The scheme has been developed by the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC), which is chaired by Arup global planning leader David Singleton. AGIC comprises more than 80 member companies from Australia's infrastructure industry, employing 70,000 people.
AGIC's Infrastructure Sustainability rating scheme (IS rating scheme) is designed to drive innovation, contribute to risk reduction and validate industry achievements through independent certification. "The scheme includes a rating tool, a formal assessment process, rating certification and education programme.
It has been four years in development and is designed to achieve continuous improvement in environmental, social and economic outcomes across the design, construction and operational phases of infrastructure projects and assets.
Infrastructure types that are covered by the scheme include transport, water and wastewater, energy and communication. Projects and assets will be rated on a 100 point scale. An IS rating in the range of 25 to 49 is good practice, 50 to 74 is deemed excellent and 75 to 100 is regarded as leading practice.
AGIC chairman David Singleton likened AGIC's IS rating to the Green Building Council of Australia's Green Star rating. "Just as Green Star has changed building design and functionality, we envisage the IS rating scheme will change the design, construction and performance of Australia's infrastructure,” he said. "AGIC's scheme has been embraced by industry and we are keen for governments and private developers across Australia to include the IS rating scheme in infrastructure tenders to provide a common national framework for industry to use.
"With a common sustainability framework, potential investors can begin to quantify Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects of a project or asset, achieving appropriate value attribution as well as identification of cost risk and cost reduction," he said. "An infrastructure asset that is designed for optimum performance over its lifecycle provides a stronger platform to attract investment. With billions of dollars planned to be invested in Australian infrastructure, the IS rating scheme will contribute to more efficient, resilient and robust infrastructure."
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