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News Archive

Nov 4 / 2020

If you think Green Star is not for you, think again.

Green Star for New Buildings applies to all types of development and is a great tool for those who want to differentiate their business and adapt to changing market trends. More comprehensive than ever, the new rating tool provides additional opportunities for alignment with your business values and goals and allows you to qualify for green star and market your existing efforts better. Many developers don’t realise they already incorporate elements in their projects that will tick enough or almost enough boxes to qualify for a certain green star rating. Could this be you?

Sep 22 / 2020

The WCG Team shed their beds! And we invite you to join us!

In line with our core value of Citizenship, the WCG Team will shed their beds on the night of World Homeless Day 2020 to raise money for their charity of choice Beddown. As a team, we aim to raise a minimum $5,000 by 10th October 2020 – World Homeless Day to help Beddown achieve their mission of “repairing the quality of life before building the life of quality.” There are a number of ways you can help and it’s as simple as Shed, Share, Support or do the three. Click on the title to learn more.

Jul 30 / 2020

WCG Young Planner Gabrielle Toohey Shares Her Experiences as UQ BRTP Alumni.

We would like to share another UQ Alumni Reflection, for UQ OOPS Connect Magazine with you. Gabrielle Toohey is our young and talented Planner. She inspires us with her passion for a 'better world' and her courage to follow her dreams. "What I am possibly most appreciative of, is the fundamental inspiration studying BRTP has given me," says Gabrielle. Click on the title to read more.

Jul 29 / 2020

WCG Team Share Their Experiences From University Days to Now - UQ OOPS Connect Newsletter, Issue 3

It was great to collaborate with UQ OOPS again on creation of their 3rd Issue of Connect Newsletter. In celebration of 50 years of the Bachelor of Regional Town Planning (BRTP) at the University of Queensland, the OOPS (UQ Organisation of Planning Students) Team collated a special issue dedicated to remembering this history. In the BRTP Alumni Reflections our Executive Director, Andrew Crawford and Senior Planner, Kimberley White share their stories from their university days to now. Click on the title to read more.

Jul 11 / 2020

From small initiatives to a greater purpose for change.

Boyana Popvassilev, the latest addition to our Sustainability and Environment team at Wolter Consulting Group, truly believes that there is ‘no greater sin than inaction’ as she lives and breathes her passion for sustainability and circular economy, where no initiative is too small for great positive changes ahead. As we mark World Population Day 2020, we’d like to welcome Boyana to our team and share her story with you: (click on the title to read)

Jul 8 / 2020

We love the Brisbane City Council’s green commitment and we are here to support it!

Brisbane City Council has announced a new initiative to encourage well designed, green and energy-efficient residential buildings. Here at WCG, we are very excited about it. Whilst Council’s announcement applies to residential buildings only, there is enormous opportunity to expand the initiative, and hopefully other Councils will follow suit. Our Sustainability, Circular Economy and Environment Team has considerable project experience in these key policy areas, and we understand the importance of project economics. We work closely with our design colleagues to maximise sustainability outcomes within a commercial mindset. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss this initiative and future opportunities.

May 12 / 2020

Changing Times – Creating Walkable Communities from Post War Beginnings to COVID-19 and Beyond.

Enter 2020, which has brought a number of challenges, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown placing even more pressure on our open space network, requiring us to ask the question: “Are we delivering communities that are robust and able to adapt to our quickly changing world?” A number of these questions had already been raised in the latest draft of IPWEAQ’s (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Queensland) “Street Design Manual - Walkable Communities".  It questions our current delivery model and its limited approach to park types and recreational opportunities, suggesting alternatives that are more efficient, offer better utilisation of land and reduce costs whilst meeting community expectations.  Click on the title to read more.

May 11 / 2020

"Working from Home, Design and the 'New Normal'..." - David Uhlmann for the Urban Developer.

The unprecedented disruption to our lives caused by Covid-19 and the accompanying physical distancing restrictions introduced to stop its spread has changed many aspects of our lives. Entrenched aspects of our lives we previously would have considered to be unchangeable. We joined The Urban Developer’s residential summit last week to discuss sustainability and residential housing in general, with six key themes emerging, well summed up in David Uhlmann‘s article here. Click on the title to read more.

May 6 / 2020

WCG Acts in Support of Development Industry and the post-COVID Economic Recovery.

Here at WCG, whilst its very much business as usual, we have been taking a leadership role in advocating for Government led action to support the property and development industry and underpin post-COVID economic recovery. In addition to our key roles on numerous industry association committees, we have been working directly with our colleagues in local government to encourage new initiatives. We recently wrote to the Council of Mayors (SEQ) presenting a range of ideas for consideration and discussion at their Board meeting. Click on the title to read more.

May 6 / 2020

Planners Must Connect the Dots: Why communication is key in our profession.

When it comes to delivering great cities, as planners we have the knowledge to be opinion leaders and trusted advisors on all fronts - developer, government and the community. We know that ‘great cities are no accident.’ Yet, we continue to see existing and even new housing policies that trigger urban sprawl and make housing a major contributor to inequality. Housing costs continue to escalate, homelessness is rising, and young generations and families are forced to choose where they live based on nothing but the price. We need to speak louder!