues or venue upgrading so that they assist in reducing the ecofootprint of the construction activities.

• Using porous surfaces wherever practicable and environmentally beneficial (i.e. not where contamination might be a problem).[ResCode, Department of Infrastructure, 2001]
   
• Maximising drainage efficiency of surfaces by use of appropriate technology to facilitate collection/ storage/ recharge.
   
• Designing to incorporate natural and landscaped features to retain runoff prior to discharge to treatment ponds (1 in 5 year event).
   
• Upgrading stormwater drains where necessary to ensure adequate capacity and ability to deal with solids (side entry litter traps where necessary).

The first step in water stewardship is demand management. This is best achieved in the first instance by building it into the venues by use of low water demand appliances. AAA appliances are now commonly available and should be the minimum acceptable. By 2006 it is expected that better than AAA rated appliances will be commercially available and plans for equipping the Village in particular (to the extent needed for the Games) should include the installation of best practice appliances at the time the Village is being completed. Low flow shower heads, flow timers, drip free taps, no or low flush urinals etc should be standard fittings. Simple signage accompanying the installations would provide reinforcing messages about water conservation.

Reuse of greywater and blackwater for certain on-site uses can make a significant contribution to water stewardship, since most of the water in these categories starts off as high quality potable water and provides a very high dilution ration to the waste it carries. The technology exists to return such water to high value uses or to lower value uses such as toilet flushing, wash down etc. All such technology has not only a financial cost, but an environmental cost so each application needs to be carefully considered on its merits. In particular it is important that any reuse meets the requirements to protect human health and environmental values. No direct use of greywater or blackwater is therefore proposed. Reuse should occur only after treatment.

Irrigation of public gardens with treated waste water is the preferred overall use since there will be a public demand for ‘green’ gardens during the Games at a time when natural rainfall may be inadequate. Such a demonstration on a large scale could contribute significantly to public acceptance of the reuse of greywater and blackwater for appropriate purposes.

Water stewardship is ultimately measured by the ecological quality of the water in the receiving environment. During the Games, the lower Yarra River between Punt Road and Docklands will be a major focus for those attending the Games and the many others who use the area on a day to day basis. Similarly St Kilda Beach, as the venue for the triathlon, will receive much attention. Both should reflect high environmental quality both during the Games and beyond. A major effort to overcome the existing water quality problems (largely stemming form stormwater) in both areas is needed. A focus of state and local government efforts on the existing problems would not only deliver the desired outcome from the Games but leave both a physical legacy and a demonstration that previously intractable problems can be overcome and value restored to urban environments.

One of the overarching objective of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Environmental Framework is to ensure that the construction and operation of Games’ venues, management of Games’ events and procurement of Games’ goods and services minimises the impacts on Victoria’s natural environment. Victoria has in place many policies, strategies and plans designed to achieve the protection, enhancement and sound management of its natural resources, including its biodiversity. The Games must be staged in accordance with the objectives of relevant policies and comply with relevant strategies and plans.

The Games also provides an unique opportunity to showcase innovations and achievements in natural resource management and to increase awareness of the Victorian community of the significant challenges ahead of us if we are to sustain our natural resources for the use of the next and future generations.

The Sydney Olympic Games was responsible for the planting of over 5 million trees through Landcare across Australia and throughout Sydney and an attempt was made to account for and offset greenhouse gas emissions. Endangered ecosystems and species were protected through the development and implementation of environmental management plans and monitoring programs ensured that outcomes were measured.

The Committee, in applying its template of good practice, best practice and legacy, makes the following observations and recommendations in respect of protection of the natural environment for both the development of infrastructure for the Games and operation of the Games in March 2006.

Protecting the natural environment from the potential environmental impact of the Games and associated activities.

Restoring the environmental values of Yarra and St Kilda aquatic environs.

Improving tree cover and natural habitat in degraded areas.

Demonstrating sustainable resource development.

No adverse measurable impact on Melbourne’s air quality.

Primary contact and aesthetic standards met for the Yarra and St Kilda aquatic environment.

Overall raised awareness of environment conservation and the ecofootprint of an individual’s lifestyle.

Expansion of a threatened habitat that links habitat remnants and provides multiple benefits (e.g. salinity control).

