1. Smoking on campus is rampant, should be banned!

2. Smoke-free campus please

3. Agree that smoking on Campus has to be dealt with. Sometimes the response to this is to suggest that those people bothered by smoking should tell the smokers to move on. This doesn’t work – impractical. Concerned this affects our health daily and thinking of the child care centre near the lawn area.

4. We should go back to having a smoke-free campus. Or have the smoking zones far away from the main campus and buildings.

5. Is there a plan to remove smoking on campus? There are so many, especially outside MUSE and at the Library car park. No one seems to take responsibility to remove/stop smokers

6. A while ago, there was a survey out to all staff for a smoke-free campus. Is there a follow up on this? Walking along Wally’s Walk near the MUSE Building grass area, you can smell the smoke from students smoking.

We have heard the concerns with smoking on campus and, as with all issues of wellness and wellbeing of our staff and students, take this seriously. University Services and Strategy incorporating Risk and Assurance, Health, Safety and Wellness, and Property has been working to address the issue of smoking. Broad engagement has included discussions with our commercial and residential neighbours. We have taken a practical position that an entirely smoke-free campus is not practical at this time, as it simply moves the problem to our neighbours which damages our standing as a responsible community citizen. We are currently in the process of finalising a new smoking on campus policy after wide consultation.

The new policy recognises that whilst smoking is not illegal it is harmful, and we need to be mindful of our conduct and the impact it has on others across the University. The policy proposes that smoking will be limited to designated smoking areas. A number of areas are being prepared and an additional new space has been created. Property will continue to progress work and ensure there are facilities to enable people to conform to the new policy.

Renewed signage will be provided at places most frequented by smokers to direct them to nearby designated smoking areas. Security will remind smokers where they can smoke or vape and be respectful to others. Cleaning crews have been tasked with cleaning those areas currently frequented by smokers and beautification will continue to take place.

We will also have an enhanced emphasis and support to encourage quit-smoking campaigns to promote smokers’ own wellbeing, and that of others. We also support the provision of Quit Information Packs. Leaflets and handouts will be distributed with the launch of the new policy.

7. Who is responsible for keeping the campus clean and what’s the frequency/contract? Litter seems to have increased and stays in place for weeks.

8. There has been a noticeable decline in the cleanliness on campus. This has been raised by multiple staff across different locations and students.

The University changed cleaning companies last year as part of a tender process. There have been a number of issues experienced during the transition, as the new contractor becomes more familiar with the operations of the University. Macquarie receives feedback from many stakeholders, and this certainly assists in managing contractor performance. We will redouble efforts to the ensure the contractors are carrying out cleaning of the campus to desired levels. When I am walking or travelling on campus and see areas that are not satisfactorily clean, I call Property to indicate areas that need cleaning.

9. I agree with removing cars from the centre of campus. What about the electric vehicles that fly down Wally’s Walk? Is there a policy on this?

The use of electric golf-style buggies is an efficient way of getting around campus, given the size and nature of the University. A Property Safe Work Procedure (SWP) in relation to their use is in place. This question and the fact that I was recently almost bowled over by one of these vehicles has prompted a reminder to the involved staff.

10. What value does this campus development have?

Much of the campus development is designed to improve facilities for students and staff in the conduct of the core business of the University – teaching/learning, research and the enabling activities that support those. There is also a 10-year program of work which is upgrading basic building amenities after a period when no such work had been done for many years. It is also important to note that much of the basic infrastructure that supports the buildings (power supply, water supply etc.) is ageing and must be remediated in order to prevent outages.

The guiding vision is to create a vibrant, sustainable, dynamic campus that:

• Creates a focus for the entire University community – students, staff and visitors;
• Manifests the vision for and aspirations of the University;
• Creates a memorable and meaningful sense of place and community with shared values;
• Respects and celebrates the architectural, cultural and landscape heritage of the campus;
• Engages and enhances the campus through sustainability, functionality and design;
• Accommodates a wide variety of functions and activities, both permanent and temporary;
• Is sustainable, functional, flexible and capable of evolving over time.

