IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool & Verification Workplans in 2025
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IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool & Verification Workplans in 2025

Friday, 7 March 2025

IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool & Verification Workplan Update – Webinar Recording & Feedback Links

A big thank you to all that were able to join the ISC Verification & IS v2.1 Workplan Update Webinar today. It was a good opportunity to share with the industry our progress on the continuous improvement work that we have been doing.
As discussed, we will respond collectively to the questions raised in the webinar, and we are also eager to gather your feedback on the proposed improvement measures tabled today. This can be done by filling out the following forms which will be open until the end of March 2025. It is important that you include your contact information so that we can ask for clarification if required.
The webinar is available in full via the link below and in addition we have split up the sections of the webinar which address the four IS v2.1 rating tool improvement measures which we are currently seeking feedback on.
IS v2.1 Review Workplan Measures & Feedback Links
Measure 1 – Screening process for V2.1 projects between the values of $100m-$500m.

Measure 2 – Fast-tracked Rating Tool Review – Macro level changes

Measure 3 – On-going IS v2.1 Technical Manual Review – Detailed technical improvements

Measure 4 – Create Additional Rating Tool Pathways/ Rating Badges


4 March 2025 – Update

As we go into autumn the ISC is continuing to work through our plans to gather your feedback, develop and implement changes to how we do business. 

Verification Review 

Thank you for all of the comprehensive feedback that we received on the proposed changes to the verification process. ISC will soon respond to that feedback to our stakeholders.  

V2.1 Review 

Later this week, the ISC will present, and start to gather feedback on, a number of proposed changes to the v2.1 Rating Tools. . Information on ISC’s proposals will be shared through the following forums: 

  • Webinar – Join us for a webinar on the 7th of March and hear from the team on where these workplans are up to. This session will be recorded and made available on the IS Council website following the conclusion of the online event. If you are unable to tune in live, we suggest that you still register by clicking here to ensure that you receive a copy of the recording.  
  • Technical Working Groups – within each of the existing Technical Working Groups, the ISC will be talking about the v2.1 Workplan and recommendations developed. 

At the conclusion of these events, the ISC will provide links to information on the proposed changes, as well as details for how you can provide feedback. 

Note that the V2.1 feedback portal for detailed credit level recommendations is still open and we encourage all sustainability professionals that are familiar with our v2.1 Rating tools to contribute where possible. We will keep this feedback open until the 21st of March. 

V2.1 Feedback: https://forms.monday.com/forms/11f9830774b79ea418160010bacab258?r=use1  


17 February 2025 – Update

ISC is continuing to develop and refine what we are implementing to address our stakeholders concerns across our tools and processes in both our Verification workplan and our review of v2.1 Rating tools. There are a number of ways that we would like to get your involvement at the moment.

Webinar

Join us for a webinar on the 7th of March and hear from the team at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council on where these workplans are up to. This session will be recorded and made available on the IS Council website following the conclusion of the online event. If you are unable to tune in live, we suggest that you still register via the link here to ensure that you receive a copy of the recording.

Verification Proposal

We received and collated feedback from across the Ratings/verification value chain for over 10 months to enable use to develop two significant changes to the verification process that are being proposed as part of the Verification Workplan. The first round of targeted stakeholder consultation has been completed and we are now broadening the feedback opportunity to all impacted by or engaged with IS Ratings.

Details can be found by clicking here. 

Verification Feedback

We apologise for the tight timeframes and if you have feedback, please complete our questionnaire below by Monday 24th February. Given the significant input into the process to-date, we hope that our framing resonates with the majority of you, albeit that we always expect there to be a divergence of views.

Click here to provide feedback.

IS v2.1 Review

As part of our review of the ISv2.1 Ratings tools we have considered a significant amount of both high and detailed stakeholder feedback. We are committed to continuing on this basis and would like to invite the industry to provide detailed feedback at credit level for areas they have identified opportunities for improvement. We encourage all sustainability professionals that are familiar with our v2.1 Rating tools to contribute where possible. We will keep this feedback open until the middle of March.

IS v2.1 Design & As-Built Rating Tool – Click here to provide feedback
IS v2.1 Planning Rating Tool – Click here to provide feedback


3 February 2025  – Update

It has been a busy couple of weeks as the ISC has continued to work on both the verification workplan and the review of v2.1 plan.

As part of the verification workplan, two key recommendations have been communicated to relevant stakeholders. This consultation process will continue for several weeks and will help highlight any risks or opportunities from those recommendations. These will be carefully considered in the next step prior to the final recommendation being determined. This will also impact other actions including updating documentation and processes as part of the key outcomes.

With regards to the review of v2.1 the ISC team has undertaken a multi-criteria analysis to compare and contrast possible process improvements. This has been done to ensure that the recommended improvements are well analysed and reviewed. These recommendations are in the process of being finalised and reviewed internally. Some of the key technical stakeholder engagement will be closely focussed on projects, ISAPs and teams that have been practically involved with delivering a v2.1 Ratings.

We look forward to sharing more details and having a wider range of stakeholders involved as we continue along this improvement journey.


15 January 2025  – Update

Over the past year ISC has sought and received extensive feedback across all our activities, particularly in relation to the v2.1 Design and As-Built Rating, and our Verification processes more generally. This feedback has been collated through individual workshops, interactions with projects, annual feedback survey, high level meetings, CEO workshops and others.  ISC would like to thank everyone for their time and insights. This has enabled us to consider how we are working with our stakeholders to ensure we are achieving our purpose. In response to the feedback, we have identified key areas for improvement and we have developed detailed workplans and proposals that we will be bringing to market over the coming months.

Positively, we heard that the market continues to see value in the role that the ISC and the IS Ratings tools play in driving sustainability outcomes across Australia and New Zealand. This was balanced by feedback regarding the v2.1 Rating Tool that highlighted concerns around a misalignment between the assessment of processes versus outcomes; the administrative burden associated with delivering an IS Rating, and questions about perceived value for money in application of an IS Rating. In addition, issues were raised regarding verification process and outcomes, including inconsistency of verification; extended timeframes; and inflexibility of verification approach.

In response to this feedback from our members and stakeholders, we have two key streams of work. They are:

–              Updates to v2.1 Rating tool
–              Verification process updates

As these streams of work progress, we will provide regular updates on outcomes through our communication channels, including ISC newsletter and direct mail. We will seek additional contributions on the implementation of the workplan items through targeted stakeholder engagement at particular project phases. The first phase of implementation stakeholder consultation will commence in February 2025.

As valued members and stakeholders of the ISC, we look forward to engaging with you collaboratively and ensuring that our tools and processes are up to date and fit for purpose.

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