Month: September 2018

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project

This article is taken from the 2018 ISCA Impacts Report.

Lendlease along with its Alliance partners – Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA), WSP, Aurecon, CPB Contractors and Metro Trains Melbourne – is delivering the Caulfield to Dandenong level crossing removal project (CTD) along one of Melbourne’s busiest rail corridors.

The project involves rebuilding five stations and removing nine level crossings to create renewed village centres at Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Hughesdale, Clayton and Noble Park. Ultimately, the elevated rail design will convert the previous brown-field rail corridor into 22.5 hectares of new linear park green-fields beneath the structure leaving a positive legacy for the community.

This innovative world class design infrastructure project required a state-of the-art precast concrete yard to be established to produce the more than 2,200 pre-cast concrete segments to build parts of the new elevated rail line.  This purpose-built precast concrete yard was essential in meeting the precise architecturally finished viaduct design and also the high production rates for the concrete segments. Each precast segment weighed 26 tonne and at peak production, the precast yard facility produced up to 17 segments per day.

CTD recognised business as usual pre-cast concrete facilities typically had low energy efficiency, high-emissions output and little whole-of-life considerations, creating negative impacts on our environment. The challenge for CTD was to identify and embed sustainability applications and solutions into the precasting processes to ensure manufacture processes could match the elevated structural design which minimises urban, visual and environmental impact.

CTD demonstrated the incorporation of multiple whole of life sustainability initiatives into key phases of the precast yard including design, construction and materials processes of the facility and in the precast materials. This also extended to the materials makeup of the concrete, aggregates and steel within each precast element.

The initiatives allow CTD to realise real and material reduction to the impact on the environment, including reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, diverting waste from landfill by using recycled content in the construction and manufacturing processes.

Key sustainability initiatives include:

• Over 17,000 tonnes of recycled concrete was used in the construction of the precast facility foundation negating the need for excessive fill importation.
• Reducing the embodied energy of the precast segment by specifying a concrete mix that included a 21% cement replacement product through the use of fly-ash.
• Utilising the facility’s 13,000 m2 roof catchment area to capture rainwater within 3 x 20,000 litre tanks which has enabled the reuse of approximately 10,000,000 litres for water at the facility.
• With 24/7 precasting activities, LED lighting was installed throughout the facility to reduce the lighting energy demand by over 60%. In addition, daylight sensors were installed to ensure lights weren’t unnecessarily used when there was sufficient daylight outside. Skylights were also installed throughout the building to reduce lighting requirements on sunny days.
• The generators that ran the 50 tonne gantry hoists used 20% biodiesel – a renewable energy source. The generator technology adopted allowed for the optimisation of power output by reducing engine capacity when less load was required. Over the life of precasting activities, this allowed the saving of approximately 33,000L of diesel and contributed to the reduction of 90 t-CO2-e.
• Producing the precast segments locally reduced transport costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
• Through this facility, approximately 170 workers from a variety of trades including steel fixers, welders, concreters, crane operators and precast concrete labourers have had role-specific training.  Other programs beyond role specific training were also implemented in areas of health and safety, first aid, leadership, manual handling, working at heights and operation of gantry cranes.

Lendlease along with its Alliance partners are committed to delivering high quality assets safely and with a genuine commitment to advancing sustainability within the industry.

New Zealand’s First As Built Rating

Last week the ISCA team were in Christchurch, where we presented our first ever New Zealand As Built Rating. The project was McDougal’s Alpine Chondola (a mixture between a chair lift and a gondola!), which achieved an Excellent As Built IS Rating.

The project is a collaboration between Cardrona Alpine Resort, Doppelmayr and Tonkin + Taylor.

 

The rating reflects Cardrona’s commitment to sustainability, and their efforts to improve environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes on this unique infrastructure asset. This project has set a few firsts:

• The first IS rating for an Alpine Resort infrastructure asset globally.
• The first IS rating for a tourism infrastructure asset globally.
• The first IS As-Built rating in New Zealand.
• The ISCA Verifiers (who are third-party independent sustainability professionals) also noted that projects of this size (small for an infrastructure project globally), McDougall’s “punched well above their weight” considering the size of the project.

The Excellent rating was emphasised by a few notable ‘wins’ on the project:

Key areas where the commitment to sustainability can be clearly seen in the project include:

Choice of chairlift replacement: Cardrona worked with suppliers to identify the optimal solution that would meet their current and future needs. The chairlift has been replaced with a combined chair and gondola lift that:

• enables more people to safely access the mountain. Children, beginners, and people with reduced physical ability can use the gondola cabins to access the upper mountain
• responding to climate change risk by being adaptable to weather and seasons as gondola cabins provide protection in inclement weather.

