Metro Tunnel Project Rail Infrastructure Alliance – Governance Outcomes

The Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA) is a Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) package of works for the Metro Tunnel Project delivered as part of the Rail Network Alliance (RNA). RIA has achieved remarkable sustainability outcomes, which have been reinforced by its recent Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) design certification score of 86.21. RIA, comprising of RPV, John Holland, CPB Contractors, AECOM and Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM), has remained committed to integrating economic growth, environmental resilience, and social progress as balanced priorities into its decision-making at every level of the Metro Tunnel Project.

In 2018-2019, RPV rolled out a Sustainability Management Plan and Sustainability Policy with the strategic vision to catalyse innovation and achieve remarkable results. RPV’s governance framework is the foundation of RIA’s Sustainability Strategy (the Strategy), which has been integral to the project team’s achievements by encouraging a triple-bottom-line approach to all aspects of key decision-making. The Strategy targets innovations to continually improve future generations of rail infrastructure projects while connecting communities in the healthiest, most sustainable way possible. Through the application of an ISC rating and a strong governance regime, RIA has embedded sustainability in key project interfaces to successfully deliver new initiatives and innovations.

The strength of RIA's governance is highlighted in the project’s ability to incorporate an additional works package - Sunbury Line Upgrade (SLU) – into the initial base scope to support the day-one operation of the Metro Tunnel. The significant increase in the geographical scope introduced different materiality and sustainability aspects to the project. As such, RIA has demonstrated its ability to adapt to changing environments and embrace emerging opportunities to implement sustainability initiatives. RIA has demonstrated its ability to continually adapt to changes in the environments in which it operates, identifying constantly emerging sustainability opportunities to be implemented.

Underpinned by a robust governance model, RIA’s high-performing team has achieved outstanding sustainability outcomes such as ecological enhancements within the challenging confines of a brownfield operational rail line, and implementing sustainability innovations such as Non-Destructive Digging (NDD) Treatment Facility and Foreign Object Debris System (FODS) track out control matting. The project’s ability to foster sustainable decision-making is also shown through examples such as the strategic placement of compensatory flood storage away from the Newell’s paddock ecologically sensitive site.

Using the ISC rating tool and leveraging the strength and expertise of an interdisciplinary alliance, RIA has been able to address emerging priorities to drive industry-leading sustainability outcomes, while informing the broader rail infrastructure projects of the rail industry’s ability to be a ‘green’ industry by effectively embedding sustainability initiatives. RIA is excited at the prospect of continuing to transfer lessons learnt to raise the industry sustainability benchmarks and drive change, ensuring a legacy for present and future generations for a more liveable Victoria – environmentally, socially, and economically.

As the foundation of RIA’s governance approach, the ISC rating scheme has enabled strong outcomes for the project, as shown by:

Successful identification and implementation of innovations to reduce construction impacts such as an NDD treatment facility and FODS track-out control matting
A triple-bottom-line approach in decision-making during the design phase as seen in the compensatory flood storage location from Newell’s Paddock, to avoid impacts to ecologically sensitive area
*Improving biodiversity through the development and adoption of an Ecological Enhancement Program.

NDD Treatment Facility

RIA successfully implemented an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) endorsed NDD Treatment Facility within project land. In the context of rail, the process of using an EPA exemption process for an NDD slurry is a Victorian first. RIA has saved approximately $3.00 for every KL used from the facility while actively diverting spoil and Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW) from landfill. Alongside the beneficial reuse of PIW, the establishment of the NDD facility had also led to:

Reduced turnaround times and carbon emissions for the NDD trucks travelling from the rail corridor to the facility (compared to using non-project facilities)
Shorter rail occupations reducing impacts on the community
*Non-potable water from the facility being reused onsite for dust suppression and filling of water barriers on project land

RIA has conducted knowledge-sharing sessions and presentations at multiple sustainability forums hosted by John Holland and CPB to educate other major projects pursuing an innovative process to sustainably manage NDD slurry.

FODs Track Out Control Matting

FODs track-out control matting has been trialed in the project’s Eastern Portal to sustainably transform the way that track-outs are managed in Australia. With value engineering front of mind, RIA introduced the innovation to reduce environmental impacts, such as the generation of dust and sedimentation runoff, and in turn, lowering the cost of keeping the adjacent public area maintained. Embedding this innovation in the decision-making process led to notable findings including:

Instant savings of approximately $1,200 following the installation of FODs
A reduction in water used compared to traditional street sweepers

As the first project to successfully install, trial and use FODS in Australia, RIA worked collaboratively with the supplier to ensure knowledge-sharing sessions for the wider industry, enabling other construction projects to benefit from FODS, as shown by its implementation on major rail and road projects as part of Victoria’s Big Build.

Newell’s Paddock

Sustainable decision-making is regarded as the utmost priority and RIA ensured significant decisions were made based on triple-bottom-line governance. The placement of compensatory flood storage was a key decision that avoided impacts on ecologically sensitive public open space within the project land during the detailed design phase. An ecology assessment of the project land verified three Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) including a remnant patch of vegetation in Newell’s Paddock Wetland Reserve, home to the Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh, which met the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 listed threatened ecological community. With the strong uptake of sustainability-minded multi-criteria analysis (MCA), the compensatory storage had been relocated from Newell’s Paddock to a suitable rail embankment at 1-39 Hobsons Road. By embedding sustainability principles in MCA, RIA has been able to effectively communicate the ecological value of Newell’s Paddock, demonstrating continued improvements in governance and adherence to the triple-bottom-line approach.

