TravelSmart Workplace success stories

Private and public workplaces are using green transport plans to cut car use and give staff better choices. Here are some examples of workplaces making a difference:

Water Corporation
Staff at the Water Corporation's Leederville office reduced their car use by 23% between 1998 and 2001. Green transport actions included promoting travel options to employees, green commuter breakfasts, improving bicycle parking and providing parking for carpoolers. The corporation's environmental resources awareness group is now updating the plan with support from TravelSmart Workplace.

Woodside Energy
Woodside took up the TravelSmart Workplace challenge in 2000, initially involving its Central Park office where staff reduced car use by 22% over two years. Woodside's new building features good facilities for cyclists and green travel options have been promoted to all staff. The company's green transport group has put in an award winning effort.

Water Corporation

How the Water Corporation went greener

The Water Corporation's Leederville office was the first Perth workplace to develop a green transport plan, and its efforts are continuing under the TravelSmart Workplace program.

Richard Kreider of the Corporation's Environmental Resources Awareness group says promoting greener transport is part of the organisation’s commitment to a better environment.

The group involves staff in managing their environmental impacts at work and has driven the Corporation's green transport plan.

The Water Corporation employs over 2,000 staff with about 760 at its head office in Leederville, where it wanted to manage growing parking pressure while promoting greener travel.

Action plan gets results

A staff travel survey in 1998 found that 64% drove to work even though there were other options. Most staff also took the car for business trips. But the Leederville train station is only a short walk away and a major bike route runs close by – alongside the Mitchell Freeway.

With support from the Conservation Council's Smogbusters program, a green transport plan was prepared. The goal was to reduce car driver commuting by 10%.

"The plan encourages more people to use alternatives by providing information on car parking, car pooling, public transport, cycling and walking,” Richard says.

The green transport plan was launched in November 1999 and resulted in:

• Improved end-of-trip facilities for cyclists – with more bicycle parking and lockers
  
  
• Car parking bays allocated to employees who committed to car-pooling regularly
  
  
• An intranet bulletin board that facilitates car pooling
  
  
• A workplace access guide to travel options
  
  
• Smogbusters breakfasts to encourage and reward green commuting by staff
  
  
• Bus and train timetables at the reception desk and kiosk
  
  
• Articles in the corporate newsletter on travel options and green transport plan initiatives
  
  
• Encouragement of participation in cycling programs – teams have taken part in the annual Statewest cycling challenge

A survey in February 2001 found that car-as-driver commuter trips had fallen by 23%. A survey in March 2003 revealed that car use had crept up a little, showing that efforts need to be sustained.

"Much has been done by interested staff with minimal resources," Richard says.

“It is now time to review the plan and find ways to mainstream green transport within the Corporation, while building on our successes to date.”

The Water Corporation is participating in TravelSmart Workplace.

back to top

Woodside Energy

Woodside sets the pace

Woodside Energy is showing the way in reducing car commuting. Staff car trips to Woodside's Central Park have been reduced by 30% and the green transport effort has been extended to all of its city offices.

By early 2004 most of Woodside's city staff will be working at a new building at 240 St George's Terrace, complete with parking space for over 200 bicycles and good locker and shower facilities.

These achievements are due to the enthusiasm of Woodside's green transport team, comprising interested staff from across the company. One member is Andy Miles-Tweedie, who has been involved since the TravelSmart Workplace program contacted Woodside in late 1999.

"We started at our Central Park office, preparing a green transport plan with TravelSmart's help," Andy said. "Now we are looking at all Woodside locations in Perth and a new plan is being prepared to build on achievements to date."

Woodside's green transport efforts were recognised when it won a company environment award and the air quality section of the WA Environment Awards in 2002.

How they did it

Woodside's green transport group meets quarterly but keeps in contact regularly through an email list to discuss issues and implement solutions. Actions to promote travel alternatives to Woodside staff have included:

• Holding an annual green transport week, including displays, talks and intercept surveys to raise awareness
  
  
• Participating in the annual Statewest Bike to Work challenge
  
  
• Creating a green transport site on the company intranet with information on public transport, cycling, walking and a carpool register
  
  
• Providing input to the design of the new Woodside Plaza building, resulting in good facilities for cycle commuters
  
  
• Giving talks to business units to inform staff about their travel options and the green transport program
  
  
• Lobbying to change company policies (free LPG conversions for company cars, car bay cash out, telecommuting)

The result of all these efforts has been less car commuting. Woodside staff at Central Park reduced their car use by 30% between 2000 and 2003. Intercept surveys across all offices show greater use of greener modes.

"The move of most staff to the new building is an opportunity to encourage people to commute without a car," Andy said. "Our recent green transport week promoted the alternatives and showed staff interest in using them."

"Survey results from our different offices show that good access to public transport and end-of-trip facilities have the biggest influence on commuting behaviour," he said.

"We felt it was critical to ensure Woodside Plaza was designed to encourage green transport, and the Woodside Plaza Project Team has certainly delivered."

"Green transport fits well with our company's environmental policy, which strives to seek improvement with respect to emissions and energy use. Every person in the company can make a difference," said Andy.

Woodside's continuing effort sets a great example in the business community. As well as taking the TravelSmart message to its workforce, Woodside has promoted the green transport idea to other organisations. Mainstreaming green transport throughout the company and sustaining staff leadership in a busy work environment are challenges for the future.

back to top