Sustainability
The precinct is being developed sustainably and in compliance with contemporary environmental regulations.
As technology and cost-curves align, the development aims to be largely powered by renewables (a global-first for an industrial precinct), will use modern technology such as carbon capture and storage to achieve low-to-zero emissions, and is master planned with a fifty year vision that will support the Territory economy's transition to being more sustainable for the longer term.
A number of overarching sustainability principles have been embedded in the precinct planning and design and an outcomes framework will be developed to ensure best practice sustainable development for MASDP.
Sustainable development for MASDP means an approach that equally values environmental, economic, social (including cultural) and governance factors.
The precinct will be accredited under the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) rating scheme which endeavours to be sustainable in the areas of environment, economic, social, cultural and governance. This is the first project in the Territory to be accredited under the scheme.
The project is currently working towards an ISC rating for the planning phase.
Infrastructure Australia outlines principles for the four sustainability components with a focus on the goals of sustainable infrastructure:
| Component of sustainability | Principle |
|---|---|
| Social | Infrastructure and policies should improve quality-of-life, access, and wellbeing, to create an inclusive and fair society. |
| Economic | Infrastructure and policies should grow productivity, the Australian economy and allow equitable access to economic and growth opportunities, while efficiently using financial resources. |
| Environmental | Infrastructure and policies should protect environmental outcomes by reducing pollution, balancing resource consumption, conserving natural ecosystems and resources, and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation. |
| Governance | Infrastructure and policies should build trust in governance and institutions through transparent, accountable and inclusive decision-making. |
All aspects of MASDP, from planning to construction and ongoing development, will follow these sustainability principles.
Some opportunities for MASDP to develop and operate sustainably are:
- Undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment to understand, plan for and mitigate, manage or avoid where possible the cumulative effects of a fully developed Middle Arm Peninsula.
- The precinct will support the use of renewable energy.
- Master planning and maximising the use of shared infrastructure to reduce impacts and share capital costs, as well as enable circular economy opportunities.
- Engineering design will consider opportunities for beneficial reuse of waste, discharge and emissions.
- Infrastructure sustainability ratings will be determined for the planning and design phases of the precinct.
- Targeting a low emissions precinct, including carbon capture and network that support decarbonisation to net zero.
- Increasing self-sufficiency in supply chains and manufacturing capacity to provide an opportunity to build local manufacturing and national capabilities.
Circular economy principles of sustainable and responsible production involve sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials to maximise benefits and minimise environmental impacts.
