On 23 March 2024 a number of our shopping centres plunged into darkness to support Earth Hour's call to action to, ‘give an hour for earth’.
In alignment with QIC Real Estate’s commitment to achieve Net zero carbon emissions by 2028 across our five funds, a number of our assets participated in Earth Hour, a worldwide movement organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) held annually to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to reduce their collective impact on the earth.
Our centres marked Earth Hour by switching off non-essential lighting, for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. This acted as a symbol of commitment and provided us with an opportunity to showcase our own centre level efforts to reduce our impacts, including our Net zero carbon ambition.
Centre | Earth Hour Activity |
QPF/QTCF | |
Canberra Centre | Reduced lighting in non-trading sections, including feature awning lighting. |
Castle Towers | Shut down non-essential lights and replaced all cleaning products with Earth Choice alternatives. |
Grand Central | Cosmetic lighting switched off |
Eastland | All internal/external lights were switched off (where safe); all external / internal media screens switched off; external building signs off; non-essential HVAC items isolated. |
Epping | Reduced lighting to 50% where feasible |
Hyperdome | Turned off car park pylon signs in both the Hyperdome and Home Centre. |
Merrifield City | Switched off all external lighting |
Robina Town Centre | Turned off external signage lighting, car park lighting away from dining areas, and HVAC systems in open-air dining sections. |
Westpoint | Turned off all main backlight signage and halved the lighting in common mall areas. |
Watergardens | Turned off pylon signs, Kmart mall entry lighting, NAB entry lights, and all lights in the stage 2 mall area. |
Woodgrove | Switched off all external lighting |
QACPF | |
Big Top | Turned off all non-essential, non-safety lights |
Forest Lake | Deactivated clock tower lights, fig tree lights, and common mall air conditioning |
Kippa-Ring | Turned off all non-essential, non-safety lights |
Nerang Mall | Turned off common mall air conditioning |
The Village Upper Mt Gravatt | Turned off all non-essential, non-safety lights |
QARP | |
Bathurst City Centre | Deactivated several external lights and signage |
Hinkler | Turned off the majority of lighting and plant equipment |
Earth Hour serves not only as a moment to reduce energy consumption, but also as a powerful reminder that we can all make a difference collectively and as individuals. There are many ways we can contribute, not just for Earth Hour.
About Earth HourEarth Hour, an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund, aims to reduce global energy use. Held annually in March, it encourages individuals and businesses to turn off power for one hour, symbolizing our collective commitment to the planet. The initiative emphasises that significant change can result from both individual and collective actions, encouraging sustainable practices beyond the hour itself.The primary impact of Earth Hour lies not only in energy savings but also in the message it conveys: everyone can make a difference.
Grand Central commissioned renowned local Indigenous artists Cheryl Moggs OAM, David McCarthy, and Aaron Blades, along with curator Jennifer Wright-Summers, to collaborate with Indigenous students in creating a community-based mural under the theme of NAIDOC 2022: ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’. The mural aimed to convey the message that the community library is a space for everyone to engage with family, culture and education. The mural encouraged a connection to local school, Rockville State School (RSS), where 110 out of 193 students identify as Indigenous. The commissioned artists engaged with RSS to deepen the students' cultural connection and aid their understanding of Indigenous symbols as part of their humanities studies. Students were tasked with creating small drawings that depicted symbols representing their personal and family stories, with ten of the drawings selected to be featured within the mural.
The mural was live-painted during NAIDOC Week 2022, aligning with broader Indigenous celebrations which are a significant occasion within the region. It served as a catalyst for various cultural initiatives at the centre, including the first ever Grand Central NAIDOC Arts and Craft Market, Acknowledgement of Country decals installed at centre entrances, and expanded youth literacy engagement projects. Additionally, the centre fostered relationships with the Indigenous community by featuring local NAIDOC Award winners and their families throughout large format digital screens within the Centre and becoming a community member of the Toowoomba NAIDOC Committee.
By undertaking this activation, Grand Central significantly strengthened its partnerships with the local Indigenous community, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to reconciliation in the region. The mural space at Grand Central has evolved into a community hub. It serves as a venue for various initiatives, including a youth literacy program with Toowoomba Libraries, Indigenous weaving workshops with Aunty Barb Walker, and hosting the Toowoomba Big Buddy Program for Indigenous youth. The mural space also features new Indigenous-designed furniture which has elicited positive feedback from retailers and community members.