An expert panel has provided detailed information on what the Federal Government's key carbon policies mean for the property sector at a sustainability forum held in Sydney on 27 August 2009.
The panel included:
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Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Officer, Green Building Council of Australia
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Rowan Griffin, Head of Sustainability for Property & Alternative Investments, Colonial First State Global Asset Management
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Felicity Rourke, Partner, Deacons
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Kevin George, Director – Leasing, Jones Lang LaSalle
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Gabrielle Kuiper, Sustainability Manager, Investa Property Group
Moderated by Property Council chief executive, Peter Verwer, the panel ran through a number of key areas. Top of the list was Mandatory Disclosure, which some experts argue will be the instrument for transforming the property market as we currently know it.
The panel looked at how Mandatory Disclosure would affect the industry on a number of levels, including: it's impact on asset managers, tenants and lessors.
Kevin George, Director for leasing at Jones Lang LaSalle said one of the key areas it would impact asset managers would be the rating of a building.
"Mandatory Disclosure will put greater focus on programming and plans around those assets, once they are improved [sic]".
George said the market would become increasingly competitive as the environment became more transparent and called on managers to get a NABERS energy rating to maintain their edge.
The panel also looked at a number of other issues, including the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency and provided tips for navigating the sustainability path.
