Sustainability reporting

Annual reporting provides the department the opportunity to report on progress towards sustainability practices in line with various government initiatives.

The department’s Green Plan provides a framework to support the delivery of its services in a sustainable manner that reduces resource use, the impact on the environment and improves the quality of life, now and in the future. Key initiatives in, and results from on-going programs for 2014-15 include the following:

Energy/ greenhouse emissions

The department building portfolio energy use for the 2014-15 was 86 936 gigajoules (GJ) which comprises of 57 008 GJ in electricity and 29 928 GJ in gas. This is approximately 3.0 per cent less overall energy use compared to 2013-14.

An extensive program of more than 50 major building construction projects was delivered during 2014-15 in accordance with sustainable procurement practices and the Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Guide Note for Planning, Design and Delivery. These projects include:

• WorkCoverSA relocation
• 400 King William Street
• Brighton Secondary School Cafeteria, Hall and Library
• Burnside Primary School Redevelopment
• Paradise Metropolitan Fire Service Fire Station
• Port Augusta Prison Cell Addition
• Roxby Downs Police Station
• Victor Harbor TAFE Campus Relocation and Whyalla Regional Cancer Centre Redevelopment.

The department’s Facilities Services continued to provide a range of energy efficiency and greenhouse reduction strategies for government buildings including assistance with solar power generation, servicing of co-generation systems, and implementation of Building Management Systems (BMS) for efficient energy usage. Implementation of a range of LED lighting solutions, including programmable light sensitive switching devices for external lighting, programmable light movement sensors for internal lighting, and water leakage monitoring and detection instruments were also undertaken in 2014-15. Solar voltaic systems were installed on all the building construction projects as well as at the department’s Morgan Dockyard.

The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) is a factor when leases are renewed or when new leases are entered into. Sustainability upgrade works are considered as part of lease terms and conditions at negotiation. Of the government occupied leased office area (greater than
2 000m2) in the Adelaide CBD 72.34 per cent have a NABERS Energy rating as follows:

The chart and table below shows the NABERS energy ratings of most government leased office area in the Adelaide CBD.

Buildings rated 4 Star and above have increased from 83 per cent in 2013-14 to 85.83 in 2014-15.

A proprietary energy efficiency initiative (EcoMesh) to pre-cool the air supplying chillers was trialled at the State Records storage facility at Cavan.

An investigation into the efficacy of Voltage Optimisation with the potential to make power savings on government buildings was also undertaken.

Energy efficient air conditioning plant upgrades were installed at Crystal Brook, the Motor Vehicle Depot, Regency Park and the Holden Hill Police Station.

Fluorescent lighting upgrades, switching to more efficient T5 lamps have been undertaken at 136 North Terrace, Adelaide (Roma Mitchell House), the Holden Hill Police Station and 5 Whitehead Street, Whyalla.

The department’s Government Employee Housing group is undertaking a renewal program of its aging housing stock and plans, over the next 10 years, to replace half of its owned housing stock with 6-Star rated buildings. Eighteen modern 6-Star energy rated dwellings were procured and three 6-Star rated long-term leases were established over the 2014-15 reporting period.

Twenty per cent of the traffic signal lanterns maintained by the department are high energy consumption krypton lanterns. 115 Krypton lanterns were replaced with LED lanterns saving 25 000 kwh per annum and a CO2 reduction of 16 tonnes per annum.

The department also contributed to research into geopolymer concrete in South Australia, which potentially has 80 per cent less greenhouse emissions than concrete made from traditional cement and has changed the Specification to allow for use of geopolymer concrete.

Travel and Fleet

Hydraulic start technology, that allows the diesel engine powering ferries to automatically shut down when the ferry is docked and to restart hydraulically when required, has been installed on three ferries resulting in an estimated fuel saving of 31 750L per annum and a CO2 emission reduction of up to 86 tonnes per year.

The department currently has two hybrids and one all electric (Mitsubishi Phev) car in the vehicle fleet, and the use of alternative travel modes, including bicycles, car pooling, public transport and low emission vehicles is continuing to be promoted to staff.

Twenty per cent of buses in the Adelaide Metro bus fleet use compressed natural gas (CNG), 20 per cent use B20 and 60 per cent use B5 biodiesel blend; 35 per cent are enhanced environmentally friendly vehicle (EEV) compliant; three buses are Euro 6, two buses are diesel/electric Hybrid buses and a further two buses are high capacity double deckers.

In 2015, TravelSMART was delivered to residents in the City of Adelaide, with the support of Council. The TravelSMART program focuses on households and aims to influence a shift in personal transport behaviour towards safer, greener and more active travel choices. The aim is to reduce reliance on private vehicles and provide benefits to the householder (or their wider household) through health and financial outcomes.

Climate change adaptation

A departmental Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Guideline has been developed to assist management of climate impacts.

Water

Water Sensitive Urban Design features have been incorporated into the Southern Expressway Duplication project and the Mt Barker Park and Ride. Recycled water is being used on the Park Terrace landscaping.

The Across Government Facilities Management Arrangements (AGFMA) activities of maintenance and minor works provide opportunity to improve environmental performance across a range of areas including conserving resources (energy, water, waste management, material selection), user amenity (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, acoustics), natural environment, and social and cultural heritage.

Refurbishment of wet area amenities in 136 North Terrace, Adelaide (Roma Mitchell House) and 40 Flinders Terrace, Port Augusta included the installation of dual flush toilet systems and low flow rate basin and sink outlets.

Waste and resource use

In order to facilitate increased use of recycled asphalt planings (RAP), the department’s pavement Specification has been changed to increase the percentage of RAP able to be used from 20 per cent RAP addition to 50 per cent RAP addition in asphaltic concrete. In the Metropolitan pavement reseals program, 48 201 tonnes of asphaltic concrete with recycled asphalt planings (RAP) was used containing 8 727 tonnes of RAP. Trials of 50 per cent RAP were undertaken on Main North Road at Merriton and South Road at Aldinga. Asphalt, concrete and vegetation mulch was recycled on a range of projects.

Biodiversity

The department continues to deliver offsets for clearance of vegetation through on-ground works and through payment to the Native Vegetation Fund and the Planning and Development Fund.

Extensive landscaping was undertaken as part of the Superway and the Southern Expressway duplication projects including using local indigenous species to enhance habitat and enhancement of an area of Grey box grassy woodland ecological community.

Cultural Heritage

In partnership with other South Australia government agencies heritage conservation work was undertaken on Ayers House, the SA Institute building, Government House, Torrens Island Quarantine Station and Edmund Wright House through the Historic Buildings Conservation Program.

Acknowledgement of Ngarrindjeri Country signage was installed at the Monteith Rest Area on the Princes Highway. To coincide with National Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week the annual Kardi Munaintya Tram Graphic was installed on a tram.