Let the green and gold rush begin

“Sport has the power to change the world,” Nelson Mandela declared in 2000. The 2032 Brisbane Olympics can do much more than deliver a record-breaking gold medal haul. We can create high-performing sporting and community infrastructure that inspires generations to come.

The legacy of an Olympic Games is often measured in the state of its infrastructure after the athletes step down from the dais.

The Sydney 2000 Olympics earned its title as the first 'Green Games' for good reason. Australia pioneered innovations in solar power, water recycling and waste management that continue to shape our cities, suburbs and sporting infrastructure to this day.

Stadium Australia was, at the time, the largest and greenest Olympic stadium. At the urging of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), new sustainable design standards were established to demonstrate that large-scale projects could embrace eco-efficiency without compromising budgets.

The athletes’ village at Newington, on the site of a former ammunition depot, became the world’s largest solar-powered suburb. Following the Games, Newington flourished into a leafy, sought-after suburb – a “textbook example” of an athlete’s village done right.

There are many other inspiring stories from Sydney. Australia’s first large-scale urban water treatment scheme is still operational at Sydney Olympic Park. Low-VOC paint, now a staple of every hardware store, was prototyped for the Games.

These examples, business-as-usual today, were truly ground-breaking back then. For the first time, Australia’s builders, designers and developers had clear proof that they could deliver sustainability at scale. Or as one ABC journalist reflected, the Sydney Olympics showed that “a bunch of hard-nosed, bottom-line-orientated property developers found a way to be green and still make a buck”.

Once the Games were over, a critical challenge remained. How could we verify that good intentions delivered genuine and lasting green legacy? This sparked the creation of the Green Building Council of Australia and the Green Star rating system.

Legacy or liability? The Games that last

Olympic venues either transform communities and deliver lasting value – or serve as costly monuments to fleeting glory.

Athens 2004 Olympic arenas lie abandoned and overrun with weeds. Rio de Janeiro’s 2016 Games left a trail of crumbling infrastructure and mounting debt. Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium, iconic as it may be, costs around $10 million each year just to maintain.

We’ve learnt much from the mistakes of the past. Paris 2024 reduced carbon emissions by 54.6% when compared to London and Rio, according to the fresh-off-the-press Paris 2024 Sustainability and Legacy Report.

The few venues for Paris that were built from scratch – the athletes’ village and aquatic centre – achieved a 30% reduction in emissions per square metre by incorporating low-carbon timber frames, concrete and recycled materials. But a remarkable 95% of Paris infrastructure was either temporary or existing, and every item associated with the event was planned with reuse or repurposing in mind.

Scoring big on efficiency and sustainability

Sustainability is one of the IOC’s three pillars, and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be contractually required to deliver on a range of sustainability outcomes.

Use of a recognised, appropriate ‘green standard’ is another IOC requirement. Green Star did not exist when Sydney hosted the Games. The Sydney Olympic Park Authority, which achieved a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating in 2019, now requires all new buildings to meet minimum Green Star targets. A long list of sporting facilities around the country now boast Green Star ratings and the GBCA has certified stadiums for some of the world’s largest events in recent years. (Scroll down to read case studies of exemplar projects.)

For decades, the GBCA has built a robust evidence base for the tangible benefits of Green Star-certified buildings. Green Star in focus: The case for sustainable social infrastructure finds Green Star buildings:

• Consume 66% less electricity than typical Australian buildings, delivering substantial cost savings.
• Use 51% less potable water compared to buildings meeting minimum industry standards.
• Produce 55% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, reducing their climate impact.

The report also finds that Green Star public buildings – such as sporting facilities, community centres and libraries – save around $100,000 annually on energy bills alone.

“We know facilities designed to achieve Green Star certification are operationally efficient, cost-effective and comfortable,” says GBCA Chief Executive Officer, Davina Rooney.

“But the real value lies in the long-term impact. Green Star inspires leadership, innovation and transformation. Green Star ratings are marks of transparency, quality and trust, helping to unlock private sector investment, supporting strong governance and ensuring the best use of taxpayer dollars..”

Climate action is a team effort

Climate change poses rising risks to all industries, and sport is no exception. Every single sport is dependent on clean air and water, and safe places to play.

Heat stress is a growing concern for player welfare, as successive Australian Open tournaments show. Bushfires, floods, droughts and declining snowfalls are disruptive to events and infrastructure. Last year’s Sports, Climate Change and Legal Liability report underscores the legal and financial risks ahead.

This challenge is global. The United Kingdom’s meteorological office has warned that a quarter of soccer stadiums are at risk of annual flooding by 2050, for instance.

As sporting organisations from grassroots clubs to global enterprises act to reduce the emissions from their infrastructure, fans are also demanding change.

According to McCrindle’s research in 2024, 52% of Australians view environmentally friendly practices at events as extremely or very important – a figure that rises to 62% among Gen Z. The UK Sport Industry Report 2025 found 72% of fans are willing to pay an additional cost on top of their original ticket price for a positive environmental benefit. McCrindle also found that 50% of event planners, worldwide, asked to prioritise venues and accommodations aligned with sustainability goals.

Sport doesn’t just reflect culture – it shapes it. So-called ‘Scope F’ emissions – those linked to fan travel, consumption and behaviour – are estimated to be 100 times larger than a major sporting club’s direct and indirect operational emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3).

