Project-specific. Approval-ready. Written to be implemented.

A sustainability management plan (SMP) translates organisational and project sustainability commitments into practical, on-the-ground action. For construction and infrastructure projects, it is increasingly a condition of approval, a tender requirement and a contractual obligation, and it needs to be both rigorous enough to satisfy the client or approval body and practical enough to guide the project team.

AES prepares sustainability management plans for projects across Australia. We develop plans that are specific to the project, aligned to client and regulatory requirements, and written to be used by the people responsible for delivering them, not filed away after tender.

Project-specific. Approval-ready. Written to be implemented, not just submitted.

Featured Project

Environmental Management Plans & Inspections

Noosa, Queensland

Applied Environment & Safety provided environmental support to PCA Ground Engineering during road embankment stabilisation works in Noosa, Queensland. These works were important to maintaining the long-term serviceability of the road and drainage infrastructure at this location.

Our role on this project was to provide technical environmental support. This included the development of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, Sediment and Erosion Control Plan, and Rehabilitation Plan. Then we undertook inspections of the works during construction to ensure compliance with the controls for the environmental aspects.

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What is a sustainability management plan?

A sustainability management plan is a project-specific document that sets out how sustainability objectives, targets and performance requirements will be managed and delivered during project design, construction and operation. Depending on the project type and client requirements, an SMP may address greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, resource efficiency across water, materials and waste, biodiversity and land management, social and community outcomes, and sustainability ratings compliance such as the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Rating Tool.

SMPs are commonly required by infrastructure clients including state and local government agencies, major private project owners, financiers and rating scheme administrators as a condition of project approval or contract award. They may also be prepared voluntarily as part of a project team’s sustainability strategy and supply chain obligations.

Without a structured SMP, sustainability commitments made at the tender or approval stage can be difficult to track, verify and report on, creating exposure for both the contractor and the project owner when performance is assessed at close-out.

What we include

AES prepares complete, submission-ready sustainability management plans, including:

  • review of project sustainability obligations, client specifications and rating scheme requirements
  • project sustainability objective and target development
  • management measures for key sustainability topics including emissions, energy, water, waste, materials and biodiversity
  • roles and responsibilities matrix
  • performance monitoring and reporting framework
  • sub-plan integration, for example a Waste Management Plan or Energy Management Plan
  • alignment with ISC Rating Tool criteria where applicable
  • approval-ready formatting and document structure for client submission

Industries We Support

Applied Environment & Safety prepares sustainability management plans for projects across a range of industries.

Why Work With Applied Environment & Safety

We deliver sustainability management plans that are practical, focused and directly useful for project delivery. Our team understands that an SMP is a working document. It needs to be specific enough to guide the project team, structured enough to satisfy the client or approval body, and clear enough that compliance can be demonstrated at project completion.

We work quickly and efficiently, drawing on our experience across infrastructure, construction and development projects to produce plans that are tailored to your project’s scale, sector and sustainability obligations. We do not apply generic templates where a project-specific approach is required, and we do not add unnecessary scope or cost to what should be a focused, outcome-driven document.

We also practise what we preach. AES is a certified carbon neutral organisation. We measure, report and offset our own emissions each year, so our advice is grounded in first-hand experience.

Discuss your sustainability management plan requirements

Tell us about your project. Our team will come back to you within one business day to discuss how AES can prepare a sustainability management plan that delivers.

Contact our team today to discuss your project requirements.

Other Sustainability Services

Carbon Accounting

Measure, verify and report your organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3. AES provides end-to-end carbon accounting services that give you a credible, audit-ready picture of your emissions baseline that is essential for mandatory disclosure, target-setting and abatement planning.
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Sustainability Reporting

Navigate mandatory and voluntary sustainability reporting with confidence. AES prepares sustainability reports aligned to GRI, ASRS (AASB S1/S2), ISSB and other recognised frameworks. Every report is accurate, framework-compliant and ready for publication.
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NGER Reporting

Meet your National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting obligations accurately and on time. AES manages the full NGER data collection, calculation and lodgement process for energy producers, large facilities and controlling corporations.
Learn more

Materiality Assessment

Identify the sustainability issues that matter most to your business and your stakeholders. AES conducts robust materiality assessments that form the strategic foundation for your sustainability programme. Each assessment is structured, evidence-based and aligned to GRI, ISSB and ASRS requirements.
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Decarbonisation Strategy

Chart a credible path to net zero. AES develops decarbonisation strategies that turn your emissions baseline into a practical, staged reduction pathway aligned to your targets, operations and reporting obligations.
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Sustainability Framework

Give your sustainability programme a clear structure. AES develops practical sustainability frameworks that connect your material issues to strategy, commitments, governance and reporting.
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Climate-Related Disclosures

Meet your mandatory climate reporting obligations with confidence. AES prepares ASRS and ISSB-aligned climate-related disclosures that are accurate, defensible and audit-ready.
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Climate Change Risk Assessment

Understand your physical and transition climate risks. AES conducts structured climate change risk assessments and scenario analysis aligned to ASRS and ISSB.
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Infrastructure Sustainability Rating

Deliver and demonstrate sustainability performance on major projects. AES provides practical, credit-focused support through the ISC Rating process, from planning to verification.
Learn more
View all Sustainability Services

Resources & Insights

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    Corporate Climate Change & Decarbonisation Planning

    Turning climate commitments into practical action requires more than setting emissions targets. Organisations need a clear understanding of their emissions profile, realistic reduction opportunities and a plan for putting those opportunities into practice.  Applied Environment & Safety recently supported a major infrastructure and utilities business in developing its 2027–2032 Climate Change and Decarbonisation Plan, building…

  • Environmental Tender Support for a Major Transmission Project

    Environmental Tender Support for a Major Transmission Project

    Applied Environment & Safety supported a design and construct contractor through the tender phase of a major transmission infrastructure project in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

  • What is the Rehabilitation Hierarchy? A Guide to Land Rehabilitation and Environmental Management

    What is the Rehabilitation Hierarchy? A Guide to Land Rehabilitation and Environmental Management

    Rehabilitation is often viewed as the final stage of a project, something that occurs once construction or operations have ceased and equipment has been removed. In reality, effective rehabilitation begins long before the first disturbance occurs. The most successful rehabilitation programs are guided by a rehabilitation hierarchy, a structured framework that prioritises avoiding impacts wherever…

FAQ’s

Common questions from project teams about sustainability management plans.

Send Your Question
What is a sustainability management plan?

A sustainability management plan (SMP) is a project-specific document that sets out how sustainability objectives, targets and performance requirements will be managed and delivered during project design, construction and operation.

When is a sustainability management plan required?

SMPs are commonly required by infrastructure clients including state and local government agencies, major private project owners, financiers and rating scheme administrators as a condition of project approval or contract award. They may also be prepared voluntarily as part of a project team’s sustainability strategy.

What does a sustainability management plan include?

Depending on the project and client requirements, an SMP addresses greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, resource efficiency across water, materials and waste, biodiversity and land management, social and community outcomes, and sustainability ratings compliance, along with roles and responsibilities and a performance monitoring framework.

Can AES align our SMP with the ISC Rating Tool?

Yes. AES prepares SMPs aligned to Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Rating Tool criteria where applicable, along with client-specific sustainability specifications and tender requirements.