Vicinity Centres is now the highest-rated retail property group in Australia after it received a 4 Star Green Star Performance rating, representing best practice, from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
When Vicinity Centres was featured on the cover story of the 2019 Big Guns Edition, the company outlined an ambitious strategy to deliver shared value for their customers, retailers and investors by delivering a comprehensive sustainability strategy across its diverse and large portfolio. This acknowledgement by the GBCA is testament to the delivery of the strategy. A month ago the company also said they would deliver on a zero-net carbon target by 2030.
Vicinity Centres CEO Grant Kelley said, “We’re proud to have received a 4 Star Green Star Performance rating for our portfolio, and to be taking on a leadership position, which reinforces our commitment to creating more sustainable business outcomes for our customers, communities, and investors.”
Kelley said Vicinity’s rating was a significant lift since its first rating of two stars – which is the current average for Australian buildings – in 2016. Chadstone (Vic), Mandurah Forum (WA), Queens Plaza (Qld) and Elizabeth City Centre (SA) are among 39 centres which have received a 4 Star Green Star Performance rating by the GBCA in 2019.
Melissa Schulz, General Manager, Sustainability at Vicinity said: “We’re thrilled with what we’ve been able to achieve since 2016, including cutting the energy we’re using, which has delivered an 11% reduction in our carbon emissions intensity – equivalent to removing more than 4,700 cars from our roads this year.”
Grant Kelley (left) launching Vicinity’s solar program last year
“We know our customers and retailers are looking to us for sustainability leadership, which is why our teams have changed processes and implemented upgrades, to help deliver better outcomes for our communities and the environment” Schulz said.
A number of key sustainability measures were recognised by the GBCA include:
- Vicinity’s $73 million national solar program
- Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and cooling (HVAC) maintenance and replacement
- Waste management
- Community investment and Reconciliation Action Plan
“Our strategy to reach Net Zero carbon by 2030, along with our industry-leading solar investment, has helped us reach 4 Star Green Star Performance rating, but we know there is more work to do to ensure we maintain our position as sustainability leaders,” Schulz said.
