The City of Greater Geelong’s Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct has achieved a 6-Star Green Star Design and As Built v1.2 certified rating (the highest rating), by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), making it one of the most sustainable local government buildings in the country.
The rating represents the highest standards in environmentally sustainable building practices, signifying ‘world leadership’ in the field.
The Green Star building certification is a holistic sustainability rating.
The nine categories for the Green Star rating are:
- Management
- Indoor Environment Quality
- Energy
- Transport
- Water
- Materials
- Land Use and Ecology
- Emissions and Innovation.
Wurriki Nyal’s Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), glue-laminated columns and beams contributed significantly to the building’s 6-star accreditation.
The rating looked at the overall carbon reduction for the entire lifecycle of the Wurriki Nyal building, from materials to construction right through to demolition.
The building is expected to emit 571,607 kilograms of equivalent carbon emissions per annum compared with a building using standard concrete construction methods which is expected to emit 1,120,995 kilograms of equivalent carbon emissions per annum. The difference is equivalent to powering 70 homes and taking 122 cars off the road per year and avoiding the burning of 278,942 kilos of coal per annum.
The building also features a 140kW solar panel-covered roof, reducing the city’s annual energy cost for decades to come.
Wurriki Nyal supports active transport by offering above industry standard end-of-trip facilities to make staff’s active commute easy with bicycle parks, half height bookable lockers, towel service, drying room and an accessible shower and change room.
City Officers have also kept the building’s waste low by introducing a recycling hub for the public to drop off items like e-waste and pens, a food waste bin and a shared reusable cup and container system. Waste from single use coffee cups dropped 40 percent after the reusable cup system was introduced.
In addition to the 6-Star Green Star rating, the City is currently on track to achieve a 5-Star NABERS Energy Base Building rating, which indicates exceptional energy efficiency and environmental performance in a building or facility.
Meaning ‘Speak and Talk Together’, the name Wurriki Nyal embodies the City of Greater Geelong’s aspirations for the Civic Accommodation Building to pay tribute to the cultural context of the area – and the experience of the First Nations people.
It has been designed to be a safe, welcoming and accessible public space.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The significance of the Green Star rating extends beyond a mere certificate or logo. It serves as a powerful symbol of our commitment to sustainable practices, creating brand value that resonates with our community.
It encourages innovation, driving us to explore new ways of building and operating structures that benefit the environment and the bottom line. It also reduces risks associated with environmental impact.
It’s a light-filled, healthy, and contemporary workplace that addresses social, environmental, technological, and economic aspects.
Councillor Peter Murrihy – Environment and Circular Economy portfolio chair
Achieving a 6-Star Green Star rating sets an example for others to follow.
This milestone is a testament to the City’s vision of being a leader in sustainable urban development.
As we celebrate, we reaffirm our commitment to continue leading the way in this space.
