Sustainable Development

Stockland recognises that it has a significant role in the development of sustainable communities of the future, embodying leading design principles and affordable housing options, building for climate resilience and limiting our impact on natural resources - both for the benefit of our communities and for future generations.

Through our design and planning processes we seek to identify, conserve and enhance a project’s natural values by taking steps such as including native bushland in open space and parks. We try to minimise the environmental impact of each project by advocating better public transport and more sustainable energy and water infrastructure, and partnering with builders to deliver better home design options.

Awards and accolades for sustainability

In 2012, Stockland was the only Australian property group recognised on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations 2012 list compiled by magazine Corporate Knights and was one of only seven Australian companies to receive the honour.

See the full list of recent awards for our residential developments.

What is sustainable development at Stockland?

Have a look at some of the areas where we’re making a difference:

Design
	We are proud of the communities we develop. This is in part due to the effort and experience applied in designing these places for people to live and work. Design focuses on creating engaging, safe and resilient places which balance all of the things needed to support a healthy life. Careful design also goes into the creation of your house, to minimise your impact on the surrounding environment, enhance its energy efficiency, and save you money on your water, gas, heating and cooling bills year-round. Each phase of a Stockland project goes through a detailed design process to ensure the natural features of the site, the needs of the future residents, and the look and feel of the community are taken into consideration.
Community Development
	At the heart of Stockland’s approach to community development is the commitment to create sustainable and vibrant communities that continue to thrive into the future. We believe that a successful community provides a foundation upon which residents can seek out greater opportunities. It is a place for residents to meet and connect with their neighbours, to participate in a healthy and enjoyable community life, whether it’s in the day-to-day activities or through specially organised social events. We seek to foster a strong sense of social connection and to have a positive impact on local employment levels, community infrastructure and available services. We aim to help communities to work better together and enhance personal wellbeing. Working with a range of stakeholders, we proactively seek to empower our residents so that they continue to shape their own community into the one they dream of living in. Our approach is designed to have long-term impacts and to be viable long after Stockland’s role in the development has ceased, enabling residents to continue to influence the future of their community and their preferred lifestyle.
Learn more about Stockland’s approach to community development.
Energy Efficiency and Carbon
	Energy costs from carbon intensive energy resources are increasing and a major concern for many household budgets. With this in mind, we’re looking at different ways to improve the efficiency of the way we use energy in our communities and the types of energy we can use. For instance, we look at creating opportunities for using renewable sunlight energy by designing north-facing streets. We are also talking to different suppliers about how we can provide cleaner energy from solar, saving you money on your energy bills, and reducing environmental impacts at the same time.
Learn more about Stockland’s approach to energy efficiency.
Water efficiency
	Water is a scarce resource in Australia. While sometimes there’s plenty of it, history tells us that Australia is a dry continent and drought is always around the corner. That means water restrictions! We are working to make our communities more resilient to changes in water supply and rainfall conditions by investigating water recycling and reuse opportunities through stormwater and wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Learn more about Stockland’s approach to water efficiency
Water quality
	We know our kids love to play in creeks and we know that all of us love to recreate in our river and foreshore environments. The quality of these environments are fundamentally affected by the quality of water that drains off our urban and rural areas. We design treatment systems that pull pollutants out of the water before it is released into our creeks and rivers.
Learn more about Stockland’s approach to water quality
Biodiversity
	Biodiversity refers to the complex web of interactions between different species of animals, plants, humans, and microorganisms. Healthy biodiversity in our natural environment removes air pollution, manages soil erosion, filters water pollutants, provides shelter and habitat for our native plants and animals, stimulates us to create, and enables us to recreate and learn. Stockland works hard to understand, manage and preserve local biodiversity.
Learn more about Stockland’s approach to biodiversity
Economic Development
	Stockland recognises that a vibrant community needs to have a robust approach to economic development. Our commitment to economic development can deliver a number of social benefits to our residents. The approach will be tailored depending on the project in involve working with a range of stakeholders.