Kensington Towers: Victoria, Australia

"A flagship in sustainable public housing."

The $60 million public housing renewal at Kensington will provide an integrated mix of public and private housing and superb accommodation for public housing tenants.

The fundamental objective of the Kensington public housing estate is to build a sustainable community. The project will transform a run-down 35-year-old housing estate and reinvigorate the living environment for all residents in the Kensington area.

Sorting facilities on site at the new Kensington Towers making recycling on-site an easy option for workers.

In line with this project, the Office of Housing (Department of Human Services) with the aid of EcoRecycle Victoria has developed guidelines and standards for construction of new and renovated public housing. The guidelines insist that contractors minimise waste on projects. The project at Kensington appears to be testimony to these guidelines.

Becton, the builder responsible for Kensington Towers have embraced the new standards. Systems and contracts have been established to ensure wastes are separated on site for ease of recycling. Becton has engaged Collex (now known as Veolia) to provide numerous skips (for cardboard, concrete and bricks, steel, timber and general waste). Collex and the CFMEU have provided on site training/induction for the workers at the Kensington Towers site.

With the new guidelines and standards to follow, the project at Kensington is achieving a 76 per cent diversion rate on construction waste. This equates to an approximate 10 percent savings on waste management costs for Becton.

The Office of Housing is a major developer spending approximately $300 million p.a on new housing and construction and spot purchase and physical improvements.

For more information, please contact:

Jan van de Graaff
Telephone: 03 9653 6928
Email: jvandegraaff@ecorecycle.vic.gov.au
Web: www.ecorecycle.vic.gov.au

Islay House, Livilands Lane, Stirling, FK8 2BG
Tel: 01786 468 797 Fax: 01786 464 611