It is good practice to reuse timber where appropriate, having regard to structural requirements. The Committee understands that there is not a lot of scope to reuse timber given the advanced nature of most infrastructure contracts but, as a matter of principle, advises that this issue should be considered. More importantly, all new timber used in construction should come from sustainable sources, both in Australia and overseas.

71)    Tenders and contracts negotiated in respect of the Games should include provision for the use of recycled timber where appropriate, [The One Stop Timber Shop website (www.timbershop.wilderness.org.au) is a useful starting point],  and that all new timber used in construction must be from accredited sustainable sources.

I4. Off site impacts

All venue building and development can potentially have significant impact on soil structure and retention on site and best practice construction standards should be used to minimise impact. In addition some events such as the Mountain Bike have similar potential to impact on soils and runoff; in this case the temporary and overlay infrastructure should be designed to minimise impact.

The Committee recognises that some non indigenous plantings have either heritage values or provide energy savings in respect of shade in summer and increased solar heating in winter.

The State Government is committed to developing a Parklands Code to support the broad strategies and actions contained in the document Linking People and Spaces for land management by Parks Victoria. This Code will include principles relating to community involvement, transparent planning processes, securing the future of open space, changing land use and diversity. Local Governments in the municipalities of Yarra, Melbourne and Port Phillip all have policies and plans which relate to open space.

Many of the Games’ venues will have an impact on open space, metropolitan venues, Mountain Bike and possibly the Village, both through development of infrastructure and operation of the Games. Existing municipal plans and the proposed Parklands Code should form the basis of proposals that impact on open space.

There is also an opportunity through the Parks Victoria 2020 Open Space Planning to channel benefits from the Games to rural and regional communities by enhancing open space networks and rejuvenating sport and recreational facilities in regional Victoria. This would provide a long term legacy generating benefits in community capacity building, tourism and recreation.

The Games will have a major impact on waterways and the Bay in terms of litter and pollution associated with activities and people pressure. Environmental settings will be created which will enhance appreciation and encourage personal concern for the ecological sustainability of the environment. Melbourne Water and the municipalities already have in place management plans for these areas but it will be important to develop specific environmental improvement plans for the appropriate temporary and overlay infrastructure.

The Committee is required to provide advice on a monitoring and reporting mechanism for overseeing environmental performance of the Games. The ultimate goal of the Commonwealth Games is to minimise its ecological footprint. Sustainability covenants are the main vehicle for implementing the measures in an integrated and cohesive way and provide an inherent and thorough monitoring system.

M2006 and OCGC should establish rigorous internal monitoring systems and consult regularly on the progress of implementation with an Environment Stakeholder Reference Group that is established by the Minister. This Group would have an independent chair and include representation of key stakeholders. Suggested Terms of Reference and membership have been included in this report.

The monitoring systems should incorporate life cycle assessment and triple bottom line accounting tools. Both methodologies are being developed and implemented by a number of agencies and would form a good framework for Games reporting.

An environmental monitoring and reporting program can address inputs, outputs and/or outcomes. For example: if our target is to offset carbon generated by international travel to the Games we can achieve this and measure our achievement in a number of ways. First we need to calculate the carbon likely to be generated, second the number of trees needed to sequester in a given time frame and then we devise a program to plant those trees. We can then report on inputs (how many trees we planted), outputs (how many trees grew to required yield and outcomes (by how much was CO₂ reduced). Within the Games timeframe we can easily report on inputs - the number of trees planted but their longevity and effectiveness will not be established for another generation and we may never be able to sort the impact of this initiative from others in respect of an outcome – reduction in CO₂.

A Games’ monitoring program should include a mix of all three types of measurements. Most of the inputs and outputs should be spelt out as key performance indicators in contracts related to Games infrastructure and operations – M2006 and OCGC should monitor these and report to the Environment Stakeholders Reference Group on a quarterly basis.

Targets are outlined above for each of the main chapters. Development of the ecofootprint will establish the benchmark. The sustainability covenants recommended are the principal conduit for implementation of the Government’s commitments and should set out the core elements of the monitoring and reporting requirements. Notwithstanding that the key elements of the monitoring and reporting framework are outlined below.

The Committee has also looked at the implementation structures that could govern the environmental sustainability aspects of the Games. The Committee saw that there were two main functions to be filled:

• Advisory:

1. Policy: Chief Executive Officer Forum.
2. Technical: Technical Advisory Groups as required (e.g. procurement, energy, transport, water, waste, business and procurement, infrastructure).

