Business leaders unite for environmentally sustainable construction

BUSINESS leaders and change agents gathered this month at GMHBA Stadium for an event aimed at advancing knowledge around the work that needs to be done to improve erosion and sediment controls (ESC) during construction to protect the region’s waterways.

Hosted by Geelong-based consultancy group Scaada Environmental and Sustainability, the ‘Leading the Way’ conference brought together almost 100 professionals spanning a wide variety of sectors, including government representatives, urban planners and property developers.

Scaada chief executive officer Tony Costa said the aim of the event was to provide a day of leadership, learning, collaboration and provocation, by raising awareness about the impacts of current ESC practices, educating attendees about ways to improve their practices and encouraging industry to work together to achieve more sustainable environmental outcomes.

“We’re acutely aware of the devastating impact poor, or non-existent, ESC controls within land developments and infrastructure projects are having on our sensitive ecosystem,” he said.

“We believe there’s great strength and opportunity for sustainable change, when industry collaborate together.

“Leading conversations with key stakeholders around best practice and improvement, through the lens of ‘outcome and impact’, has the ability to genuinely invite everyone into the conversation towards improvement – rather than relying on rules and regulation being the ‘stick’ to force change.”

Mr Costa said Scaada believes “industry collaborating with industry, and industry collaborating with regulators” is a model capable of encouraging the type of leadership that will drive genuine sustainable environmental outcomes for the community.

Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation cultural strengthening general manager Corrina Eccles spoke of the importance of land and water. This was followed by robust discussions led by guest speakers, including Dallas Frazier – Australasian International Erosion Control Association (IECA) president – who shared insights into ESC fundamentals and a best practice framework designed by the IECA.

Ainsley Simpson, the chief executive of clothing stewardship scheme Seamless, also presented on the importance of challenging norms, lobbying regulations, industry partnerships and championing environmental outcomes. Malcolm Eadie of Netgain Advisory spoke on the history and importance of healthy waterways and the legislative frameworks currently in place around ESC.

To learn more about Scaada, head to scaada.com.au