METRONET Morley to Ellenbrook Line

Extensive engagement through resilience workshops brought together local governments, community representatives, emergency services, and key stakeholders, including the Department of Communities, Aboriginal Engagement Directorate, and People with Disabilities WA to identify key shocks such as heatwaves, bushfires, flooding, and service disruptions, as well as chronic stresses like social vulnerability, accessibility, and infrastructure dependency.

Using these insights, resilience treatments were incorporated into the design and construction phases, including energy-efficient station buildings with solar PV integration, improved stormwater and drainage systems, enhanced tree canopy cover to mitigate heat island effect, and redundancy measures for critical infrastructure to mitigate failure risks and associated impacts and disruptions to community. The project also prioritised inclusivity and connectivity through upgraded pedestrian and cycling links, universal access features, and safe intermodal connections at each station.

Engagement throughout the project was managed through a live Stakeholder Engagement Register and Community Engagement Schedule, capturing all interactions and feedback. Tactical and communications sub-plans, including Traffic Management and Development Approval plans, ensured engagement was targeted, proactive, consistent, and responsive in order to minimise disruption to local communities and businesses, as far as possible.

The design of each station was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, including with the State Design Review Panel, local government, and input from the METRONET Access and Inclusion Reference Group and METRONET Noongar Reference Group, whose members provided design input and cultural context throughout the design process. Social outcomes, cultural impact and placemaking are fit-for-purpose and community survey satisfaction rates reflect MELconnx's laser focus in this aspect, notably with 100% of those surveyed responding that the project had improved their local area.

Collaboration with parallel projects, such as the Tonkin Gap Alliance and Bayswater Evolve Alliance, enabled knowledge sharing and alignment across shared stakeholder groups. Through these measures, the project built strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders, ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and inclusion in the delivery of key infrastructure, reinforcing METRONET’s commitment to community-focused and well-managed infrastructure development.

Through the Active Transport Permeability Assessment, the project demonstrated a measurable increase in pedestrian and cycling connectivity, with Ballajura Station achieving the greatest improvement due to new shared paths, PSP connections, and improved permeability through adjacent precincts. These enhancements promote active transport, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and strengthen connections between surrounding communities and station precincts.

Biophilic design principles were embedded throughout all five stations, achieving a demonstrated net improvement across all assessed locations. Initiatives include native landscape planting, increased tree canopy cover, green infrastructure and WSUD features, and the use of natural materials and daylight within station environments. Together, these design outcomes integrate nature, mobility, and community, ensuring the Morley-Ellenbrook Line supports a resilient, people-centred and environmentally responsive transport corridor. The stunning success of design outcomes has been celebrated in numerous Industry award recognitions, notably four major architectural awards at the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects WA Architecture Awards - including the coveted George Temple Poole Award, the Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture, and the Public Architecture Award. In addition, the project has also received an Indigenous Inclusion Award and achieved recognition from the Green Building Council of Australia - awarded a 6-star Green Star certification and highest scored rail stations In Australia for both Ellenbrook and Ballajura Stations.

Construction water demand, primarily for dust suppression and earthworks, was met through licensed groundwater abstraction, supported by reuse of dewatering discharge to reduce reliance on new water sources.

During construction, water use was reduced through the modular “Kit of Parts” approach, which shortened construction duration and reduced dust suppression needs by approximately 30%, as well as through the use of a Reptail ballast box spreader laying system, which limited wetting to only the top 30% of ballast. Additional savings were achieved through the installation of novel, bespoke floating dam covers significantly reducing evaporation across 4 construction water dams, saving the equivalent of over 20 million litres of water.

During operations, water consumption was limited to landscaping irrigation and station facilities. Collaboration with the asset owner ensured significant areas that were due to be permanently irrigated were reduced and watered for an establishment period only. In conjunction with native, drought-tolerant planting selection. Water modelling and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) were undertaken to evaluate and implement high-impact initiatives that balanced environmental, social, technical, and economic outcomes. Key initiatives included reductions in irrigated lawn areas at Malaga and Ellenbrook stations, removal of the Morley green wall, and the installation of drip irrigation systems for PTA garden beds to improve water efficiency.

Collectively, these strategies ensured efficient water use and reduction against the project baseline by 28%.. This approach reflects best practice in resource management balancing operational needs with environmental stewardship, of particular importance in Perth due to existing pressures on declining water sources and increasing population growth.

Guided by the METRONET Gnarla Biddi Strategy, the Project celebrates Noongar culture through initiatives such as dual Noongar-English station names, public art co-designed with Noongar artists, and landscape designs reflecting the Six Noongar Seasons. Culturally sensitive design responses, including bridge crossings over Bennett Brook and dedicated spaces for reflection and gathering, ensure respect for Country and living heritage.

Dedicated smoking ceremonies, rigorous induction training and dedicated heritage spotters/monitors ensured that construction works preserved heritage values.

These actions set a strong precedent for culturally informed infrastructure, ensuring Aboriginal heritage is not only preserved but meaningfully celebrated in the Morley–Ellenbrook Line’s identity and place experience.

These initiatives collectively demonstrate the project’s strong commitment to resource efficiency,  reducing embodied carbon across its delivery, as well as innovating and sharing lessons learnt to break down barriers for circular economy initiatives.

Public transparency was a core achievement, with sustainability targets and performance reports made available on METRONET’s website. Annual Sustainability Reports from 2021 to 2024 mapped project outcomes against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting both positive and negative impacts. Independent reviews by qualified professionals confirmed alignment with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) principles, and feedback from these reviews was incorporated into final report revisions. This robust reporting framework reinforces the project's commitment to accountability, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability outcomes.

Another example of collaboration to achieve outstanding sustainability outcomes was with the review of the project’s key results areas. MELconnx and the client worked together towards the end of 2023 to financially incentivise key sustainability outcomes. This would ensure they were not disregarded towards the end of the project, when schedule and budget pressures typically mount, and when choices are often driven by time and cost alone. It meant the extra effort required to get difficult initiatives across the line was compensated for appropriately. MELconnx exceeded ALL Client targets set for Sustainability related contractual requirements, notably Energy Use reduction (target 10%, achieving 33%), Water Use reduction (target 15%, achieving 28%), and material carbon intensity reduction (target 15%, achieving 17%) and maximising the IS Rso-7 score for use of Sustainability Labelled Products (13% achieved).

Lessons learnt and wide-scale industry engagement has been undertaken, with projects such as the Byford Rail Extension, Victoria Park-Canning Level Crossing Removal and Tonkin Extension projects leveraging supply chains and lessons learnt from the MEL project.

Camila Fonseca Mazzo - Assessor, Senior Sustainability Advisor

Virginia Castellano - Project Sustainability Lead, PTA

Linda van Achterbergh - Sustainability Manager, PTA

Blue Diamond Machinery