AGIC Overview

Who are we?

The Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC™) is a national industry association formed to advance sustainability outcomes in infrastructure and establish a sustainability rating scheme for infrastructure projects throughout Australia.

Supported by Engineers Australia’s Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering and other infrastructure and environmental related organisations, AGIC was formed by a group of industry professionals from engineering, environmental, planning and construction backgrounds working in both private and public organisations.

History

The development of AGIC commenced in February 2007. Table 2 1 provides a summary of key developments since that date.

Historical Development of AGIC

Date	Event
August 2008	Draft Framework of Rating Tool completed
30 April 2008	Category Development Workshop sponsored by Worley Parsons
12 April 2008	CEO position advertised
28 February 2008	“Open for Membership” function at Qld’s Parliament House
1 November 2007	The concept is launched at the SSEE Conference in Perth.
27 June 2007	Following the Workshop on 7th June, an ISG and associated Working Groups were formed on 27th June to further develop the project conceptfor Australia. It was recognised that a national Scheme would need resources secured through stakeholder engagement, and that a staged process of IBC development, then Business Case development would be needed to secure support.
7 June 2007	Thiess sponsored a business planning workshop with stakeholders on 7th June 2007. Queensland EPA sponsored the first stage of development of the Business Case.
April/May 2007	Steering Committee members were unable to find a similar tool or group developing such a scheme, though some locally produced manuals, tools and guides were found or were in the process of being developed. A number of scheme models which address scheme administration, governance, financial management, marketing, tool development, project assessments, and training were identified. Committee also agreed that stakeholder input and support would be essential if Scheme to achieve its objectives and that a Business Case was needed.
March 2007	Interested attendees from the seminar and other professionals met and agreed there was merit in developing such a scheme. A Steering Committee was formed which subsequently: nominated Scheme boundaries and scope; decided to conduct an investigation into other similar schemes and tools in existence locally and internationally to prevent duplication of efforts; acted as an “epi-centre” for Scheme initiation
February 2007	David Hood & Glenn Hedges presented Does Australia Need an Environmental Rating Scheme for Non-building projects seminar at Engineers Australia, Brisbane.

Timeline

Target Dates	Milestone
End June 08	Tool Development PM appointed
End June 08	Select and commission tool development category authors
July 08	Draft category content developed; initial workshop
End Sept 08	Tool modifications completed: first draft ready for trial
	Pilot project identified
Dec 08	1st pilot project trial completed
March 09	Tool modified & prepared for PILOT trials
	PILOT projects identified
	PILOT trials completed
May 2009	Tool Launched

Objectives

AGIC’s objectives are:

to be Australia’s principal coalition of leaders from the infrastructure industry involved in promoting sustainable infrastructure and raising the standard of sustainability performance in the design, construction and operation of Australian infrastructure;
to encourage the dissemination and development of knowledge regarding sustainable infrastructure practices;
establish sustainability performance benchmarks which are recognised as leading-practice for Australian conditions for infrastructure;
to publicise sustainable infrastructure practices within the infrastructure industry and the wider community generally;
to act as a focal point for information on sustainable infrastructure to consumers and the infrastructure industry;
to act a lead partner in research projects into sustainable infrastructure and evaluation metrics;
to support and encourage teaching and research programs aimed at raising the knowledge and skill base of infrastructure practitioners in sustainable infrastructure and in particular to actively work to align relevant publicly funded research to the practice/market requirements for innovation and development in sustainable infrastructure provision and operation;
to participate in public debate on sustainability issues within the infrastructure industry; and
to responsibly manage the organisation’s activities including membership, assets, finance and general administration and to campaign, solicit or otherwise obtain funds to be applied towards the above objects.

Structure

Development Phase

Operational Phase

ISG/Board of Directors

Simon Cavendish
Glenn Hedges (Secretary)
David Hood (Chair)
Scott Losee
Cherene Mitchell
Rob Turk
Rick Walters

Working group participants

Working Group Participants so far are represented by the following organizations:

Environmental Protection Agency (Qld)
Local Government Infrastructure Association (Qld)
Brisbane City Council
Parsons Brinckerhoff
WorleyParsons
Freehills
Arup
Maunsell
Thiess
Bassett
SMEC
SKM
GHD
Clayton Utz
Phillips Group
Macquarie Bank
Connell Wagner
VicRoads
Trackstar Alliance
Rivercity Motorway

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