• Transparency and Accountability:

D.    Stakeholder Input: Environment Stakeholder Reference Group.

J2A. Agency Chief Executive Officers Forum

The Committee is recommending the establishment of an Environment Stakeholder Reference Group to advise the Minister for Commonwealth Games on the environmental performance of Games’ activities. This Group would monitor environmental performance of infrastructure and operations. The monitoring and reporting arrangements put in place will underpin the success of this Group. The Group would comprise of representatives of interested stakeholder groups.

The Group should be convened as early as possible to monitor the implementation of the Government’s response to issues raised in the Commonwealth Games Advisory Committee (Environment)’s process and general environmental measures, expected in early 2003.

In the lead up to Games, the Group should receive quarterly reports from M2006 and OCGC that provide a schedule of forthcoming activities and report on preparation undertaken to date. The content of these reports will be negotiated between M2006, OCGC and the Group, but at a minimum will include details of infrastructure development, intended operational arrangements, monitoring, reporting and communications.

The Group should also be provided with the details of the sustainability covenants established with M2006, OCGC, contractors and sponsors. Reports would enable the Group to monitor compliance with the covenants.

The Group’s assessments of the environmental performance of Games would be publicly available through a website maintained in the lead up, during and immediately after the Games. The Group will advise the Minister for Commonwealth Games. To assist with this reporting, the Group will be provided with administrative support.

Ms Christine Forster (Chair). Ms Forster has qualifications in science and has broad experience in water quality and water resources management as a former Board member of the Rural Water Corporation and a Director of the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation. She is currently Chairperson of the Victorian Catchment Management Council, advising the Minister for Environment and Conservation on the condition of land and water resources in Victoria and priorities for catchment management throughout the State.

Ms Forster is on the State Assessment Panel for the National Heritage Trust and an ex-officio member of various Reference, Review and Steering Committees including Farm Dams (Irrigation), River Health, Infrastructure Planning, and chair of Stakeholder Reference Group for the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. She is a member of Advisory Board to RMIT Department of Geospatial Science. Ms Forster is also a woolgrower in Western Victoria with experience in regional development and landcare.

Dr Michael Buxton (Member). Dr Buxton has a PhD in Education, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts. Dr Buxton is currently Associate Professor, Environment and Planning with the School of Social Science and Planning, RMIT University, and has almost 25 years experience in land use planning in Victoria at a local and state government level.

Dr Buxton has extensive experience in policy development at an international, national, state and regional level. He led the intergovernmental process developing a new National Greenhouse Strategy in the mid 1990s, and managed Victoria’s State Conservation Strategy and development of environmental policy between 1984-92. He has held positions at Director level with the Victorian Environment Protection Authority, Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Ministry for Planning and Environment.

Dr Brian Robinson (Member). Dr Robinson has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a PhD in Chemistry. Dr Robinson recently retired from the Environment Protection Authority Victoria where he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1986 to 2002.

Dr Robinson has extensive experience in environmental management and is one of Australia’s leading initiators in environmental protection policies and programs. Dr Robinson has considerable government experience having been Chair and Convenor of various environmental committees over the past 25 years.

Ms Cheryl Batagol (Member). Ms Batagol is the Deputy Chair of EcoRecycle Victoria, a director of City West Water and a director of Southern Rural Water. In addition she provides advice to industry on risk management and community liaison.

Mrs Batagol has considerable experience in risk and environmental management issues and has provided a significant contribution to waste reduction and resource conservation through her various roles in business and government organisations and committees over the past 30 years. Ms Batagol is presently on the EPA Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Advisory Committee and Chairs City West Water’s Board Environmental Audit Committee. Ms Batagol is the facilitator for the Marstel Community Liaison Group.

In 2001-2 she served as Chair for a Ministerial Panel reviewing Regional Waste Management Groups and was the Chair of the Enviro 2002 Waste Convention. Ms Batagol previously represented the Plastics and Chemicals Industry Association on the Government’s Hazardous Waste Advisory Committee.

Mr Marcus Godinho (Member). Mr Godinho is currently the Executive Director of Environment Victoria. Mr Godinho has a background in corporate affairs, marketing and general management. Mr Godinho has developed and managed cross-sector partnerships while working with corporations, environmental non-government organisations and the public sector. In this context he has worked with Mobil Oil Australia, National Australia Bank and the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Mr Godinho also has experience in energy efficiency and renewable energy and their application to business through his previous role with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria. Mr Godinho sits on the Premier's Economic Environment and Social Advisory Committee and is a member of the National Management Committee of the Wilderness Society.

