2024 Western Sydney Symposium: Recordings from Climate Action in the Public Realm
Our recent symposium in collaboration with Cumberland City Council and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects attracted almost 200 built environment professionals. We heard six talks from government leaders, academics and other experts on diverse topics, followed by two lively panel discussions.
Subjects ranged from UN Global Goal #17; urban cooling and how integrated smart technology can assist at scale; green, blue and also pink infrastructure (pink being for social and community); product stewardship and circularity; and innovative materials such as low carbon aluminium.
Here’s a rapid fire summary of our key takeaways and start times for each of the talks and panels:
🎤 Talk 1 – Tackling Western Sydney’s Urban Heat (0:09:45) Sebastian Pfautsch GAICD, Western Sydney University “Effective urban cooling needs to be actioned at scale. Set and pursue long term goals.”
🎤 Talk 2 – Green and Blue Infrastructure for Australian Settlements (0:22:18) David Martin, Urban Green Infrastructure and Sustainability Strategist “Action requires a coordinated approach with sector based engagement”, and “collaboration is key”.
🎤 Talk 3 – Cooling Down Western Sydney, A Smart Cumberland Approach (0:37:57) Eshita Dutia, Cumberland City Council “Technology is our friend – don’t be afraid of it!”
🎤 Talk 4 – Materials, What is Low Carbon Aluminium? (0:47:05) Jeff Morgan, Hassell Demanding low carbon and recycled aluminium can dramatically reduce Australia’s emissions. And when it comes to using our natural resources: “Consider what is it worth?”
🎤 Talk 5 – Circularity and Product Stewardship (0:59:00) Rose Read, Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence Circularity and climate action are one and the same – so let’s transform the way we make and use products. “Producer responsibility operationalises the circular economy.”
🎤 Panel 1 – Q&A with Speakers (1:22:15) Joshua started this panel with a questions on change management with the ensuing discussion covering a wide range of themes form raising young leaders, understanding and managing data, to material choices and designing for longevity.
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Linea Bin is the newest addition to Street Furniture Australia’s minimalist Linea range. Built from stainless steel for strength, durability and a refined aesthetic, it has been thoughtfully designed with input from landscape architects and waste managers to deliver hygiene, accessibility and sustainability in the public realm. Built to LastA robust stainless steel frame and panel system ensures Linea Bin performs in high-traffic environments. A full-height stainless steel 316 piano hinge and splash tray provide exceptional strength, hygiene and corrosion resistance, withstanding daily impacts from trolleys and cleaning equipment. “Durability was paramount,” says Pearson Bulmer, Senior Industrial Designer at Street Furniture Australia. “Every detail needed to perform in the public realm for years to come – but also be designed for disassembly so parts can be repaired, replaced or recycled …
With the look and feel of natural timber, backed by 12 months of performance testing for the public realm, engineered wood joins Street Furniture Australia’s selection of batten materials. Designers and place custodians can now choose from three batten options to achieve a timber look: natural Spotted Gum hardwood, low maintenance aluminium Wood Without Worry, and engineered wood known as Onewood HRT. See our Engineered Wood: Onewood HRT brochure or book a presentation. What is engineered wood?Onewood HRT (Homogeneous Reconstituted Timber) is a solid engineered timber, made from fast-growing FSC certified poplar and eucalyptus fibres that are compressed under heat and pressure with a resin binder. It is solid throughout with an organic grain and, like real hardwood, can be sanded to refresh. Street Furniture Australia partners with a Singapore-based …
Our Presentation Specialists, Tiffany and Melissa, bring a fun, interactive and informative workshop to your office. Accredited for 2 AILA CPD points, the experience can be tailored for landscape architects and Councils. In 30 minutes, plus Q&A, you will explore our Outdoor Dining range and enjoy delicious treats. There will also be a prize for a lucky winner (optional). Select from three catering options (also optional): Bookings can be made via the following links: For US customers, workshop bookings can be made via our US distributor agent Spruce and Gander. Testimonials ‘The presentation content was informative, engaging, interactive and relevant. Genuinely one of the better supplier workshops! It was efficient yet insightful. The interactive nature of it enhanced engagement with the team,’ Sam Westlake, Senior Associate, Hassell, Sydney. ‘Possibly our …
A new UK report into 'Highway Greening - Best Practice and Lessons Learnt' by LDA Designs, and UN-Habitat produces a Toolkit to improve our public spaces that encourages community engagement.
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