11. With the school climate strikers growing in momentum and concern for their future, how can we show leadership in energy and carbon to gain favour from these future students?

12. With the school climate strikes growing momentum, what are the top 3 things Macquarie University can do now to address the climate emergency and attract these future students?

As a University, we are in the unique position to have a positive impact via our core activities as well as our day-to-day operations:

• Research – we have major areas of research of the University that focus on issues relating to Climate Change;
• Teaching – continue to embed the core philosophies underpinning Sustainability into our teaching programs;
• Communication – communicate our activities in Research and Learning and Teaching as well as articulating our approach to day-to-day operations to continually improve efficiency, functionality, flexibility and future-proofing our campus. It is also important to reiterate the actions of each individual member of the University community can make a positive contribution to our campus and the environment in general.

13. What is the University doing to shape the minds of future generations to implement sustainability aspects in all their private but also professional decisions to generate critical members of the public and responsible political and economic leaders?

14. What are definite investments Macquarie University is doing (or planning to do) to minimise impacts on the climate, in areas such as renewable infrastructure (solar panels, hydrogen technology), waste reduction and modernisation of buildings?

15. Thank you for asking for questions. I am aware that the Director and another key member of the Sustainability group have recently left MQ and have yet to be replaced. I can’t help feeling like this signals the disinterest of MQ in Sustainability, which is part of Strategic Priority Six: ‘Developing a vibrant and sustainable campus’. Am I wrong here? I do know that good progress is being made in terms of making our new buildings ‘green’, which I very much appreciate. But I think we need more people in place to help with other initiatives. Thank you for all that you do.

As mentioned at the Town Hall, collectively we need to commit to a future that is sustaining and sustainable for the benefit of our students, whom we are teaching to become good community citizens and leaders; and our staff who should be leading by example through positive role modelling.

The core principles of sustainability are embedded into the University’s primary guidance, governance and statutory control frameworks, by which we plan and progressively develop the campus. As an example, the Campus Masterplan, Design Excellence and Urban Design Guidelines, Property Design Guidelines, and Sustainable Financing Framework all contain sustainability as an embedded philosophy.

Recently the University has established Sustainability Champions at the Executive level, with Professor Stephen Brammer the overarching champion. This is a different approach to what we have taken in the past. The Vice-President for Services and Strategy, Saveria Dimasi, is the champion for Sustainability in the Built and Physical Environment and has committed to sustainability being a core focus of the Property team. This team is currently working on a refresh of the Sustainability Strategy as the current strategy expires this year.

The Vice-President for Services and Strategy will host a Town Hall, scheduled for late August, which will focus on campus sustainability. I am strongly supportive of using the campus as a “living lab” for research and sustainability initiatives. In saying this, there are opportunities for researcher/student led proposals which can enhance our sustainability footprint and support our research agenda. I encourage interested teams to contact Saveria Dimasi with any proposals that address key challenges or support projects around sustainability on campus for consideration.

16. What do you think is the most pressing environmental issue and how can we show leadership beyond what we’re already doing?

A sustainable approach and its contribution to mitigating climate change is a key element in the activities of Macquarie University, especially in relation to the Physical and Built Environment.

We have a continued focus on resource efficiency – a focus on using less and self-generating where appropriate, while maintaining and enhancing the experience we all have on campus. Seeking out sustainable alternative renewable options that do not adversely impact on the primary operating functional requirements of the University is critical to this and core to working towards a carbon neutral model.

