Australia’s first Green Star – Communities rating has been awarded to Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) by Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), elevating the airport’s sustainability to new heights.

Comprising of 2700 hectares of land, which will eventually house more than 50 commercial office, mixed use, retail and industrial buildings, the Brisbane Airport site has achieved a 4 Star Green Star Communities rating under the PILOT version of the rating tool.

Green Star – Communities is designed to assess and certify the sustainability of large-scale master planned development projects.

GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew says that the 4 Star Green Star rating represents ‘best practice’ for a master-planned development in Australia. The Green Star – Communities rating provides BAC with independent verification and global recognition for its vision and commitment to sustainable development.

Madew said that the rating is an enormous achievement not just for BAC, but for the people of Brisbane, who now have independent proof that the airport precinct is being planned and designed to deliver environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Julieanne Alroe, BAC Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, comments that the Green Star – Communities rating gives them reassurance that they are on the right track and also encourages them to do even more for sustainability to take Brisbane Airport to a leadership position in this space.

Brisbane Airport’s entire site has been assessed against benchmarks for liveability, economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, design excellence, governance and innovation.

A Green Star – Communities rating involves ongoing certification, with a 'check back' required within three years to verify that the project is delivering the desired outcomes, and recertification required within a five-year timeframe.

Madew concludes that Brisbane Airport, with the Green Star – Communities rating has set new sustainability benchmarks for airports around the world.