“Olympics leave legacies that echo for generations,” Davina Rooney says. “We saw that with Sydney 2000 – the Games shape values long before a brick is laid. With the world watching, Brisbane can set a new global benchmark – not just for sport, but for sustainability too..”

Green Star changes the game for sporting infrastructure

Sydney Swans HQ, Sydney

5 Star Green Star

The Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney, a world-class training venue for the Sydney Swans AFL and AFLW teams, is a showcase for adaptive reuse. By retaining the heritage charm of this iconic building – fondly remembered as the “showbag hall” of the Royal Easter Show – the project reduced its environmental impact and embodied carbon emissions.

Key features include high-performance glazing and an innovative façade system that enhanced indoor conditions and minimised energy demands. Skylights, rainwater tanks and electric vehicle charging stations contributed to the facility’s efficiency and comfort, proving that heritage preservation and cutting-edge sustainability can coexist in a high-performance sporting facility.

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“We’re experts in high-performance rather than environmental best practice. Therefore, it was important for us to work with experts who could offer guidance on green initiatives for our new facility, and independently verify the project outcomes. Green Building Council Australia is a leader in this space and pursuing Green Star verification demonstrates our commitment to achieving sustainable outcomes.”

Drew Arthurson, Chief Operating Officer, Sydney Swans

La Trobe University Sports Stadium, Melbourne

6 Star Green Star

This sports hub is also a sustainability powerhouse that draws 10,000-plus visitors each week. Completed in January 2020, the stadium boasts six multi-purpose courts, cutting-edge sports science labs, and flexible office space for commercial tenants.

Among the stadium’s features, 1,104 high-spec solar panels generate surplus energy for the entire campus. A smart structural design reduced embodied carbon by 15%, while water-saving fixtures and rainwater capture slash consumption. As part of La Trobe’s commitment to sustainability, every new building on campus meets at least a 5 Star Green Star rating.

“The La Trobe Sports Park is now home to 26 sports clubs, the Northern Football Netball League, Softball Australia and Softball Victoria and planning is underway to become home base for the Matildas, Football Victoria and Rugby Victoria. We’re very proud of the fact that we’ve been able to create this incredible facility while remaining true to La Trobe’s values of being sustainable, protecting our environment and aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2029.”

Professor Russell Hoye, Dean School of Allied Health Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University

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Smith Collective, Gold Coast

4 Star Green Star Communities

Australia's first build-to-rent development, now known as Smith Collective, originally served as the athletes' village for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Housing 6,500 athletes during the Games, it is now a thriving community across 1,252 apartments and townhouses. The development also features shops, a spacious public plaza and park.

Designed with long-term rental in mind, the masterplanned community served as a pilot project for the Green Star Communities rating tool, which assessed social sustainability factors such as governance, liveability, economic prosperity, environmental impact and innovation.

“It is clear this model of living is a sustainable way to meet the increasing demand for rental accommodation, particularly on the booming Southeast Queensland corridor. Smith Collective is a notable example of the positive legacy an athletes’ village can have, and the long-term benefit it can provide a community post-Games.”

Matt Taplin, General Manager, Smith Collective

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Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Melbourne

6 Star Green Star

Darebin City Council’s long-term vision for net-zero emissions is exemplified in the transformation of its ageing aquatic centre into an all-electric facility. In 2016, the Council introduced a new policy for environmentally sustainable design, requiring Green Star certification for developments over $10 million.

The state-of-the-art centre, which opened in 2023, features an outdoor 50-metre pool, a 25-metre indoor lane pool, a warm water pool, a leisure pool, a splash pad, and a learn-to-swim pool. Fitness and wellness amenities include multipurpose spaces for group fitness and yoga, a gym and consulting rooms for allied health professionals.

Materials were carefully selected to minimise the embodied carbon footprint. Green Star also guided the Council's decisions around biodiversity, Indigenous inclusion and social procurement.

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“We are delighted to have achieved 6 Star Green Star for design of the community’s Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre. This rating demonstrates our strong commitment to taking action on the climate emergency, including by showing leadership in creating environmentally responsible spaces.”

Councillor Julie Williams, Darebin Mayor, Darebin City Council

Knox Regional Netball Centre, Melbourne

4 Star Green Star

The Knox Regional Netball Centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs incorporates netball courts, offices, meeting rooms, a kiosk and amenities, all within a 100% fossil fuel-free operation. Powered by a renewable energy system that meet 50% of annual energy needs, and supported by high levels of insulation and LED lighting, the netball centre sets a powerful precedent for sustainable community infrastructure.

The facility’s energy-efficient design integrates passive shading, high-performance glazing, energy recovery heating, ventilation and cooling systems, and heat pump hot water. A 100,000-litre rainwater tank and water-sensitive urban design reduce potable water use by 40%. The efficiency measures and solar battery system save an estimated $120,000 per year in operational costs when compared to a Code-compliant reference building.

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“The zero emissions outcome was very important for us. Knox City Council has developed a Climate Response Plan 2021-2031, which sets out our targets and provides a roadmap with measurable actions on how this will be achieved in partnership with the Knox community. No fossil fuels are used in the building operations.”

Grant Thorne, Director of Infrastructure, Knox City Council

“The Knox Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Policy considers the lifetime costs and advocates for sustainable buildings and infrastructure, taking into account climate risks and biodiversity impacts amongst other things. For larger, more complex projects, a certification (like Green Star) that’s publicly recognised, and understood by the industry, is an important way for everyone involved in the project to understand the sustainability goals and design intent.”

Ian Adams, Principal, Organica Engineering