FOCUS Level crossing removal project
Sustainability takes centre stage Embracing innovation and collaboration as cornerstones of its approach, McConnell Dowell Constructors, within the Western Program Alliance, has redefined sustainability benchmarks through its delivery of a level crossing removal project.
“The LXRP goes beyond eliminating dangerous level crossings; it aims to deliver infrastructure that enhances the community.”
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As part of the Western Program Alliance (WPA), McConnell Dowell Constructors (McConnell Dowell) has successfully completed the level crossing removal on Mt Derrimut Road in Deer Park, delivering a new rail over-road bridge and a new Deer Park Station for V/Line rail services. Raising the bar for sustainable infrastructure design and execution, the project is a testament to the outcomes that can be achieved through effective collaboration and innovation. The WPA is one of the five ongoing program alliances established by Victoria’s Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (MTIA) to deliver the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), under Victoria’s Big Build. Led by McConnell Dowell, the WPA comprises design partners ARUP, Mott MacDonald, rail authorities Metro Trains Melbourne and V/Line, and the LXRP. On the Mt Derrimut Road project, the WPA also collaborated with architects DCM and Hassell. The major infrastructure upgrade program involves the removal of 110 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne, including the one at Mt Derrimut Road. As the constructor and leader of the WPA, McConnell Dowell commenced work on Mt Derrimut Road in late 2019, placing a significant focus on sustainability throughout the project’s lifecycle. Now, as the project reaches completion, it stands as a remarkable achievement, showcasing a harmonious blend of innovation, sustainability and positive community impact. As the sustainability manager of the WPA at McConnell Dowell, Bo Christensen sheds light on the transformative journey of Deer Park Station. “Before the commencement of this project, Deer Park Station embodied a typical railway station, prioritising functionality over commuter experience and aesthetic appeal with extensive asphalt and limited weather protection,” says Christensen. “Today, it is a beautiful piece of infrastructure, featuring a brand-new station, 150 new and upgraded car parks, a multi-bay bus interchange and pick‑up/drop-off zones, as well as stunning and widespread landscaping.” “The LXRP goes beyond eliminating dangerous level crossings; it aims to deliver infrastructure that enhances the community. The Mt Derrimut Road project, in particular
INSIDE CONSTRUCTION April/May 2024
the approach to design, has surpassed expectations, with its commitment to sustainability a defining feature that resonates throughout the entire project.” Driven by its goal to “deliver sustainable infrastructure that continues to support safe and healthy Victorian communities into the future”, the LXRP adopts a sustainability policy to ensure the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability are integrated in all its projects. This includes self‑assessment methodology, requiring projects to target positive outcomes from the areas of highest materiality from the Infrastructure Sustainability Rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) and/ or Green Star Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Guided by this methodology, the WPA spearheaded various sustainability initiatives on the Mt Derrimut Road project. Christensen emphasises the strategic emphasis on key areas such as reducing materials and energy consumption, constructing climate-resilient infrastructure and designing environments that enhance overall liveability. “At the top of the pile is materials and energy, because of their huge impact on climate change,” says Christensen. “Throughout the construction phase, we devoted significant efforts to reducing energy consumption, also exploring avenues to diminish the operational energy footprint of the infrastructure.” To decrease energy consumption during the construction phase, the WPA employed 100 per cent Greenpower for all site compounds, aligning with McConnell Dowell’s commitment to using Greenpower across all its sites on the grid. The team installed a temporary 40-kilowatt relocatable solar system to further power the main site compound and a permanent 65-kilowatt solar array split between two continuous bus shelters in the car park, feeding directly into the Deer Park Station building. This will offset nearly 4,000 megawatt hours of electricity over the asset’s lifetime. As a permanent part of the design, the solar array enabled the WPA to exceed all energy targets for the project. “As a new piece of infrastructure that consumes energy, we’ve significantly reduced its operational impact on the grid,” says Christensen.