Sunshine Plaza, owned by Lendlease’s Australian Prime Property Fund Retail and GPT, has secured a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
Located in Maroochydore, Queensland, Sunshine Plaza is one of only two centres to have been awarded this sustainability rating nationally.
Sunshine Plaza recently underwent a significant $420 million redevelopment to deliver a sustainable, vibrant shopping and entertainment experience.
Solar panels at Sunshine Plaza. Photography credit: Puremotion Event Photography.
The redevelopment included the installation of a 2,710-panel, 1.1-megawatt solar power system – one of the largest at any shopping centre in Australia – that has enabled the centre to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,700 tonnes from the solar system according to Green Star carbon emissions factors.
Other sustainability initiatives implemented at the centre include installation of a Tesla supercharger station capable of charging six vehicles; end-of-trip facilities for cyclists; energy-efficient LED lighting and long-life fluorescent fittings; installation of high-efficiency water fixtures and fittings; a 232,000-litre rainwater capture system; the diversion of over 95 per cent of construction waste from landfill; high-performance glazing and external shading; and a design informed by an in-depth climate change risk assessment.
The redevelopment of the centre has enabled it to achieve a 5-star NABERS Energy rating, where 3.5 Star is the industry average.
Scott Mosely, Managing Director, Investment Management, Lendlease, said it is a wonderful achievement to have Sunshine Plaza recognised as the most sustainable shopping centre in Queensland.
“Sunshine Plaza’s redevelopment presented an opportunity to make the centre more sustainable and adaptable for climate change – and we’ve achieved that,” Mr Mosely said.
Davina Rooney, CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia, added that shopping precincts are more than places for groceries, and noted that if done right, they can provide the community with much-needed spaces of engagement and connection.
“We’re so proud of Lendlease’s achievement in obtaining a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built rating, it’s a great example of sustainable place-making,” she said.
