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Introducing Australia’s second certified Green Star Building

Introducing Australia’s second certified Green Star Building

Eumemmerring Business Park in Dandenong South, Victoria, has become the second‑ever project – and the first industrial site – to achieve a Green Star Buildings certification, with a 5 Star Green Star rating representing Australian excellence.

Green Star, created by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), is a globally acknowledged, independent rating framework that sets benchmarks for creating a built environment that is healthy, resilient and efficient in its operation.

Green Star Buildings is the latest rating tool created by GBCA, designed to meet the challenges of the next decade by delivering buildings that not only exceed today’s expectations, but are future-ready and able to stand up to evolving regulatory requirements, customer demands and increased scrutiny against greenwashing.

When Goodman Group (Goodman) acquired the Dandenong South former electrical parts site in 2019, it saw an opportunity to aim for a Green Star rating – turning this 1970s industrial relic into a beacon of modern sustainability. With a vision rooted in circular design, Goodman set out to revitalise the ageing site into Eumemmerring Business Park – a cutting-edge, resilient business precinct. Central to this transformation was the decision to retain and repurpose two existing office pods, integrating them into a new state-of-the-art office building, connected to warehouse operations via an aerobridge. This approach not only preserved finite materials and minimised waste, but it also significantly reduced upfront embodied carbon – a key factor in sustainable construction.

Goodman’s efforts have paid off, with Eumemmerring Business Park becoming the first industrial building to achieve certification under the Green Star Buildings rating tool – setting a new standard for sustainability in the industrial sector. This project exemplifies how thoughtful design and a commitment to circularity can breathe new life into old structures, creating sustainable, future-ready business environments.

Emma McMahon, general manager of sustainability at Goodman, emphasises the importance of recognition for ongoing sustainability commitments.

“At Goodman, sustainability is integrated throughout our business,” says McMahon. “Being one of the first organisations to be awarded this rating recognises the commitment made by the business to reduce our environmental impact and support the long-term viability of the communities we operate in.”

This achievement has been eagerly anticipated by GBCA and acknowledged by CEO Davina Rooney. “Eumemmerring Business Park is a shining example of what’s possible when industry leaders like Goodman Group prioritise sustainability,” says Rooney. “As the first industrial project to be certified under Green Star Buildings, it’s not just meeting expectations – it’s redefining them.”

In line with refurbishment and preservation, the master plan for the estate also included protecting the local ecosystem of the red gum in the area. This involved safeguarding 10 significant native eucalyptus trees on the site, each well over 100 years old.

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Positive, responsible, healthy

Eumemmerring Business Park goes above and beyond expectations for industrial projects. Designed to be highly energy‑efficient, it features a 999kW solar array system and extensive electric vehicle charging stations, with space for an additional 34 to be added in the future.

The decision to repurpose the existing structure and brick façade of two buildings led to a reduction in embodied carbon. Additionally, a 15.81 per cent reduction of upfront embodied carbon was achieved through the use of supplementary cementitious materials and recycled content in the hardstand, office slab and asphalt.

The project team also focused on the health and wellbeing of staff and customers across the site, enhancing natural lighting, increasing fresh airflow, considering acoustic comfort, providing numerous outdoor spaces and offering end-of-trip facilities.

This is not only a proud moment for the project team; the response to the revitalisation of the industrial site has been positive from staff and customers alike.

“Our customers appreciate properties that are sustainable and adaptable to support their operations and sustainability targets,” says McMahon. “For Goodman people, sustainability is embedded in our values, and our key performance indicators.”

“Our people are determined to deliver tangible outcomes that will have a measurable and meaningful impact on the business and the wider community.”

Why Green Star?

For the team at Goodman, a Green Star rating offers well-recognised third-party verification – an important signal of commitment that customers, investors and industry stakeholders want to see.

“Green Star provides a framework for the best practice approach to environmentally sustainable design (ESD) in the built environment in Australia,” says McMahon.

“Third-party green building certification such as Green Star signals to the market and stakeholders a genuine commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures.

“A Green Star certification provides a method of quantifying the impact of existing and new sustainability measures that we’ve implemented. It also provides inspiration for other ESG measures the business can take in the future.”

Green Star Buildings includes the Climate Positive Pathway – a clear set of targets aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recommendations to help deliver buildings with lower emissions, that are fossil fuel-free, powered by renewables, highly efficient and offset with nature.

McMahon’s parting words of advice for others pursuing Green Star Buildings are simple: Engage early.

“It’s important that everyone involved in the project is engaged with sustainability and Green Star early on, as well as regularly throughout a project,” says McMahon. “During the development process for Eumemmerring, the project team – internally and externally – were enthusiastic and collaborated well, which contributed to the project’s success.”

Goodman has since sold Eumemmerring Business Park, but its legacy of sustainable development continues to inspire.

“We’re immensely proud to have developed the first industrial precinct to achieve Green Star Buildings certification,” says McMahon. “The Green Star Buildings tool provided a clear and effective framework for us to deliver a facility that not only meets, but exceeds, Australian sustainability standards.”

The project’s sustainable features and achievements:

–       A 999kW solar system
–       14 electric vehicle chargers
–       40-kilolitre rainwater tanks
–       Smart irrigation
–       Low-water-use plants, including a selection of native species
–       All electric power (no gas)
–       A 99.6 per cent diversion of construction waste from landfill
–       A 15.81 per cent reduction in upfront carbon
–       A
 30.81 per cent reduction in whole-of-life carbon

To learn more about how Green Star Buildings can help your organisation meet its climate goals, visit gbca.au

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