1. Background

   The Commonwealth Games provides an opportunity for the Government to showcase innovative and cost effective environmental approaches. These can be adopted by Government, M2006, the building industry, venue and event operators as a legacy from the Games.

   The Government and the Organising Committee, Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Pty Ltd (‘M2006’) have collaborated on the development of an Environment Framework to manage the broad environmental issues presented by infrastructure development and Games’ operations. The Framework establishes the Government’s vision and objectives for environment matters relating to the Games. It provides the policy context for the development of detailed strategy to address the vision and environmental performance objectives for the Games.

   The purpose of the Commonwealth Games Advisory Committee (Environment) is to consider and advise on measures, activities and policies relating to Games’ infrastructure and operations, including the rationale of how the they will meet the Government’s vision for an environmentally sustainable Games. The Committee will recommend to Government its proposed approach to ensure environmental considerations are a key feature of the Games in Melbourne.

2. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games

   The Commonwealth Games Federation met in Fiji on 9 October 1999 and Melbourne was appointed as Host City for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The 2006 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Melbourne from 15 March to 26 March 2006 and involve 6,000 athletes and officials from 70 countries.

   The staging of the Games will be a major event for Victoria. Preparations in relation to development and operations need to be undertaken within a tight and non-negotiable timeframe. These preparations include major development and construction works, such as the redevelopment of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the construction of a Games’ Village, the expansion of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and an overlay for the Games.

   Through the Games’ Bid document, the Government is committed to minimising the Games’ environmental impact. It is intended that the Environment Framework and detailed measures that underpins it will address this commitment.

   Preparations for the Games are taking place within the framework of the Commonwealth Games Arrangements Act 2001.

3. Committee

The Committee will be established under section 5 of the Act by the Minister for Commonwealth Games to consider and advise the Minister on measures to address the Games’ vision and environmental performance objectives outlined in the Environment Framework. The Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination (Department of Tourism, Sport and the Commonwealth Games) will provide executive support to the Committee. It is important to note that:

• The recommendations of the Committee will inform the Minister in his determinations in response to the advice provided by other Advisory Committees established for designated Commonwealth Games projects; and
• Subject to the Act, the Committee may regulate its own proceedings.

1. Task

The Committee will, within the context of ensuring responsible financial management of the Games and the Environment Framework, provide the Minister for Commonwealth Games with advice on:

• Measures that address sustainability issues such as environmental performance, cost effectiveness, and nett community benefit. This will include:

• Measures to deliver against each environmental performance area set out in the Environment Framework. Particular consideration should be given to measures that focus on how Government can deliver the Games in an environmentally sensitive manner, provide ongoing legacy benefits and actively involve the community; and
• The rationale of how measures were selected and the Government’s vision and environmental performance objectives will be met.

• Assessment criteria for environmental measures for infrastructure projects having regard to:

• The advanced stage of negotiations for a number of projects;
• The establishment of venue specific Advisory Committees and their Terms of Reference; and
• Probity issues.

• A monitoring and reporting mechanism for overseeing environmental performance of the Games.

In preparing its advice, the Committee must review all relevant reports prepared by the M2006 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, the Department of Tourism, Sport and the Commonwealth Games, and consider all written submissions and the outcomes of any consultation with stakeholders.

1. Consultation

   The Committee may inform itself in any way it sees fit. In accordance with the provisions of the Act the Minister for Commonwealth Games is directing the Committee to carry out public consultation, with a period of not less than 21 days within which representations can be made to the Committee.

   The Committee must publish its consultation process (including the Terms of Reference and the Environmental Framework) on the web and notify any persons who have registered their interest in the process directly.

2.  
3. Outcomes

   The Committee must provide a report to the Minister for Commonwealth Games addressing the task as outlined in Section 4. The Report also should include a description of the consultation conducted by the Committee and a list of written submissions and those consulted.

4. TIMING

The Committee is required to report in writing by no later than 30 August 2002 to the Minister for Commonwealth Games.

1. Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc (Lighting Improvement Section) – Barry Clark
2. Australian Conservation Foundation – Dr Peter Brotherton
3. Australian Institute of Petroleum – Ewen Macpherson
4. City of Dandenong – Andrew McIntosh
5. City of Melbourne – Michael Malouf
6. City of Port Phillip – David Spokes
7. City of Port Phillip – Peter Logan (Councillor)
8. Deakin University – Trevor Thornton
9. Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development (Energy) – Craig Eyes
10. Earthworker – Serena O’Meley
11. Going Solar Consulting – Stephen Ingrouille
12. Green Fleet Australia – Henry O’Cleary
13. Greenchill Technology Association – Brent Hoare
14. Greenway Building Design Consultants – Andrew Allan
15. JCON Solutions – Peter Latham
16. Landcare Australia – Guy Knox
17. Master Plumbers’ and Mechanical Services Association of Australia – Ray Herbert
18. Melbourne International Shooting Club – Peter Kelly
19. Melbourne Water – Brian Bayley
20. Monash University – Frank Fisher
21. Port Philip Catchment and Land Protection Board – David Buntine
22. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Centre for Design) – Dominique Hes
23. Royal Park Protection Group – Julianne Bell
24. Save Albert Park Inc – Dr Harry Ward
25. Sustainable Energies Authority of Victoria – David Craven
26. Sustainable Energy Foundation – Max Dumais
27. Sustainable Energy Foundation (Education) – Lui Bonadio
28. Tullet and Tokyo Liberty Pty Ltd – Daniel O’Sullivan
29. University of Melbourne (Foundation for Sustainable Economic Development) – Max Ogden
30. Victorian Greens – Richard Di Natale
31. Vinyl Council Australia – Sophi Macmillan

     

    Submissions from Individuals:

32. Rob Allen
33. Sheridan Blunt
34. J Flack
35. Mervyn Hayman Danker
36. Jonathon March and Pamela Miller
37. The Hon. Glenyys Dorothy Romanes MLC – Member for Melbourne (b)
38. Colin Smith
39. Robert Symington
40. Johnny Wiseman

     

    Anonymous Submissions:

41. One received

1. Atlantis
2. Australian Business Council
3. Australian Conservation Foundation
4. Australian Democrats
5. Australian Vinyls
6. Banksia Foundation
7. Barwon Regional Waste Management Group
8. Bayside City Council
9. Bicycle Victoria
10. Building Commission
11. Business Council for Sustainable Energy (formerly the Australian Ecogeneration Association)
12. Buy Recycled Alliance
13. City of Greater Dandenong
14. City of Whitehorse
15. City of Yarra
16. City West Water
17. Clean Event
18. CM Engineering Society
19. Colonial Stadium
20. Community Change
21. Connex
22. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU)
23. CSIRO
24. Deakin University
25. Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development
26. Department of Infrastructure
27. Department of Natural Resources and Environment
28. Detroit Diesel
29. Docklands Authority
30. Earthworker
31. EcoRecycle Victoria
32. Electrical Trades Union
33. Environment Business Association
34. Environment Liaison Office
35. Environment Protection Authority
36. Environment Solutions
37. Environment Victoria
38. Environmental Affairs City Wide
39. Environmental Markets
40. Environs Australia
41. Ernst and Young
42. Friends of the Earth
43. Going Solar
44. Green Chip Pty Ltd
45. Green Globe
46. Green Plumber Association
47. Greenchip Pty Ltd
48. Greenfleet
49. Hayver International
50. Industrial Supplies Office
51. Intelligent Irrigation
52. International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
53. JCON Business Solutions
54. K & S Waste
55. Kulim Nations
56. Landcare Australia
57. Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union Victoria (LHMU)
58. Major Projects Victoria
59. Maribyrnong City Council
60. Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia
61. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Pty Ltd
62. Melbourne City Council
63. Melbourne Cricket Ground
64. Melbourne International Shooting Club
65. Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
66. Melbourne Water
67. Memcor
68. Monash University
69. Moreland City Council
70. Municipal Association of Victoria
71. Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination
72. Origin Energy
73. Pacific Hydro
74. Parkville Association
75. Port Phillip City Council
76. Public Transport Users Association
77. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
78. Royal Park Protection Group
79. Save Albert Park
80. Sport and Recreation Victoria
81. Sustainable Change
82. Sustainable Energy Authority of Victoria
83. Sustainable Energy Foundation
84. Sustainable Investment Research Institute
85. Telstra
86. Victorian Trades Hall Council
87. Vic Super
88. VicRoads
89. Victorian Farmers Federation
90. Victorian Greens
91. Victorian Local Governance Association
92. Victorian Waste Industry Association
93. Vinyl Council
94. Visy
95. Vivendi Water
96. Waste Management Association
97. Wastech
98. Wilderness Society
99. Wurundjeri Council

