Landcom has long been recognised as an industry leader in sustainability. The feature on Page 27 of this report details the path we have taken and the work that has been done this year to set new sustainability indicators and targets to ensure they continue to challenge us and drive innovation in our projects and teams in the years ahead. While this represented our major achievement this year in advancing best practice, we were involved in a range of other initiatives.
 

Sustainability Guide A sustainability guide was developed for The Ponds at Kellyville Ridge during the year. The guide is an educational tool that uses a local bird “Bluey the Kingfisher” to highlight the estate’s environmental features. It demonstrates how households can reduce energy, water consumption and waste generation, includes information on local community and sporting facilities and encourages residents to get active and involved in their community. The guide is being distributed through The Ponds’ welcome program.

Landcom’s carbon footprint Landcom undertook investigations to identify and better understand the “carbon footprint” arising from our office operations during the year. These investigations provided advice on our energy consumption and actions for us to reduce it.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme We completed a study to assess the impact on Landcom’s projects from the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, including that proposed by Ross Garnaut. The study undertaken in December 2008 suggested negligible impacts on our developments and costs through to 2020. However as the scheme has since been amended, we will need to review our study based on the most recent iteration of the scheme, to ensure our results are both current and accurate.

Energy usage In August we changed our electricity supply contract to allow us to buy 100% green energy for our office operations. The result: we not only reduced our carbon footprint but saved around 30% on our annual electricity costs. August also saw the launch of a trial car-share system, with Landcom engaging a company that provides vehicles for hire on a “pay-for-use” basis. The car-share fleet comprises mainly small, fuel efficient vehicles. The purpose of the trial was to test whether such a scheme would be effective as an extension of Landcom’s conventional vehicle fleet. The trial was successful and the car share system is now available to staff on a permanent basis.

Paper usage While paper use increased since the beginning of 2009 (largely due to an increase in our sales and marketing activities), our consumption overall has reduced during the financial year by 4% or 143 reams reduction in paper usage, when compared with last year.

Understanding asthma in the home During the year we worked with the Asthma Foundation to produce an Asthma in the Home booklet. The booklet provides information on common asthma triggers in homes and how to avoid them or reduce their impact. They will be distributed in the future through our welcome programs.

Annual reporting Landcom’s 2008 Annual Report was awarded Bronze in the Australasian Reporting Awards’ sustainable reporting category. Also on the reporting front, our nomination to participate in the real estate and construction industry sector supplement of the Global Reporting Initiative was formally accepted in July 2008.