Richard John shares the excitement of a thriving and sustainable Brisbane.
With ‘sustainability’ still dominating the event planner’s checklist, the Australian city of Brisbane remains in pole position as a destination that delivers more than just ‘lip service’ to the issue. Tucked into the southeast corner of Queensland and centred along the Brisbane River, with its eastern suburbs lining the shores of Moreton Bay, a bay of the Coral Sea, Australia’s third largest city continues to be a force to be reckoned with for genuinely inclusive and equitable events.
Gold standard
Brisbane has reinforced its position as one of the nation’s fastest growing sustainable destinations, the only Australian city to take out the prestigious Gold level under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Cities Global Initiative, and – significantly – only the second city globally. The city’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the UN’s Gold level recognised all the work Brisbane Council does to drive sustainability. “Brisbane is home to world-class venues, hotels, restaurants, events and attractions but we’re also being increasingly recognised for our sustainable city status,” he says, adding: “Our practical approach towards sustainability is not just about cutting waste and emissions, but about cutting costs for residents and making our city better for future generations.” Clearly, the strategy is working. Host city of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the bustling Queensland capital with an enviable sub-tropical lifestyle, recently claimed a spot in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2023 and in the New York Times’ prestigious 52 Places to Go in 2024. But there is no resting on laurels; an ongoing sweeping city transformation includes AUD$25bn in infrastructure development to support an economy predicted to top AUD$275bn by 2041. A centrepiece within this transformation is the AUD$3.6bn Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct and, at its heart, The Star Brisbane’s state-of-the-art event centre complete with Brisbane’s largest hotel ballroom, serviced by four future luxury hotels. However, again sustainability sits front and centre; Queen’s Wharf Brisbane is the first development in Brisbane to be awarded the coveted 6-Star Green Star Communities rating in recognition of its social, environmental and economic sustainability designs. Star Brisbane COO hospitality, Kevin Dodt explains: “From prioritising renewable energy, harvesting rainwater, recycling grey water and composting organic food waste, to our carbon abatement project, Corymbia, we are proud to contribute to a sustainable future.” 
Herbie the dehydrator
Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA), the city’s convention bureau, works collaboratively with tourism operators and industry partners to support, promote and enable improvements to sustainable practices across the Brisbane region, which results in a competitive advantage for the city now and into the future. A high-profile example is Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s (BCEC) which has demonstrated its commitment since opening in 1985. Its business strategy is focussed through the lens of the UN’s Sustainability Goals, and the venue has been awarded the Earth Check Platinum Certification for its efforts. BCEC’s energy consumption is halved through an advanced lighting system which includes daylight harvesting, with much of the power coming from the solar array on the building’s roof. More than 50% of all waste is recycled, and rainwater is stored in vast subterranean tanks for reuse. Food waste is turned into quality fertiliser by ‘Herbie,’ the Centre’s organic dehydrator which helps reduce organic food waste by up to 80%, and turning it into high-concentrate soil fertiliser to be used in the surrounding community. That attitude also extends to many of the organisations that support the infrastructure. Brisbane-based Outstanding Display is tackling the issue of reducing event waste at the very start of the construction process. Whereas traditional Coreflute fascia end up in landfill, this company offers fascia made of eco-board or paper, all of which are 100% recyclable. The company has also developed an eco-friendly shell scheme system – Ascot – supplemented by the sustainable Nexus system, for organisers and exhibitors with bigger budgets who require a bigger impact on the audience, but not the planet. “We have a number of innovative products that are either recyclable or reusable, explained business development director Belinda Meredith. “The exhibitions industry typically generates a lot of waste. Not us. Our fascia offering is just the beginning; our large-scale fabric signage made using recyclable materials and low-tox environmentally friendly ink, is also fully recyclable at the end of its life.” She adds: “We’ve also implemented our ‘Trees for Display’s’ initiative, ensuring one tree is planted for every exhibition booth we build.” And when the event ends for the day, the same commitment to sustainability pervades many of the hotels. Take the Crystalbrook Vincent, the Brisbane property of the five-star chain. The brand offer is “opulence with eco-consciousness, prioritising initiatives that not only preserve but enhance the guest experience.” From its partnership with TerraCycle, offering a zero-waste solution for coffee capsules, to employing recycled coat hangers and maintaining 100% waste-free bathrooms, every aspect of the hotel’s operation is meticulously designed to minimise its environmental footprint, winning silver status accreditation from EarthCheck, a leading global scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for sustainable travel and tourism. From restaurants that serve food sourced within a three hour drive, to recycled wooden key cards, every aspect of the hotel’s operation has been designed to create planet-friendly, guilt-free experiences. 