1. Max Spedding
2. Pam Keating
3. Peter Ottesen
4. Professor Alan Pears
5. Professor Allan Rodgers
6. Robert Symington

Note: The above listing is not exhaustive. At Committee meetings (in particular the Public Information Meeting and Workshops) participants failed to, or choose not to, record their names or the organisations they were representing.

Sustainable development is a global concept that increasingly is seen as embracing economic prosperity, social equity and ecological integrity.

There are at least three approaches taken to the notion of "sustainability".

This focus identifies the importance of environmental protection for its own sake (eco-centric) and for human related (anthropocentric) reasons. This view draws on an ecological model based on the notions of limits and inter-relationships. A related idea is the need for current generations to adopt a custodial role and protect the ability of future generations to use and benefit from their environments.

The idea of "carrying capacity", the population that can be sustained in balance by an ecosystem or the maximum impact the planet or an ecosystem can sustain, is also central to the idea of sustainability. Carrying capacity it is not infinitely expandable. It is limited ultimately by the system’s capacity to renew itself or safely to absorb wastes. Carrying capacity implies limits in the ability of the earth to absorb impacts.

It is often argued that the difficulties of reducing and disposing of wastes present the most important problem for achieving a sustainable environmental system. Sustainability will require a substantial reduction in resource inputs as the trigger for a reduction in waste outputs.

There is increasing evidence of the interaction between overuse of natural resources and extensive environmental impacts such as climate change, land and water degradation and species loss. Ultimately serious economic and social impacts on human settlements will also result, such as a lower capacity for food production and increased poverty and disparity of wealth.

A common definition of sustainable development, such as that proposed by the 1987 United Nations Brundtland Commission, is derived from this theme of resource conservation coupled with ecological limits, and concentrates on the careful management of natural resources. It refers to development that may continue indefinitely because it does not exceed the capacities of the natural resource base to renew itself. This definition has been applied most successfully to renewable resources. The analogy usually applied to this argument is that sustainability allows humans to live off the interest and maintain capital.

The Brundtland Commission linked environmental and human problems, and argued that both further development in developing countries and a reduction in resource use and waste production in developed countries were necessary for global sustainability.

Many argue that technological progress cannot replace biological processes and that ultimately, humans will be subject to the same biological limits and processes as any other species. This draws from an eco-centric paradigm that points to the intrinsic value of nature and the importance of interdependence and limits.

The most extreme technological optimists believe that technology can overcome any natural limitations, and that human ingenuity and invention is the earth’s greatest resource. This position stems from an anthropocentric paradigm that holds that humans exist independently of nature and can legitimately dominate it and/or, from a faith in the potential capacity of technological development, can deal with any problems that may arise.

The ESD Principles

The 1992 Australian Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment used national and international sources to develop principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development which have become influential in Australia. These were modified in background investigations for the Victorian Metropolitan Strategy to:

This principle is probably best expressed in the Framework Convention on Climate Change:

This can be interpreted as calling for precautionary actions in the face of a lack of knowledge, or deciding not to take action because of concerns about possible outcomes or consequences. A precautionary measure is more likely to be a decision not to act until more is known about environmental effects.

The principle reverses the onus of proof from those who oppose potentially damaging development to those who wish to pursue such development. It requires decision makers or proponents to show that actions, even when they involve a continuation of existing activities, will not have significant or adverse consequences for present or future generations, rather than proceeding unless environmental damage can be convincingly demonstrated.

Intergenerational equity aims to ensure that each generation passes its inheritance to the next, so protecting inherited capital in perpetuity for the enjoyment of future generations.

This principle proposes that each generation is both a trustee or custodian of the planet for future generations and a beneficiary of previous generations’ stewardship. This means that the quality of the environment passed on between generations should not be diminished.

It also proposes that the overall stock of natural capital be at least maintained for future generations to use. If generations invest in developments that diminish the natural wealth they inherit then they are living off capital at the expense of the future. Natural capital consists of renewable and non-renewable resources.

