Sustainability at Melbourne Park
Since the Melbourne Park Redevelopment began in 2010, the project has had a focus on sustainability. The design places a strong emphasis on the comfort of patrons and users and uses clever initiatives to reduce its environmental impact.
Read more about our sustainability initiatives below.
Sustainability Initiatives
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most used green building rating in the world. The National Tennis Centre, Margaret Court Arena, Tennis HQ, Rod Laver Arena and Centrepiece at Melbourne Park have achieved LEED Gold ®certification.
A water harvesting system was installed in the first stage of the Melbourne Park Redevelopment. This includes an underground 4.5 mega litre storm-water retention tank.The system collects water from across the whole precinct. The system recycles the water for toilet flushing and irrigating the precinct’s green space areas.
Melbourne Park’s sophisticated irrigation system actively monitors evaporation. The system triggers irrigation in zoned areas where it is needed, saving unnecessary or over-irrigation.
The installation of the water harvesting system paired with energy-efficient design helped the National Tennis Centre to achieve LEED Gold® certification in 2013.
The National Tennis Centre has CO2 monitors in the carpark and uses enhanced natural ventilation.
Rod Laver Arena has been extensively refurbished with a focus on sustainability and patron comfort. An upgraded air conditioning system zones and adjusts the air temperature depending on the number of people in the venue. This improves patron comfort and reduces the electricity needed for running fans and cooling equipment.
Rod Laver Arena amenities have been upgraded to use recycled water for toilet flushing. CO2 monitors in the car park trigger the car park ventilation so it only runs when it is needed.
Tennis HQ is a long, narrow building designed so that it allows natural daylight to reach almost 100 per cent of the floor space. Giant eaves on each level reduce glare for the workers inside. The windows are double glazed.
The use of sustainable materials improves air quality in the building. Efficient mechanical and electrical systems are used with LED lighting and motion sensors to save energy. Lights turn off automatically if no one is using a zone. As in the other new buildings in the precinct, low-flow water taps and shower heads reduce the water usage in the building.
Photovoltaic (solar) cells are installed on the roof. They have been installed across the precinct where fixed roofing is available.
Margaret Court Arena reused an existing structure and upgraded it using sustainably sourced timber and energy efficient lighting and air conditioning systems. When the weather is fine, the operable roof can open and reduce the amount of air conditioning and lighting needed.
The roof is also designed to reflect the sun’s heat. Shading canopies block summer sun but allow winter sun through.The arena has efficient water fittings and the toilets are connected to Melbourne Park’s water harvesting system.
Centrepiece at Melbourne Park (Centrepiece) uses energy efficient lighting, electrical and mechanical systems and double glazing. The new function and media centre is connected to the water harvesting system and uses efficient water fittings. Photovoltaic (solar) cells were installed on the roof to drive sustainable energy production. Centrepiece has created space for bike-parking facilities.
The redevelopment has focused on making more green space and shade in the precinct. New trees, garden beds and lawn areas make maximum use of the open space. Consideration of the comfort of pedestrians and event patrons has led the greening of outdoor spaces. While the number and size of the venues at Melbourne Park have increased, no green areas have been reduced.
The concourse design allows for more cyclists and pedestrians to move freely along the thoroughfares. New pedestrian bridges allow for direct pedestrian links to Flinders Street Station, AAMI Park and the MCG. Better connections to the city and public transport reduce the need for traffic coming to and from the precinct.
Updated on 14 May 2024