CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Chairman's message

Welcome to Transurban's fourth sustainability report.

Since we delivered our first report in 2006, sustainability – or corporate social responsibility as we used to call it – has become a critical part of doing business for an increasing number of companies.

Being a good corporate citizen has changed from being the 'right thing to do' for investors and communities to a strategic imperative.

At Transurban, sustainability has long been at the core of our operations – and it is pleasing to reflect on the many steps we have taken along the way to ensure that it is truly entrenched in our business.

It is also pleasing to be formally recognised for our work and achievements in sustainability. We were recently informed that we had again been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) World List of high-performing companies. It is the fourth consecutive year we have received this global recognition.

While formal reporting helps us to continuously improve our approach and performance by benchmarking against leaders in the field, our commitment to sustainability has been at the core of our operations.

As a long-term toll road owner-operator, it makes good sense for Transurban to align its business with the long-term interests of its stakeholders.

We have tried – as best we can – to measure our impacts on the environment, build relationships with our local communities, and create the best workplace culture for our employees.

This year, as part of a wider Transurban program of consolidation, we decided to adopt a more formal approach to our work in sustainability.

We understood that for a business to truly embrace sustainability, employees at all levels needed to take ownership and understand what sustainability means in their day-to-work.

Firstly, we introduced a business-wide Sustainability Framework, which was approved by the Transurban Board in December 2008. In line with the framework, we set our priorities for the year and teams across the business develop action plans to meet our goals.

Secondly, we reviewed the role and structure of the Sustainability Committee of the Board to ensure that it continues to reflect and respond to our changing sustainability needs.

I'm pleased to be Chair of this new committee, along with three of our non-executive directors – Lindsay Maxsted, Bob Edgar and Rodney Slater.

This 'bricks and mortar' approach of strengthening structures and processes might not be particularly glamorous. However, the measures I have outlined above are critical and timely, and will stand us in good stead for the next stage of our development.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people across the business who have worked so hard to help us deliver our sustainability vision and I look forward to the year ahead.

David Ryan AO
Chairman