Intragenerational equity is the principle of creating a more just and equal world within the same generation.

Urban sustainability requires that the management of natural capital is a key strategic element tied to the impacts of material flows into, within and out of human settlements. Natural capital stocks exist as energy embedded in buildings, vegetation, and other infrastructure and the materials they contain. There are no substitutes for many environmental features and much environmental degradation is irreversible. A generation inevitably offends against the notion of intergenerational equity by allowing irreversible environmental degradation to occur.

Biological diversity is the variety of all life forms, the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part. Biological diversity is a critical component of natural capital for both eco-centric and anthropocentric reasons, that is, biodiversity can be protected because of self-interest and utility, or from a desire to respect all life.

Two other concepts are related to biodiversity. Life support systems are essential ecological processes that keep the earth fit for life, shape climate, cleanse air and water, regulate water flow, recycle essential elements, create and regenerate soil, and enable ecosystems to renew themselves. For people, capacity can be expanded by technology, but usually at the cost of reducing biological diversity or ecological services.

Economic and Social Well-Being

It is widely argued that creative solutions to problems and synthesis of ideas can generate development paths that will improve economic and social well-being, and are consistent with environmental principles. Achieving this principle will require improvements in accessibility and equity, and increase social capital.

To identify and implement such development paths requires that both social and economic outcomes of policy options are given significant status, and that serious attempts are made to quantify and compare them, not just on a financial basis, but against other criteria that incorporate social values.

It also requires a range of implementation mechanisms, such as regulations, incentives, pricing environmental factors in the valuation of assets and services, the polluter pays principle, and setting prices which include the full life cycle costs of providing goods and services including the use of natural resources, assets and the costs of waste disposal.

The concept of interdependence provides a biological and systems basis for the view that the future of the whole earth is bound up with the fate of each part, particularly each contributor to its biological systems. The Brundtland Commission provided a clear statement of this position arguing that the earth is "an organism whose health depends on the health of all its parts". Each lost wetland, forest, natural water and soil systems, is one step closer to the destruction of the world’s natural environment. The fate of each part can also be determined by the whole, for example, by principles of trade, financial policy and economic development.

Similarly, economic and environmental actions are linked. Human destruction of natural environments has had catastrophic economic consequences in many parts of the world over thousands of years. Economic globalisation is the direct cause of continuing environmental problems. The concept of interdependence extends also to relationships between social and physical systems.

The ongoing nature of the infrastructure that design features incorporated into the design and construction will provide ongoing benefits. The Committee has therefore considered the standards not just for the Games’ period but also for the ongoing legacy they provide.

In assessing environmental initiatives to meet the requirements of the Framework, the Committee has incorporated social and economic implications to produce a triple bottom line outcome.

Noting that much of the significant infrastructure is already in place and that negotiations for further development of existing venues and the Games’ Village was well advanced in some cases, the Committee has sought to build on existing programs by incorporating contemporary sustainability concepts into the design, construction and operations of infrastructure.

Selection of construction material and design concepts can significantly reduce the environmental impact of infrastructure both during construction and in its lifetime of operation. In the selection of construction material the Committee has sought to include consideration of total embodied energy rather than merely the energy of production.

Demolition waste is one the remaining waste streams direct to landfill that has not diminished in recent years and is therefore a priority for Government action. Environmentally sound management of demolition activities can achieve high levels of diversion demolition waste from landfill and by setting a challenging target and leveraging of the iconic status of the MCG, a new benchmark can be set for normal practice in the industry for the future.

While the Committee considers diversion from landfill as good practice, in reality it is rarely normal practice. Yet the sheer volume of demolition waste to landfill makes this a critical priority to shift normal practice onto a more sustainable footing.

The Committee has also indicated the need to consider the ability to deal with building materials at end of life. This applies especially to overlay materials.

Application of water sensitive design to the extent relevant not only demonstrates sound water stewardship but also protects the natural environment.

Incorporation of solar energy, including photovoltaics, into the design with additional energy requirements being met through green energy purchase will minimise the need for offsets.

This is an archive copy of a document originally located at http://www.dtscg.vic.gov.au/4A256B7500063206/ImageLookup/EnvironmentAdvisoryCommitteeReport/$file/Commonwealth%20Games%20Advisory%20Committee%20Report%20.doc.
All copyright remains with the Department for Tourism, Sport and the Commonwealth Games.

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