Biz news: CEFC, Cicada Innovations, new planning minister for WA, Frasers and Aware Real Estate, Canberra Airport

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has emerged as a backer of the Norwest Quarter with an $80 million green loan.

The government's green bank is funding the 196-apartment complex in the Norwest precinct near Baulkham Hills, Sydney, because the dwellings are said to be "net zero ready" and can reduce an occupant's energy costs by up to 50 per cent.

The apartments will have an average 7-star NatHERS rating, are powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and are fully electrified with no gas connections and are fitted with devices that will save significant amounts of water, the CEFC said in a statement.

ANZ is matching the CEFC's loan with an $80 million commitment.

Business incubator Cicada Innovations has revealed 23 technology startups that it will feature at its upcoming conference Cicada x Tech23.

The 23 companies were selected from more than 130 applications, according to Cicada.

The startups span from those that are co-designing with nature, reimagining the built environment and ending waste with circular economy solutions to those with medical technologies and a handful who are "reimagining time" with advances in manufacturing and computing.

Those relevant to the sustainable built environment are: ElectraLith, Kelpy, Samsara Eco, Xefco, ARIA Research, Dovetail Electric Aviation, Endua, Kapture, Rux Energy, Hemideina, LLEAF, Me&, Rainstick and ULUU.

Incoming Western Australian premier Roger Cook has elevated John Carey to the role of planning minister in a cabinet reshuffle.

Carey has replaced the outgoing Rita Saffioti who has taken on the role of deputy opposition leader. He will add responsibility for planning to his existing portfolio of housing and lands.

We hope Carey is an avid The Fifth Estate reader and will have caught our recent analysis of WA's planning system and its chronic urban sprawl issues.

Frasers Property Industrial and Aware Real Estate have developed the first industrial estate to receive a Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The rating, which was previously only given to residential, mixed-use commercial and retail precincts, is awarded to projects that prioritise the health, wellbeing and sustainability of their inhabitants and built environs.

The YARDS development includes green spaces, cycle paths, shared community amenities along with water and energy efficiency measures, that incude rainwater harvesting. The developers also assessed climate change risks associated with its location.

Not to be outdone, the GBCA has awarded a six star Design & As Built rating to a building at Canberra Airport, the highest possible rating.

The rating is the highest achieved by any building in the Australian Capital Territory. The building at 25 Catalina Drive, Majura Park is fully electrified, has a façade designed with sun blades to reduce heat penetration, landscaping with native species, roof-mounted solar arrays and end-of-trip facilities with cycle racks and change rooms.