Proactive approach to reducing waste: The project included removing the old chairlift as well as constructing the replacement. Wherever possible, reuse opportunities for the old chairlift components were identified on-mountain, this included reusing the chairlift towers, stations, chairs, waste reinforcing steel, waste concrete from chairlift pads, and spoil not suitable for backfill elsewhere in the resort.

Ecological outcomes: The construction area and broader Alpine Resort is in a highly disturbed landscape. During the project some tussock grasses were removed and stored, and a further 3000 have been sourced, and will be planted over the coming season.

ISCA Board member and Tonkin + Taylor Principal Advisor Monique Cornish said, “The project is a great example of how sustainability can be implemented on such a unique piece of infrastructure. No project is too small, rural or niche; it’s the commitment and culture that counts. The project implemented an IS Rating voluntarily and the results have demonstrated that on relatively small capital spends, excellent outcomes are possible.”

 

Scott Point Sustainable Sports Park

Article taken from the 2018 ISCA Impacts Report

In the next few years 20,000 new residents are expected to call Scott Point and neighbouring Hobsonville home. At the heart of the new development will be the Scott Point Sustainable Sports Park, an Auckland Council initiative to build New Zealand’s first fully sustainable sports park.

The Place

Scott Point Sustainable Sports Park (SPSSP) occupies part of the Scott Point peninsula in the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour, northwest Auckland. The Scott Point area is transforming from a peri-urban landscape to a new urban settlement. Together with the adjacent Hobsonville Point it is expected the park will serve upwards of 20,000 residents in the near future.

The significance of Scott Point is deeply held in the historic, traditional, cultural and spiritual relationships of mana whenua (Maori authorities) to the area.

The land has most recently been used for horticultural and grazing activities. Many of the landscape features relating to this use are still present but will be removed to make way for the park. Opportunities exist to retain and re-purpose some elements to provide a trace of past activity, contributing to an enhanced sense of place and sustainable use of resources.

As a community facility, the park will be governed by the Upper Harbour Local Board, who is proud to support the development and the benefits it will offer.

Vision

To create a cutting edge sustainable park at Scott Point that the community are proud of.

“The sports park truly embodies the realisation of Auckland Council’s vision of an Auckland that celebrates our diversity and cultural richness, enhances and cares for our outstanding environment, and leverages our innovative nature.”

Lisa Whyte, Upper Harbour Local Board Chair

The Project

Scott Point Sustainable Sports Park is a 16.4ha area of land in the northwest of Auckland that is about to be transformed from a rural landscape to a public park to meet the needs of a new community.

Auckland Council engaged WSP Opus (formerly Opus International Consultants) to create a detailed master plan, working with senior council team members to deliver on the vision.   The project began late 2016, with next stage detailed design to be undertaken in 2018, and construction expected to commence in early 2019.

Development of this park is no ordinary feat. Scott Point is set to become the first fully sustainable park in New Zealand. Auckland Council is embarking on this project as a flagship for the future sustainable provision of parks. It will help steer the future course of design, development, management and governance of parks across Auckland in a way that responds to the urgent needs of our planet for sustainable custodianship.

Auckland Council’s Service Principles have informed the development of the master plan. These include: Resource sustainability; Community equity and belonging; Re-wilding; Team and co-design; and Standards and outcomes.

The park will comprise three main areas: an area for sports and active recreation, an informal recreation area, and an area of ecological restoration and conservation. Each is defined by the geography of the site. Natural landforms are retained and earthworks minimised.

The process of imagining and projecting a flagship sustainable park has involved extensive engagement with mana whenua, key stakeholders and specialists.

 

DESIGN LED

A design-led approach has been employed to guide the project toward robust and integrated outcomes. A design-led ideology ensures that all decisions are motivated by design considerations – whether functional or aesthetic, and places people at the heart of decision-making.  With such an approach to master planning, the park will ensure it contributes to a rich and vibrant sense of place and continues to build a legacy for the Scott Point community.

 

IWI ENGAGEMENT

Collaboration with Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara and Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority has been integral in the concept development to ensure that Māori values and principles are embedded. Involving the community and other key stakeholders has ensured the needs, desires and aspirations of those who will grow to use and love this place are considered in the design outcomes.

