Seeing waste as a resource and changing our LIFESTYLE is two important habits we can all do to help launch the Circular Economy in FNQ.

THIS CHANGE IS ACTUALLY BETTER FOR US AND BETTER FOR THE PLANET. It's full of opportunities including new industries that will develop effective ways of reusing our waste and the beauty of that is, it actually saves existing business models MONEY. Saving it and making it.

Our part in the piece of the puzzle is to connect the dots of passionate sustainable ambassadors in science, business and society to help us bring everyone along in a change that is good for the planet and good for the people.

If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions globally behind the USA & China. In Australia, we waste roughly 7.3 million tonnes of food costing over $20 billion per year. With 25% of all water used in agriculture going into food production, that’s one quarter of our usable water resource discarded. Another resource we cannot afford to abuse.

The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan guides how industry, government and the community work together to improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef. Although the current plan was originally to 2022, it does not expire and continues to remain in place until it is replaced by a new plan.

The plan builds on 15 years of efforts by governments at all levels working in partnership with landholders, natural resource managers, industry, research and conservation groups through successive Reef Water Quality Protection Plans.

It addresses all land-based sources of water pollution including run-off from urban, industrial and public lands; while recognising the majority of pollution comes from agricultural activities. It includes social, cultural and economic values for the first time.

Across the city there are many actors and projects working to reorient power, materials, resources and knowledges in service to the regeneration of our city. Yet we still have a long way to go to shift extractive and accumulated capital and transition our policy and politics towards a more equitable and long term view. Our ways of collaborating, distributing resources and harnessing the collective intelligences of our place are not set up well to accelerate these pockets of potential.

Regen Melbourne’s wildly ambitious goals are our contribution to this transition. They seek to radically increase our ambition and to deepen our collective systemic impact.

Mine rehabilitation is the return of disturbed land to a safe, stable, non-polluting condition that supports a post-mining land use (PMLU). In Queensland, grazing and native ecosystems are the most commonly proposed PMLUs for rehabilitated land. However, there are a range of other PMLUs, as well as post-rehabilitation opportunities for future landholders, that could be explored to maximise social, economic and environmental outcomes from rehabilitation in Queensland.

Repurposing mineral waste may reduce the burden of waste management and generate cost-effective products. Converted waste products can support mine rehabilitation processes. For example, a common practice of waste repurposing is the co-disposal of tailings and waste rock to create physically stable mixtures to backfill mining voids.

Converted waste products can also support other industries, such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Technical solutions can convert mineral waste into neutral and stable products depending on mineralogy.

Ideally, solutions will align with circular economy principles and generate waste-derived products to meet local demand such as the production of construction materials for local infrastructure.

CORE works with members and stakeholders on innovative solutions to challenging soil related issues. From enhancing agricultural soils to treating complex soil contamination issues, CORE develops solutions using methods and technologies involving bio-products tailor-made for the situation.

Melbourne’s waterways vary greatly in condition: the more natural areas upstream are generally healthier than those downstream, due to the impacts of urban development.

The good news is that compared to other major cities, our waterways are in good health overall. The Yarra River has greatly improved since the 1970s – when it was a dumping ground for industrial waste and sewage – and pollution levels have not significantly changed despite Melbourne’s rapid growth. This is a big achievement, as every new driveway and pavement increases the amount of stormwater that runs off into our rivers and creeks, carrying litter and pollutants with it.

Water quality an important condition that supports both environmental and social values. We sample water at over 100 monitoring sites to assess any changes over time, testing for a range of indicators including:

water temperature
dissolved oxygen
salinity (salt levels)
pH level (acidity or alkalinity)
nutrients (forms of nitrogen and phosphorus)
faecal contamination (E. coli)
metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc)
In summer we also test key recreational sites weekly for E. coli and blue-green algae, which can cause skin irritation or illnesses for people and pets that come into contact with the river. Our monitoring results are used to calculate the EPA’s Yarra Watch forecasts, with a summary also available in the EPA’s annual report cards.

Our data is also shared with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, who audits any changes to our monitoring network and sets policies and objectives for improving river health. It can be downloaded from their Water Measurement Information System.

Traditionally known as the Birrarung, meaning 'rivers of mist', the river was once rich with fish, eels and birds' eggs, making it a popular meeting point for Aboriginal people. Red gum trees on the banks of the Birrarung were used to build canoes, allowing men to fish and travel down the river.

Making the Birrarung swimmable again is so much more than just swimming. We need to reorient our city to recognise our main waterway, as a living entity, as a place inextricably linked to health and biodiversity.

Effective water infrastructure underpins the livelihoods of regional Australia and supports and sustains communities around the nation. It helps to grow the food, livestock and crops essential to our everyday living. It also generates jobs and injects billions of dollars into regions and the broader Australian economy each year.

