Twenty-seven finalists have been announced for the 2014 Premier’s Sustainability Awards, whittled down from a record number of entries across nine categories from all over Victoria.

This includes the Target Zero Waste to Landfill project in Melton South by building company, Burbank – what could be the first zero waste home in the state.

Built in 2014, the Zero Waste Home is part of a feasibility study funded through the Victorian Government’s Beyond Waste Fund, and designed in conjunction with RMIT University and the Housing Industry Association.

Capitalising on smart design, an intelligent management of logistics and ordering, and cooperation from trades and suppliers, Burbank was able to slash housing construction waste sent to landfill by an unprecedented 99 per cent, surpassing the original ‘Target Zero Waste to Landfill’ reduction target of 80 per cent.

This was achieved through a combination of avoidance reuse and recycling, without any compromise on quality or aesthetics. One of the measures included fabricating the metal roof to specified lengths offsite, thus allowing all waste to be collected at the fabricator’s workshop in a metal recycling waste stream.

“In Victoria, it is estimated that the construction and demolition sector sends approximately 850,000 tonnes of waste to landfill each year, the bulk of which is concrete bricks, asphalt and timber,” said Sustainability Victoria CEO Stan Krpan.

“Each new house constructed in Victoria produces, on average, 5.8 tonnes of waste. Reducing construction waste by at least 80 per cent or 4.5 tonnes of waste per house, not only represents positive environmental outcomes, it also makes economic sense.”

Regional Rail Link Authority’s Regional Rail Link Project, which sought to remove major bottlenecks for metro and regional tracks from Melbourne’s west to city, and South East Water’s Peninsula Early Connection Option project – the largest pressure sewer project in Australia, connecting 15,000 unsewered properties on the Mornington Peninsula – joined the Zero Waste Home as finalists.

Category winners will be announced at an awards dinner on Thursday, October 2, along with two overall winners selected by Premier Denis Napthine: the Premier’s Regional Recognition award and the Premier’s Recognition Award.

Finalists:

Cleaner Yarra and Bay

Multipro Civil Pty Ltd

Port Phillip EcoCentre

Zoos Victoria

Community

Aware Industries

Knox City Council, Alpine Shire, City of Melbourne, City of Port Philip, Yarra Ranges Council

Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd

Education

Nathalia & District Preschool

St Louis de Montfort’s Primary School Aspendale

St Macartan’s Primary School

Environmental Protection

Barwon Water, Plenary Environment, Water Infrastructure Group

Southern Rural Water, in partnership with West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Environment & Primary Industries

Veolia

Infrastructure and Buildings

Burbank

Regional Rail Link Authority

South East Water

Innovative Products or Services

Camperdown Compost Company

Earthco Projects Pty Ltd

Fieldtech Solutions Pty Ltd

Large Business

Officeworks

Toyota Motor Corporation Australia

ZF Boge Elastmetall Australia Pty Ltd

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

Interface Constructions Pty Ltd

KIA-ORA Piggery Pty Ltd

The Linen Press

Tourism

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Polperro Dolphin Swims Pty Ltd

Zoos Victoria