Connecting for conferencing
Of course, organisers have to consider a wealth of other factors, such as transport, and Brisbane again leads the way. The city’s modern public transport system – including buses, trains, bikes, and electric scooters – is convenient, reliable, and easy to use. And getting to the city for international travellers is becoming even easier with a swathe of global airlines adding direct routes. Brisbane’s airport, operating 24 hours a day, offers the highest number of domestic connections and is located an easy 20-minute drive from the city centre, with both domestic and international terminals offering direct rail links to the city. And, while flying isn’t associated with sustainability, Brisbane Airport Corporation’s goal is to achieve Net Zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025. Brisbane is also a tempting city for walkers, aided by more than 280 days of sunshine each year. Like many other Australian state capitals, it has a clearly defined grid of streets that form its Central Business District (CBD). However, there’s a secret hidden in the design, making them easy to navigate. Many of the streets got their names from British royalty. Those running diagonally from northeast to southwest are named after female royals, including Adelaide, Charlotte, and Elizabeth. Those running in a perpendicular direction are named after male royals, such as Albert, Edward, and George. With more delegates embracing fitness and wellbeing and more than 200 parks across Brisbane, there’s more than enough leafy space to enjoy, including Roma Street Parklands where visitors can meander through the winding pathways of this garden lovers’ paradise.
Of koalas, camel milk and the Crystalbrook
And for other activities outside the walls of the meeting room there are plenty of eco conscious adventures to choose from. Head to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, home to over 100 koalas and 75 species of other Australian native animals, to learn about the world-leading conservation programme at the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. Foodies can head to the Scenic Rim, a region of lakes and mountains where farmers and food producers grow, harvest and create gourmet delights, ranging from macadamia nuts to sheep cheese, and even camel milk. There are craft beers, too; enjoy one in the long-necked glass, known as a “tallie.” Of course, delegates need to shop and eat. The solution, sprawling along the edge of the Brisbane River in the heart of the city, is the postcard-perfect Howard Smith Wharves tourism, events and dining hub. Based underneath the Story Bridge, one of 16 which cross the river, the site is positioning itself as ‘the beating heart of Brisbane’s entertainment centre’. With a plethora of cafes and bars, 13 restaurants, the aforementioned Crystalbrook hotel and a variety of event spaces, the site has grown from port infrastructure that had been empty since the 1960s. HSW, as it’s now known, is the first Brisbane site to achieve Heritage Hero Status by the National Trust. And, once again, there’s a sustainability story to be proud of. All waste is segregated into 17 different streams, allowing for more effective reuse and recycling. Since the opening in 2020 96% of waste – more than 4,500 tonnes – have been redirected from landfill. Some initiatives are surprising and unique; for example, more than three tonnes of oyster shells from HSW were sent to a specialist recycling centre; each will provide a home for up to 10 baby oysters.
Culture
Culture lovers won’t be disappointed, either: Brisbane is home to several art galleries, including the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), which is the largest modern art gallery in Australia. GOMA holds the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT) which focuses on contemporary art from the Asia and Pacific in a variety of media from painting to video work. In addition, its size enables the gallery to exhibit particularly large shows. Dramatic and musical theatre performances are held at the multiple large theatres located at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC). Brisbane is also home to several small theatres including the Brisbane Arts Theatre in Petrie Terrace, the La Boite Theatre Company which performs at the Roundhouse Theatre at Kelvin Grove and the Metro Arts Theatre in Edward Street. There are also numerous classical and symphony orchestras, although the city has maintained a constantly evolving live music scene, producing acts spanning genres including punk, indie rock, electronic music, experimental music, noise rock, metal and post-punk. Brisbane can boast the largest city hall in the country. Brisbane City Hall which opened in 1930, is spread across two acres of land and took ten years to build. When completed, it was the second-largest construction of its time, after the Sydney Harbour Bridge. More evidence of Brisbane’s determination to match redevelopment with sustainability can be seen in the city’s Heritage Lanes building and precinct. The AUD$800m office tower spans 35 levels, caters for 7,000 employees and incorporates 60,000sqm of premium-grade office space Housing industry leaders such as Suncorp and KPMG, the project is the first in the world to achieve a 6-Star Green Star Buildings rating, a new world-leading sustainability benchmark from the Green Building Council of Australia. Green Star sets the standard for healthy, resilient, positive buildings and places. 
At the heart of Asia Pacific
Trivia lovers take note; Australia’s first recorded use of electricity for the public happened in Brisbane in the form of street lamps, switched on in 1882. Fast forward 150 years and the city sits at the heart of the Asia Pacific region, a vibrant hub of investment, development and innovation – particularly in the future-focused fields of technology, agriculture, healthcare and resources – making it an ideal destination for global conferences and events. Recent events delivered in the city include the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the World Mining Congress. Organisers looking to develop links with leading businesses will be pleased to know that global players such as Virgin Australia, Aurizon, Bank of Queensland, Flight Centre, National Storage, Collins Foods, and Boeing Australia make the city their home. “Brisbane’s sustainability success hinges on a whole-of-city approach encompassing accessibility, inclusion, diversity, business practices, transport integration and First Nations engagement,” says Lorelle Chittick, BEDA’s general manager tourism, business & major events. “Additionally, we are one of Australia’s top three clean air cities with more Green Star-rated buildings than any other Australian city and our council is the largest carbon-neutral government organisation in Australia. Brisbane’s business events industry is laser-focused on delivering exceptional service and unforgettable experiences to visitors and elevating guest experiences by showcasing the region’s sustainable attractions and cultural richness.” A final note for history buffs; ‘Meanjin’ is still the traditional name used for the city, and translates from the Turrbal language of one group of traditional owners to ‘the place shaped like a spike.’ It’s a reference to the distinctive spur of land on a bend in the Brisbane River, where the CBD now stands. And it’s fitting that a city of such rich heritage is now blazing a bright trail into a sustainable future. 