 

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Community engagement has enabled the needs and aspirations of the future users of the park to be taken into account in the design of the park.

Elected members and officers of the council have provided the policy framework and scope definition to ensure the park meets the needs of a new community while fulfilling the key objectives of sustainability.

 

INVESTIGATIONS

Comprehensive site investigations have been undertaken by experts in order to understand the existing conditions and opportunities for sustainable development.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY RATING

Auckland Council is using the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia Infrastructure Sustainability rating tool (ISCA:IS tool) to incorporate sustainability across the design and construction of the park. This is the first time the tool has been used in New Zealand for a park project. ISCA considers performance across six themes: People and Place, Using Resources, Emissions Pollution & Waste, Ecology, Innovation, and Management & Governance.

THE MASTER PLAN

The master plan is the first major milestone in the process of delivering SPSSP.

Objectives:

• Describe the vision for a sustainable sports park at Scott Point
• Identify the process in developing the design of the park
• Show how the design is responsive to Iwi requirements and community wishes and aspirations
• Build an understanding of the potential of the park and its ability to catalyse benefits beyond the site itself
• Establish a blueprint to be taken through the next phases of the project.

Sustainability Features

Scott Point Sustainable Sports Park will embrace sustainable technologies to promote renewable energy, minimise waste, reduce reliance on potable water, minimise carbon emissions and optimise carbon sequestration.  The park represents a pilot project for Council to rollout across Auckland city and will set a precedent in the development and design of park space in New Zealand.  The Council’s aim is to achieve the highest ISCA:IS rating with a ‘leading’ level of accreditation (awarded at the completion of the project).

Renewable energy such as solar panels, wind turbines and kinetic energy is harvested and used on the site providing a ‘closed energy loop’. Provision for sustainable transportation to, from and around the site, like public transport, electric vehicles and e-bikes, has been included.

Sports fields require a lot of water. As such, best practices and innovative products for stormwater capture, treatment and reuse will minimise maintenance and use of potable water for irrigation.

Stormwater captured from sports fields and impermeable surfaces such as roof tops will be cleansed, stored and reused to irrigate turf and planted areas.

Solar panels on roof tops to assist in power supply of the Covered Courts, Epi-Centre and other park services.

Kinetic energy generation incorporated into play equipment.

E-bike and e-vehicle charging stations located around the park. An e-bike hire concession within the Covered Courts building will facilitate navigation of the park and Sustainability Trail by e-bike.

Permeable segmental paving units to allow paving extents to be lifted and reused for future renewal projects.

Energy efficient LED lighting for illuminating sports fields.

Wind and solar energy light for park amenity lighting.

Hoggin pathways are the predominant material for the pathway network. The material is permeable and contains significantly less cement content than concrete, and therefore has less embodied energy.

Permeable no-fines concrete is used where hoggin is not feasible and hard paving is required such as sloped pathways, which will allow for the natural percolation of stormwater into the water table.  Runoff from impermeable surfaces will be filtered using raingardens or vegetated swales before being utilised or discharged into stormwater infrastructure.

Green roofs, raingardens and vegetated swales to cleanse runoff, negate the need for irrigation and also provide benefits with stormwater retention, evapotransporation, habitat creation, increased biodiversity, and cooling functions.

Passive cooling of buildings through measures such as water rills adjacent to buildings to cool warm air before entering buildings, reducing the need for air-conditioning.

Skate park and BMX pump track equipment allows spaces to be modified to create new courses, and potentially swapped with other sites around Auckland.

Partially re-use inert waste by retaining and ‘upcycling’ existing site features such as the horticultural nursery windbreak posts to provide for historical and cultural features.

Recycling of building materials salvaged from the site, as well as recycling building materials salvaged from other sites, to reduce the carbon footprint associated with new building materials.

Carbon sequestration will be optimised as 7.6ha of the 16.4ha site is revegetated, resulting in atmospheric carbon dioxide being stored long-term over 46% of the park.

Ecological outcomes will be enhanced through the protection of the nationally critically endangered plant species Epilobium hirtigerum, and restoration of native forest ecosystems.

The development of the SPSSP creates an exciting opportunity to showcase how urban parks can play a leading role in environmental sustainability.

 

Written by 

Mark Bowater, Head of Parks Services, Auckland Council (Project Client Lead)

Catherine Hamilton, Principal Landscape Architect, WSP Opus (Project Director)

Kris Bird, Manager Sports Parks Design and Programme, Auckland Council (Project Investigation and Design)