Water is one of our most important resources and we must make sure it is sustainable, reliable, and resilient to drought and a changing climate.

Australia’s variable rainfall, streamflow and landscape conditions create water supply challenges. This, along with the demands of agriculture and growing urban populations, and climate change means we face frequent water challenges.

Our projects also help farmers access a more constant supply of water, which eases the pressure on our natural surface and ground water systems. This allows ecosystems that rely on these systems to flourish.

Effective water infrastructure underpins the livelihoods of regional Australia and supports and sustains communities around the nation. It helps to grow the food, livestock and crops essential to our everyday living. It also generates jobs and injects billions of dollars into regions and the broader Australian economy each year.

Water is one of our most important resources and we must make sure it is sustainable, reliable, and resilient to drought and a changing climate.

Australia’s variable rainfall, streamflow and landscape conditions create water supply challenges. This, along with the demands of agriculture and growing urban populations, and climate change means we face frequent water challenges.

Our projects also help farmers access a more constant supply of water, which eases the pressure on our natural surface and ground water systems. This allows ecosystems that rely on these systems to flourish.

Assessing airspace value requires careful evaluation of location, use, legalities, and market demand. It starts with identifying viable rooftop construction projects that are likely to receive broad approval, leading to an estimation of their potential value.

Despite the potential benefits, airspace development faces challenges, including high construction costs, consultant and council fees, and complex approval processes, which can deter building owners from pursuing such projects.

Residential airspace may be a relatively new concept to Australia, but in countries such as Europe and the US, the question of high-density living has long been at the forefront of residential planning.

“Airspace development is close to a $86 billion industry in just the UK,” says Livesey. “They've approved 180,000 airspace homes in and around hospitals and transportation hubs.”

He sees the opportunity in Australia to construct up to 250,000 new rooftop homes, with significant potential in New South Wales, which has approximately 90,000 strata apartments or blocks.

Residential airspace has the potential to provide a host of benefits for investors and strata property owners. The opportunity to capitalise on the current rental growth trend is the most evident, according to Silk, who highlights a 35 percent increase in residential rental growth for apartments in 2022.

“Just last year we saw them grow by 16.5 percent and this year it's expected to moderate to somewhere around 10 percent. We are seeing huge amounts of properties coming to market alongside many buyers. 2024 should be an exciting time for us with strong growth to be had in that sector.

“Other opportunities that apartment blocks can provide investors is if it is on one title,” he adds. “You can strata title the apartment block and you can apply for a residential loan as opposed to a commercial loan.

This allows you to unlock some more equity which you can then use to invest into another asset, or you could sell down the apartments individually. There are opportunities there to take a few different angles for an investor and diversify their risk.”

3D printing technology has proved to be a more affordable and efficient solution to rising house construction costs. More houses are being built using this technology in varying sizes, from simple single-build bungalows to entire housing developments. Take a look at some of the most impressive 3D-printed houses all over the world.

The Block is a reality renovation TV show that recently featured a 3D-printed pool cabana, the first 3D-printed build in the Southern Hemisphere. The structure was built in a matter of hours with a concrete mix using 30 percent recycled material.

Additive manufacturing, also recognized as 3D concrete printing, has swiftly emerged as a revolutionary construction method with a global footprint, shedding its former reputation as an exclusive and elusive technology.

Australia has been quick to embrace this innovative construction approach, positioning itself at the forefront of this technological wave.

The technology is rapidly gaining momentum across the continent, offering cost-effective, eco-friendly, and rapid solutions for constructing residential spaces. The number of 3D printed homes in Australia is on the rise, and with this increasing number of 3D printed houses,

Australia has greater accessibility to cutting-edge housing solutions than ever before. This boost of 3D printed homes in Australia marks the continent as a key player in the realm of 3D concrete printing.

In Australia, Contour3D unveiled the first 3D printed one bedroom home with certificate.

Lutyen manufactures the most advanced 3D construction printers in Australia.

The Build to Rent property sector is growing in Australia – this new class of housing is focused on providing high quality purpose designed and built rental stock, creating an additional housing choice for Australian renters with greater security and service.

Build to Rent developments are typically owned by institutional investors for the long term and the owner could be the developer/ongoing building manager. The format provides tenants with the flexibility of renting with the security of home ownership.

Identified as a growth sector, Mirvac has invested in four BTR projects which will all be managed by their newly created LIV platform, this Lean In provides the Institute members with an opportunity to understand the business model, but also the critical aspects of design which respond to this growth sector.

Build-to-Rent developments are usually large-scale residential properties specifically designed, built and managed for long-term ownership and rental.

Build-to-Rent developments generate long-term rental income for developers, rather than up-front sales or capital growth, driving an increased focus on residential tenants. The developments target the growing renter market seeking secure, long-term rentals.

Build-to-Rent provides an opportunity for government to partner with the private sector to deliver discount-to-market affordable rental homes which can help workers find a home closer to their job.