Our aims are:

• Continual improvement to our precinct model of energy and district thermal systems;
• Precinct load diversification, resulting in peak load reduction (which has a significant impact on emissions reduction);
• Implementation of behind-the-meter renewable supplies to contribute baseload power consumption;
• Continual improvements to metering, monitoring, automation and building intelligence systems;
• Lifecycle building upgrades with a focus on utilisation, efficiency, flexibility and functionality;
• Utilising the unique landscape and creek systems to not only create amenity, but as a biofilter to improve downstream water quality, enhance biodiversity and mitigate localised flood impacts (i.e. the water flowing into Macquarie University leaves it in a significantly improved state);
• Maintaining our approach to waste management, which has already resulted in less than eight per cent of waste generated being non-recyclable (or appropriate for reuse), with less than five per cent of the total waste generated going to landfill;
• Minimising what we use – with the focus on the single largest waste area of paper and cardboard;
• Use of 100 per cent of the award winning $250m Sustainability Bond for the construction of the central courtyard project; and
• Continuing to operate a blackwater processing facility to drought-proof our playing fields and support the environment through the conversion of waste into a safe, sustainable resource that is monitored by an independent NATA accredited expert to meet water quality standards set by NSW Health.

What can you do to help?

• Apply the core tenets of Sustainability (Environmental, Social, Economic) to your own decision-making process and assist in making a contribution via your own activities and actions. The Physical and Built Environment team can assist staff in this process.
• Also, simple things like turning out lights when leaving rooms, recycling and reusing where possible.

More information can be found here: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/about-the-university/strategy-and-initiatives/strategic-initiatives/sustainability/what-can-i-do

17. What is the leadership position on sustainability?

The Executive Group endorse and are involved in many aspects of sustainability. There are a number of current initiatives on campus where Macquarie continues to show leadership in sustainability:

• Precinct energy distribution (now commonly called Microgrids), have always been business as usual;
• The Precinct thermal plant;
• Both the Incubator building, and the Campus Common are designed for relocation and reuse as needed in the future;
• The Campus Common is fabricated from recycled shipping containers;
• Program of adaptive reuse, revitalisation and renewal of older building stock;
• Progressive renewal works to two primary creeks on campus to create amenity, improve water quality and create biodiversity zones;
• More than 92 per cent of waste generated on campus is now being reused or recycled and therefore not contributing to landfill;
• Landscape strategy which specifies plant species that do not require irrigation – therefore saving on both infrastructure, energy and water; and
• Two for one tree replacement strategy.

18. What is the Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton personally doing to combat climate change and which projects is he pushing at the University in that regard as a role model?

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor uses many paperless processes, including for example paperless processing of receipts/invoices etc, and carbon offset schemes. There is sensor-controlled lighting throughout the office. We order supplies only as needed and actively seek to reduce paper by utilising technology. We recycle paper, glass, containers and coffee pods. Staff, including myself, bring their own water bottles and use reusable coffee cups. Many of our staff use public transport to and from work.

In addition, my office is naturally ventilated, and the air-conditioning is in use only when the doors and windows are closed.

19. When will Macquarie become carbon neutral?

For any organisation, the push towards a carbon neutral position presents a challenge that can ideally be achieved by a combination of direct and indirect activities.

Direct activities are typically on site (e.g. building and infrastructure that improves energy efficiency; or on-site renewable energy supplies) which have operational, functional and financial benefits to the University. However, these will only take us part of the way to achieving a carbon neutral position.

The balance of the journey is a financial exercise of annually purchasing indirect alternatives (e.g. commercially available renewable energy) and/or entering into carbon offset schemes. These indirect activities provide no physical benefit to the operation or function of the University and currently come at a significant cost.

In this challenging economic climate, where access to funding is limited, the University has elected to invest in direct, on site activities that reduce our ecological footprint, improve the operational/functional performance and provide a financial benefit to the University.

This investment in a program of continual improvement of existing facilities, creation of new and upgraded infrastructure, and provision of new facilities is critical to the core activities of the University – Learning, Teaching and Research – whilst moving us closer towards a carbon neutral position.

Read more in the Vice-Chancellor’s Town Hall Q&A series: 

Curriculum Transformation
Human resources
Freedom of speech, IT and leadership
Research, rankings and engagement