The Cross River Rail Rail, Integration and Systems (RIS) package has been formally recognised for its sustainability performance, with UNITY Alliance receiving a Leading Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Design Rating certificate. The achievement marks the culmination of more than six years of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement across the project.
Speaking at the presentation, UNITY Alliance Sustainability Manager Glenn Hedges thanked the project team and supply chain partners whose commitment to finding better ways of delivering infrastructure helped achieve the prestigious rating.
"The team has consistently looked for opportunities to improve outcomes across the project, working collaboratively to embed innovative and sustainable solutions throughout delivery," Glenn said.
The Cross River Rail RIS package includes the redevelopment of eight above-ground stations, two stabling yards and extensive rail corridor works involving civil, structural, architectural, signalling, utility and power infrastructure.
The Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating Scheme is Australia's nationally recognised framework for evaluating sustainability outcomes in infrastructure projects, assessing performance across areas including materials, environment, heritage, stakeholder engagement, innovation, procurement and urban design.
Driving Sustainable Outcomes
Throughout delivery, the project team implemented a range of initiatives that achieved environmental benefits beyond business-as-usual while generating significant cost savings and establishing precedents for future infrastructure projects.
Materials Innovation
The project incorporated more than 100,000 tonnes of recycled quarry products, including engineering fill, drainage aggregates, bedding sands and crusher dust, with some materials produced from recycled concrete generated by the project itself.
Other innovations included the use of recycled synthetic macrofibre reinforced concrete, which eliminated the need for steel mesh, reduced embodied carbon by up to 93 per cent and improved productivity by 20 per cent.
Additional materials innovations included recycled HDPE cable troughs and pits, TechnoCrete®, recycled safety bollards from social enterprises, Warm Mix Asphalt and glass fibre reinforced polymer posts.
Heritage and Urban Design
At Exhibition Station, the design team integrated elements reflecting the historic character of the RNA Showgrounds. The station's architecture draws on traditional exhibition buildings through the use of materials, colours and forms that reinforce the site's cultural significance while complementing contemporary urban design.
Reducing Energy Use and Emissions
A range of low-emission technologies were deployed throughout construction, including hybrid electric and solar light towers, battery energy storage systems, portable power solutions and alternative fuels. These initiatives helped reduce diesel consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions and minimise impacts on surrounding communities.
Queensland Rail will also benefit from long-term operational savings through large-scale solar photovoltaic systems and rainwater harvesting infrastructure installed at the new Bowen Hills and Yeerongpilly stabling yards.
Water and Waste Initiatives
The project introduced innovative atmospheric water generators, eliminating the need for bottled water while supporting First Nations communities in Central Queensland through a unique donation program.
In another industry-first achievement, the team partnered with Vinidex to implement Queensland's first plastic pipe recycling program on an infrastructure project, diverting hundreds of cubic metres of pipe offcuts from landfill for reuse.
Industry-Leading Innovation
Several initiatives delivered through the RIS package have been recognised as industry-leading innovations, including:
- First use of hybrid service troughs and posts in Australia
- Market-transforming adoption of glass sand for utility embedment
- Industry-leading use of recycled macrofibre reinforced concrete in the Queensland rail sector
- Market transformation through recycled HDPE cable and service pits
- Queensland's first Experience Centre combining spatial and digital technologies
The Leading IS Design Rating recognises not only the sustainability outcomes achieved on Cross River Rail, but also the project's contribution to advancing innovation and raising standards across the infrastructure sector.