Container homes in Australia are treated like any other home. They are a standalone structure and must comply with the same regulations that govern a traditionally built home. These can differ based on location, so you should speak with your architect or local council before you begin your container home journey.

In Australia, container homes can cost as little as $1,200 per square metre – roughly a 40% drop in construction costs. Generally, sea container homes can range anywhere from $15,000 for a basic unit to $50,000 for a small but fully-outfitted two-bedroom.

Building a permanent home using shipping containers is subject to the same scrutiny as any regular construction project in Australia. If you want sleek, modern housing via container up-cycling, then you ought to learn about legal requirements such as building permits, engineering plans, and inspections before commencing the project.

Local governments each have their own set of policies on repurposing shipping containers into residential buildings. But as a general rule in Australia, you must ‘hide’ the appearance of a shipping container by having them re-designed or re-clad, otherwise hidden away from public view.

Your shipping container build project needs to meet these requirements before it gains approval for construction.
1. Structural Integrity
Above everything else, the house you are about to build must be safe and structurally sound for the safety of inhabitants as well as other people. You need to have an architect as well as an engineer draw up plans for a structurally sound building before construction can be approved.
2. Liveability
Just like any other home, your shipping container home needs to have all the basic features to be liveable. Plumbing and ventilation are a must and different jurisdictions will have their own little additions to the definition of a liveable modern dwelling.
3. Zoning Laws
Your shipping container home needs to comply with local zoning laws or you’ll have trouble convincing your council to sign off on your project. For example, some areas prohibit the construction of multi-storey buildings, while others require houses to be built with specific fireproof materials for areas that are prone to bush fires. Whatever the laws of the land are, you will need to follow them.
4. Aesthetics
Some areas enforce strict aesthetic standards because no one wants eyesores ruining their nice neighbourhood. Thankfully, shipping container home designs are now just as sophisticated as modern-style homes. Your shipping container house will either need to blend in with the surroundings or be an outstanding architectural masterpiece if you want it approved.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is the engineered wood of the future and is making the construction of entire buildings from timber a reality. First developed in Switzerland in the 1970s, CLT is an extension of the technology that began with plywood and may be best described as a 'jumbo plywood'.

Having gained popularity in Europe, CLT - also referred to as 'tilt up timber' or 'pre-cast timber panels' - is slowly being adopted more widely as a viable alternative to more traditional building practices.

Layers of timber, known as lamellas, are glued together with the grain alternating at 90 degree angles for each layer. The exterior layers' grains run lengthways, giving optimum strength. CLT is manufactured in a similar way to glulam, except that glulam is layered with the grain.

Cross-laminating layers of wood veneer improves the structural properties of wood by distributing the along-the-grain strength of wood in both directions, and this means that CLT panels can be used to form complete floors, walls and roofs.

While CLT is a timber product, it should not be thought of as a timber frame product - it is a timber panel product that actually has similar characteristics to that of a pre-cast concrete panel. The advantages this offers new buildings is quite exciting - timber panels are much lighter than concrete, more easily worked and easier to erect.

Modular homes are prefabricated homes – with prefab being an umbrella term for anything that is created offsite.

The industry, facilitated by rapidly evolving digital technologies is at the forefront of building production, with a vast number of floor plans to choose from and delivery available in NSW, Victoria, Perth and QLD – and one imagines Tasmania and the territories can just as easily be reached.

Ecologically conscious consumers have become very concerned with the sustainability of all building materials, and of industrial waste. Combined with the concept of building smaller homes, the modular industry, which has responded to each concern, is experiencing a boom in demand.

With extraordinary building times, (there’s an average 12-week turnaround from completion of design to having a crane arrive onsite), consumers’ “I want it now” appetites are quickly satisfied.

The system also allows top quality builds to be delivered to areas that do not have supply of top tradies, and protects buyers from weather affected time tables.

Australian Building Ministers agreed to work together to cut red tape and enable further expansion and growth in Australia’s prefabricated and modular construction industry.

Ministers acknowledged the important role that innovative and advanced construction technologies could play in growing the supply of housing and how regulatory uncertainty may be hindering further growth of the industry.

The Australian Building Codes Board will now work closely with industry bodies and jurisdictions to reduce barriers to adopting prefabricated and modular construction.

Australia’s only primary tungsten producer, EQ Resources, is processing waste from an historic Far North Queensland mine to produce the critical mineral in increasing demand around the world, while creating good job jobs for the local community.

Mt Morgan is located in Queensland and was the largest gold mine in the world at its peak in the early 1900s. Over its lifespan, the mine yielded approximately 262 metric tons of gold, 37 metric tons of silver and 387,000 metric tons of copper.

The recovery of gold and copper from tailings will help meet increasing demand for the resources required for the clean energy transition, while also improving environmental outcomes for the region and industry.