The Smart Cities Council and Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) recently released a new standard of practice called the Code for Smart Communities. The code is a benchmarking tool for urban development practices across greenfield communities, urban regeneration precincts, and diverse institutional campuses.
“This is the first time a smart community has been defined in a way that can be practically applied. We went back to principles to build this Code from the ground up,” said Adam Beck, executive director for Smart Cities Council in Australia and New Zealand.
The GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Romilly Madew said, “there was a strong synergy between the sustainable development outcomes articulated in the Green Star – Communities rating tool and the enabling opportunities from technology and data to enhance community outcomes. This work will provide us with the opportunity to ensure smart cities principles are embedded in Green Star as the rating system evolves to meet industry and global trends, and continues to deliver environmental efficiencies, productivity gains and health and well being outcomes in our buildings and communities.”
“Two lighthouse projects are stepping up to be the first to embrace the principles within the Code,” Beck added. These are:
- Yarrabilba, a Lendlease community in Queensland, designed for more than 40,000 residents; and,
- Sydney Olympic Park, intended to grow into a 23,000-person community with more than 30,000 jobs.
Sydney Olympic Park Authority CEO Charles Moore says: “having the chance to be one of the lighthouse projects for the Code is a unique opportunity to be part of an emerging agenda that requires strong collaboration across government and industry. The Authority is committed to ensuring that Sydney Olympic Park has a strong emphasis on sustainability as it grows and evolves, and the Code will integrate well with our plan of achieving a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating.”
