Environment
Respect for community and our shared environment alongside beautiful Corio Bay drives us to preserve and share our natural resources, biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The GeelongPort environment strategy lays the foundation for our approach to sustainability and outlines four key focus areas to guide our approach:
Minimising resource use
Eliminating waste and emissions
Nurturing our port land
Supporting an appealing and healthy Corio Bay and environs
These focus areas reflect our operational impact profile, our professional influencing potential and the industries and community we support.
The key environmental material issues we focus on are air pollution, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions and contaminated land management. These are the environmental topics of most concern to our stakeholders, and we have structured our approach and focus based on this feedback.
To ensure we effectively manage our impacts on these material topics, we track key metrics and actively engage with internal and external stakeholders for their input on the effectiveness of those actions.
Our environmental policy can be found publicly on our website: Environment Policy | GeelongPort
CASE STUDY:
DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE ASPHALT STANDARD
As part of our commitment to sustainable infrastructure, GeelongPort has partnered with the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO) to develop a new asphalt technical specification.
This initiative focuses on incorporating recycled materials into the
asphalt mix to reduce environmental impacts while enhancing durability and extending pavement life.
By reducing maintenance needs and lowering the carbon footprint
of future works, this specification supports our broader goal of
delivering resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible
infrastructure solutions.
The report will evaluate the current condition of pavement infrastructure at Corio Quay North and Lascelles Wharf and will provide tailored rehabilitation strategies with an emphasis on sustainability.
CASE STUDY:
Environment Education Program
Dr. Kate Robb of the Marine Mammal Foundation (MMF) presented at GeelongPort on World Environment Day 2025, focusing on #BeatPlasticPollution. MMF is an Australian non-profit that we collaborate with on marine conservation in Corio Bay.
The presentation outlined a set of practical solutions and actions for our team members to implement to mitigate the threats posed by plastic pollution. These actions encompass individual efforts, workplace initiatives, and community engagement strategies. In the workplace, we have launched several strategic initiatives aimed at improving waste management.
These initiatives include:
- Conducting ongoing waste audits led by the HSEQ and Sustainability teams to identify areas for improvement
- Expanding recycling programs to ensure that more waste materials are diverted from landfills
- Engaging employees through education programs that highlight the importance of proper waste disposal and recycling practices. Community engagement is also a pivotal aspect of the strategy. We are actively involved in educating the public about the impact of microplastics and the importance of marine ecosystems. This is achieved through:
- Supporting MMF Citizen science programs that involve local communities in monitoring and addressing plastic pollution
- Supporting MMF Educational campaigns that raise awareness and encourage behavioural changes to reduce plastic use.
Through these comprehensive actions, we aim to tackle plastic pollution effectively, safeguarding marine mammals and their habitats while fostering a culture of sustainability within the community.