Downer achieves another ISC rating

25/08/2021

The Parramatta Light Rail infrastructure works project has achieved an Infrastructure Sustainability Council ‘Leading’ rating for Design, demonstrating the project’s commitment to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Parramatta Connect, a joint venture between Downer and CPB Contractors, is delivering the Stage 1 infrastructure works for our customer, Transport for NSW.

A ‘Leading’ rating is the highest industry benchmark of its kind, and recognises our efforts to implement significant sustainability outcomes throughout the design phase. 

“This achievement reflects the project’s commitment to deliver long-lasting economic, social and environmental outcomes while delivering a major transport infrastructure project to the people of Western Sydney,” Transport for NSW Executive Director, Anand Thomas, said. 

“It’s been a key priority during the design and construction process to identify and implement opportunities where we can increase resource efficiency and reuse materials, as well as create jobs and career opportunities in the local area.” 

In partnership with our customers, Downer is committed to delivering sustainability ratings for projects and contracts. The application of sustainability rating tools, such as Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC – previously known as ISCA), for nominated infrastructure projects allows us to integrate sustainability thinking into the asset’s whole-of-life, through the planning, design, delivery and operational phases.

In May 2019, Downer received an ISC Design rating of ‘Excellent’ for the Newcastle Light Rail project, the first full catenary-free (wire-free) system in the southern hemisphere. It was the first light rail project in NSW to achieve this Design rating.

“Parramatta Light Rail’s achievement reinforces Downer’s reputation as an industry leader in sustainability, which is a credit to our project partners, who contributed to these achievements,” Downer’s General Manager - South East Region, Infrastructure Projects, Karl McCarthy, said. “Our ambition is that other projects learn from, and build on, these approaches and lessons learnt and continue to set the bar higher for future projects.” 

The Parramatta Light Rail project will be the first light rail in NSW to have a ‘grass track’, which will be installed along 10 per cent of the alignment, requiring 81 per cent less concrete compared to standard embedded track form. 

The Parramatta Light Rail project will also achieve a 36 per cent reduction in carbon emissions through construction and operations, by designing areas with a wire-free system, using supplementary and recycled materials in concrete and asphalt, and re-using existing rail, sleepers and ballast.

Other Parramatta Light Rail initiatives that contributed to the ‘Leading’ rating include: 

• Implementation of a noise and vibration reducing product known as a rail boot system, which is installed on the tracks in sensitive areas – and Australian-first innovation
• Use of macro synthetic fibres within the light rail’s concrete track, which reduce the quantity of steel reinforcement required, increase concrete durability and performance, and is quicker to install. This is a NSW-first
• Achieving strong positive social impacts through the creation of jobs and employment opportunities. To date, 57 per cent of trades roles are apprentices, 14 per cent of the workforce are under the age of 25, 2.7 per cent are women in non-traditional roles and 2.4 per cent are Aboriginal.

The ISC rating scheme is Australia and New Zealand's only comprehensive rating system for evaluating sustainability across design, construction, and operation of infrastructure. At the completion of the project, ISC rating scores from each package of works will be combined to provide an overall rating for the Parramatta Light Rail project.

Major construction of Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail is underway, with more than 50 per cent of tracks laid across the 12-kilometre alignment. From 2023, the Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia.