Congress Venue
Melbourne Convention Centre
The Melbourne Convention Centre is superbly located on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River, close to the heart of the CBD and just 30 minutes from Melbourne's International Airport. The new Convention Centre opened in June 2009 and was part of a $1.4 billion development in South Wharf that includes a Hilton Hotel, lifestyle retail precinct and shopping space.
It has received world wide acclaim for achieving a 6 Star Green Star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, the first in the world for a convention centre.
The venue is an easy walking distance from a range of accommodation options, which will be available to delegates to book at the time of registering for the Congress.
Melbourne Convention Centre
1 Convention Centre Place
South Wharf, Victoria 3006
Green Credentials'
The new Convention Centre's innovative sustainable design and operational features ensure the comfort of delegates and protection of the environment go hand-in-hand.
Water Management
- A black water treatment plant collects building wastewater and some stormwater to provide treated water for toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling towers
- Water efficient fixtures and fittings, including urinals that use a chemical system rather than a water flush
- Installation of new sensor taps
- Increasing water collection from its roof areas from 6000 to 25,000 litres for re-use in the gardens and for cleaning purposes.
Waste Management
- MCEC has recycled over 38 tonnes of organic waste into compost over the past year; reduced the amount of tin, plastic and glass sent to landfill by more than 38,000 litres over a three month period; and developed a Water Management Plan (waterMAP) to reduce water usage by introducing new rainwater tanks and native gardens and using captured rainwater for general cleaning purposes.
Energy Management
- Displacement ventilation - low level air delivery and high level air exhaust in the plenary hall and foyer areas provide effective air flow with high indoor air quality at low energy consumption
- Expansive glass facade allows availability of natural light to the foyer and pre-function spaces. This reduces the need for artificial light and provides good thermal qualities in the winter months
- Solar hot water systems can offset more than 40 per cent of general hot water requirements and can provide 100 per cent of public amenity hot water requirements
- Light fittings have been selected and positioned in order to minimise resource and energy consumption. For example, energy efficient lighting is design with daylight and motion detection control features.
Strategies Implemented
- Introduced a range of biodegradable packaging and cutlery for use in the MCEC's café.
Accolades Received
- Opened in June 2009, the new Melbourne Convention Centre has achieved the first Six Star Green Star environmental rating in the world, recognising world leadership. The 6 Star Green Star environmental rating was awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) under its Green Star Convention Centre rating tool for the convention centre's innovative environmental design and operational features
- Waste Wise certification, which is managed by Sustainability Victoria, identifies environmental leaders in minimizing waste and maximising the efficient use of resources
- MCEC is the only convention and exhibition venue in Australia with both Green Globe and Waste Wise accreditation
- At the business event industry's largest event, AIME 2008, the centre won the prestigious Best Environmental Supplier Award'.
Other
Indoor Environment Quality
- Radiant slab heating and cooling in the foyer (with pipes in the concrete floor carrying hot or cold water to heat or cool the slab) provides a more comfortable internal environment with good thermal comfort levels.
Materials
- Use of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) timber, which is environmentally friendly, rather than non-renewable timber.
Reference:
2009 Melbourne's Green Credentials' Report March 2009. pg. 23; Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau
Click here for more information on the Centre’s environmental initiatives