SGQ is dedicated to managing environmental aspects and implementing practical sustainability initiatives across its operations. We demonstrate a strong track record of delivering projects in environmentally sensitive areas, near waterways and critical habitats, while managing environmental risks such as erosion and sediment, vegetation impacts, acid sulphate soils, PFAS, asbestos and other potential contaminants.
Environment & Sustainability
Maintain Environmental Expertise
SGQ maintains an effective Environmental Management System certified to ISO 14001. Our capability is supported by multi-disciplinary personnel with experience in environmental management, erosion and sediment control, environmental inspections, auditing and project-specific environmental planning.
Promote and Implement Sustainable Practices
SGQ promote Environmentally preferable and Sustainable goods and services to lower impacts and footprint over the life cycle of projects we undertake.
Senior Mgmt and respective operational teams are committed to ensuring we remain on the front foot with sustainable construction practices
SGQ are accredited with Business Chamber of QLD as an Eco Biz Star Partner, in recognition of efforts in reducing our impact through Energy, Water & Waste minimization. As an Eco Biz Star Partner, SGQ have an ongoing commitment to improving our water, waste and energy efficiencies. Key programs driven within SGQ to achieve targets include a focus on;
- Air Quality: Reduced emissions through investment in electric-hybrid & EU6 certified vehicles, EV charging stations powered by solar, and a modern, efficient civil earthmoving fleet.
- Water Resources: Efficient water consumption through rainwater capture & retention, use of recycled water in construction, and install of water-efficient infrastructure.
- Energy Efficiency: Rooftop solar systems at offices and mobile solar units for project sites reduce energy and direct fuel consumption, mitigating CO2 emissions.
- Waste Management: Waste reduction strategies including recycling campaigns, re-use of construction & earthwork materials & adopting paperless system strategies
Soil Quality: Certified erosion and sediment control management, as well as expert treatment of Acid Sulphate Soils, PFAS, asbestos & other ground contaminants
EcoBiz Partnership and Circular Economy Pathway
SGQ is accredited with Business Chamber Queensland as an ecoBiz Star Partner in recognition of our efforts to improve energy, water and waste performance. SGQ has participated in ecoBiz since 2021 and continues to use the program to measure, monitor and improve operational sustainability outcomes.
- Energy: rooftop solar, battery storage, mobile hybrid solar and energy-efficient office practices.
- Water: efficient water use, rainwater and recycled water assessment where practical, and targeted site water use.
- Waste: reduction, reuse, recycling, material recovery and paperless systems.
- Lifecycle thinking: improved procurement, reuse of materials and recovery of value from construction and office waste streams.
SGQ has commenced the ecoBiz Circular Economy pathway and is currently assessed at Level 2 – Developing. This module supports SGQ to identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve material efficiency, recover value from resources, strengthen procurement decisions and apply circular economy thinking to business operations and project delivery.
Emission Reduction Initiatives
SGQ has invested in direct greenhouse gas reduction initiatives across office operations, vehicle fleet, plant and project site facilities. Key initiatives include:
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) within our light vehicle fleet.
- EV/PHEV charging stations at SGQ office locations, supported by rooftop solar & battery storage
- Modernisation of the civil earthmoving fleet, including the latest tech in excavators, graders, loaders and roller-compactors
- New-generation diesel utilities and plant with emissions-reduction technology (EU6-certified diesel, AdBlue engines)
- Strict maintenance schedules to optimise fuel economy, reduce emissions and extend equipment life.
- Strategic construction scheduling & planning to reduce unnecessary material handling, vehicle movement and idle time.
- Use of digital systems & technologies to reduce unnecessary travel.
Solar, Battery Storage and Site Power
SGQ office locations are equipped with rooftop solar systems, reducing reliance on grid electricity and supporting lower-emissions office operations. SGQ has also invested in battery storage and mobile hybrid solar systems to improve renewable energy utilisation and reduce generator run time.
Mobile hybrid solar systems
Since 2021, SGQ has partnered with SOBOS Energy and other suppliers to support the transition to renewable energy on project sites. Mobile hybrid solar systems provide off-grid power for site facilities and can significantly reduce generator run time, diesel consumption, noise and CO2 emissions.
Indicative direct fuel and CO2 emission savings from selected projects are summarised below. Detailed reports can be provided on request.
| SGQ’s Direct Fuel and CO2 Emissions Savings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Project Duration | Reduction - Generator Run Time | Reduction in Fuel Burn | Reduction in CO2 Emissions |
| Eumundi Noosa Rd Widening, Centreline Treatment (TMR) | 335 Days | 7,018 (hrs) | 25,264 (L) (3.6L per hour) |
66,706 (kg) |
| Bells Creek Transmission Access and Foundations (Energex Limited) | 154 Days | Unit 1: 2,776 (hrs) Unit 2: 3,616 (hrs) |
4,997 (L) 7,956 (L) |
13,196 (kg) 21,007 (kg) |
| Tewantin Roundabout Stage 3 (Noosa Shire Council) | 390 Days | 3,552 (hrs) | 10,781 (L) | 28,894 (kg) |
| Morayfield Road and Intersection Upgrade (Transport and Main Roads) | 249 Days | 5,521 (hrs) | 12,146 (L) | 32,067 (kg) |
| Noosa Hinterland Bridges (Noosa Shire Council) | 129 Days | 3,093 (hrs) | 6,805 (L) | 17,965 (kg) |
| Torbanlea-Pialba Rd Upgd (Unit 1) (Transport and Main Roads) | 597 Days | 13,698 (hrs) | 49,315 (L) | 130,193 (kg) |
| Torbanlea-Pialba Rd Bridge (Unit 2) (Transport and Main Roads) | 436 Days | 9,737 (hrs) | 35,056 (L) | 92,549 (kg) |
Waste Reduction and Circular Economy Outcomes
SGQ applies a reduce, reuse and recycle approach across business operations and project delivery. Waste reduction strategies include electronic WHSE, QA and project management systems, reuse and recycling of office equipment, use of recycling providers, and separation and recovery of construction materials where practical.
- Reuse of suitable site-won earthworks, pavement, rock and gravel materials where approved.
- Recycling and recovery of concrete, asphalt, pavement and similar construction materials.
- Use of approved local or regional recovery facilities where suitable.
- Office recycling streams, including Containers for Change and appropriate reuse, donation or recycling of redundant IT equipment and furniture.
In FY2024/2025, SGQ recorded more than 3,200 tonnes of recoverable construction material through recycling or material recovery streams. Materials included concrete, crushed concrete, clean fill, soil/loam, asphalt/profilings and recycled concrete products.
Efficient Water Use
SGQ implements efficient water consumption measures across office operations and construction projects. On projects, water is managed for dust suppression, compaction support, erosion and sediment control, washdown and rehabilitation activities.
SGQ assesses recycled water opportunities where suitable and approved, including for dust suppression, construction activities, irrigation or landscaping. Where recycled water is not practical or approved, SGQ sources water from approved lawful sources and manages use efficiently.
Lower-Impact Construction Materials
SGQ supports the use of recycled, reused and lower-impact construction materials where technically suitable and approved. This includes reviewing opportunities for recycled road base, recycled aggregate, reclaimed asphalt pavement, recovered concrete products and reuse of suitable site-won materials.
SGQ has recent experience delivering Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforced concrete pathways for key client’s and has undertaken internal review of broader GFRP applications, including constructability, procurement, durability and whole-of-life benefits.
GFRP and compatible non-corrosive systems may provide durability and sustainability benefits in suitable applications, particularly in coastal, wet or corrosive environments where corrosion resistance and longer service life can reduce maintenance requirements.
