Download Annual Report 2011-2012 - Governor-General of the ...

Management and accountabilityEcologically sustainable development andenvironmental protectionThe following summary of the Office’senvironmental management activities andperformance is made in accordance withsection 516A of the Environment Protection andBiodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).The Office does not administer externally focusedlegislation, undertake policy development ordeliver external policy programs which have anotable ecologically sustainable development (ESD)impact, other than its stewardship of the viceregalproperties.Operational activitiesThe Office is committed to the principles ofsustainable development and recognises itsresponsibilities to the Government and the widercommunity to minimise the impact of its operationson the environment.The Office incorporates the principles of ESD in itsstewardship of the official properties.Government House and Admiralty House wereincluded in the Commonwealth Heritage List in June2004 as places of significant heritage value ownedor controlled by the Commonwealth. Their inclusionin the list places obligations on the Office to protectthe heritage value of the properties.In accordance with the EPBA Act, the Office hasprepared and regularly reviews a Heritage Strategyto provide guidance on how it should managethe two properties. The Heritage Strategy can beviewed at www.gg.gov.au.The Office maintains detailed Heritage ManagementPlans, which meet the EPBC Act requirements, andconservation management plans for the residencesand associated landscapes.The Office engages heritage architects and heritagelandscape architects to assist with the maintenanceand development of the properties, and also takesadvice from the Official Establishments Trust.Environmental initiativesDuring 2011–12 the Office continued todemonstrate environmental responsibility byminimising negative impacts on the environmentthrough efficient use of resources, effectivewaste management and pollution prevention.Decision-making processes effectively integratedlong term and short term economic andenvironmental considerations.The Office maintained its environmentalperformance across both properties. Newenvironmental improvements included:• introduction of worm farms at Admiralty Housewhich recycle food scraps to provide liquid andsolid fertiliser for use in the gardens• retrofitting of energy efficient light globes wherepractical in both houses and office space• reduction in paper use through introductionof electronic referee reports forhonours nominations• the Office purchased a second solar-poweredelectric garden utility vehicle at GovernmentHouse to replace a petrol-powered vehicle. Thisinitiative reduces petrol usage and also lowersnoise and exhaust levels on site• the Office made regular donations of leftoverfood and flowers to the charity OzHarvest• domestic water usage efficiencies at GovernmentHouse resulted in an 18% reduction in totalwater use for 2011–12• a 51 per cent reduction in potable water usageat Admiralty House in 2011–12, as a result ofhigher than average rainfall in Sydney, efficientwater harvesting and storage on site, and furtherefficiency measures such as the installation of dualflush toilets• efficient water capture and use also provided1,055 kilolitres of irrigation water and resulted ina 65 per cent reduction in water usage for thegarden at the property in 2011–12• green waste removal costs at Admiralty Housedecreased by 19 per cent in 2011–12 due tothe recycling of compostable material from thegardens.The Office is strongly committed to reducingcarbon pollution by improving energy efficiency atboth properties. Gas and electricity usage is carefullymonitored to track spikes in usage and facilitateconsumption reductions in to the future.Annual Report 2011–201259