Ecological Enhancement Program

Where possible, RIA has strived to reverse the effects of the transport industry’s intensified land use, by introducing an innovative enhancement program focusing on increasing habitat connectivity and restoring ecological balance. In doing so, RIA has contributed to a voluntary net ecological gain, without the need for a biodiversity offset scheme, through the creation and enhancement of over three hectares of critically endangered native grasslands (Plains Grassland Ecological Vegetation Class). RIA’s program for achieving significant ecological contribution had been pivotal to maintaining ecosystem function within the bioregion and is transferrable across other major infrastructure projects. Given its local and regional context, the project demonstrates what can be achieved in the rail industry, and more broadly, in the construction of linear transport infrastructure. The success of RIA’s Ecological Enhancement Program is displayed as a case study in a previous edition of the ISC Impact Report to support the industry in delivering best-practice environmental outcomes.

The beneficiaries of RIA’s governance framework are its project stakeholders, including asset owners and communities. Stakeholders receive the benefits of continual learning, improvements, and planning. In the context of rail infrastructure, RIA is paving the way for broader rail infrastructure projects to adopt value engineering by implementing sustainable waste treatment practices as shown in the application of a NDD facility from the Level Crossing Removal Project’s Southern Program Alliance.

Driven by RIA’s ISC certification scheme, leveraging rating guidelines has provided a valuable resource to measure success, including benefits to the environment within the constraints of an operational railway. By using the ISC tools as a performance measure, RIA has demonstrated a more than 30% enhancement of ecological values within RIA project land. RIA’s works present a case study of successful outcomes benefiting from the ISC framework as demonstrated by the project team:

Pursuing protection, enhancement, and connectivity of ecological values (under Eco-1 and Eco-2).
Strong application of Crime Prevention through Environment Design principles (under Hea-2)
*Identifying and interpreting local heritage values (under Her-1);

The workforce also benefitted through the integration of sustainability into key disciplines including design, procurement, and delivery. This included planning for strategic sustainable procurement by implementing an MCA process, which considers environmental, social, and economic aspects to inform effective key decision-making. The MCA accommodated the implementation of sustainability in design and procurement decisions. The approach allows for alternative models of procurement such as innovative technologies and recyclable materials including FODS track-out control matting. The benefits of the MCA process are also shown by the sustainable outcomes achieved for Newell’s Paddock design change.

Beneficiaries of RIA’s forward-thinking decision-making extend to the wider community through RIA’s incorporation of Indigenous artwork in design. This resulted in enhancing the cultural, historical, and social heritage of the local area through the inclusion of two Indigenous centrepieces into the urban design, celebrating the Traditional Owners by supporting the creative expression of their story via public artworks. The incorporation of Indigenous-design principles through collaboration with First Nations people highlights the rail industry's ability to drive inclusive sustainable cities and communities.

RIA’s Strategy, developed in conjunction with RPV’s overarching Sustainability Management Plan and Sustainability Policy, alongside the ISC rating tools and guides has provided RIA with a systematic approach to overcome multiple complex challenges that exist in the field of sustainability. RIA’s sustainability vision has been adopted from RPV’s legacy to ‘connect communities in the healthiest, most sustainable way possible for a more liveable Victoria – environmentally, socially and economically.’ From a governance perspective, this sustainability vision aligns with four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as discussed below:

SDG 9: ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure’. RIA’s governance approach aligns with SDG 9 by delivering resilient infrastructure and implementing several innovative technologies to reduce the environmental impact of the project, consistently targeting innovations as shown by the application of NDD’s treatment facility and FODS track-out control matting.

SDG 11: ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’. With a strong focus on improving access to safe, inclusive, and accessible transport to enhance connection across Melbourne, the project is directly addressing SDG 11. RIA acknowledges an essential part of the Australian community, including First Nations peoples and practices, and the significance of integrating culturally significant Indigenous artworks into urban spaces. The project team demonstrated leadership in reconciliation by engaging with First Nations communities to incorporate their history into rail infrastructure, creating places embedded with rich meaning and culture.

SDG 12: ‘Responsible Production and Consumption’. RIA has a major focus on reducing waste generation through recycling and reuse of materials consistent with SDG 12. Implementing circular economy principles is prevalent in RIA’s design as the first application of the Recycled First Plan on a rail project. The success of strategic sustainable resource management through the NDD facility encourages the broader rail industry to prioritise the application of innovative waste and water treatment and diversion of PIW from landfill.

SDG 15: ‘Life on Land’. RIA’s governance approach has been tied to SDG 15, contributing to protecting biodiversity and natural habitats by taking significant action to enhance grasslands and protect critically endangered and threatened species within the project land. Using the Ecological Enhancement Program, the project achieves a combined improvement in ecological value (extent) and habitat connectivity within and near the project area compared to pre-construction.

RIA also ensures sustainability knowledge and innovations are communicated to key project interfaces so that new benchmarks become standard practice across the industry. In September 2022, RIA hosted over 100 delegates as part of the ecologiQ inaugural Greener Infrastructure Conference aimed at inspiring infrastructure leaders with thought-provoking design and the use of greener choices throughout the project. RIA’s governance regime has strengthened positive outcomes for the community, the environment, and the rail industry at large, assisting in driving greater innovation in the future of rail.

Through strong governance, RIA has demonstrated significant improvements in rail infrastructure projects by integrating sustainability into key decision-making processes, driving positive change, and delivering holistic, long-term benefits. RIA's success highlights the potential for future projects to achieve a balance of social, economic, and environmental outcomes across Melbourne’s rail network for linear brownfield transport projects.