Community and Environment

BGC has been acknowledged as a socially responsible company that has contributed to the community at large. Since it’s inception some 50 years ago, BGC has helped a broad range of community groups to grow.

Sustainability

BGC has led in a number of sustainable-based initiatives, particularly in the area of affordable sustainable housing solutions. Through its home building brand National Homes, BGC became the first builder in Australia to offer a photovoltaic solar power generating system as a standard inclusion in its display range. Today, all of our housing brands offer solar power systems as either standard inclusions or optional upgrades, allowing customers to help conserve the environment in an affordable way, without sacrificing lifestyles and design integrity.

In early 2010, BGC became the first Western Australian company to introduce the Australian made Toyota Hybrid Camry into its vehicle fleet. As one of Australia’s largest privately owned companies, our vehicle fleet travels many kilometers. The introduction of the Hybrid Camry follows a three year program by BGC which has seen our fleet cut by 16 per cent and an increasing shift to four cylinder cars. By reducing the number of vehicles in our fleet and downsizing engine capacities we are using less fuel, and emitting less greenhouse gases. The introduction of the new Hybrid Camry will further cut our fleet's carbon dioxide emissions by around 20 tonnes per year.

The Community and the Environment Meet

The story of the Giant Boab tree 'Gija Jumulu' captured world-wide media coverage during July 2008 as it journeyed from Warmun in WA's Kimberley region, to Kings Park in Perth. The mature boab tree was trucked 3,200km from its original Kimberley home by BGC and its 'Team Savannah' partners, Laing O'Rourke and Maunsell Joint Venture.

The tree, which lived most of its 750 years on earth in the country of the Gija people, who live in the area around the Warmun community, was on a tract of land needed for the construction of a road around Warmun. Because the new road alignment couldn't be altered to go around it, it was decided that the tree would be relocated.

Team Savannah consulted with the local Gija people and it was agreed that the tree be transplanted some 100 metres away. However after further consultation it was agreed that the Gija people would provide the tree as a gift to the Nyoongar people of the south west.

Weighing 14 tonnes and with a diameter of some 2.5 metres, the massive boab would have cost about $120,000 to move had it not been for BGC and its joint venture partners stepping in to provide their services free.

The boab tree was officially welcomed to its new home in Kings Park on 20 July 2008.