A Sustainable Win for CRL
City Rail Link Limited (CRL Ltd) has been awarded one of the highest ratings in the sustainability sector for its work on Contract 2 (C2) – at the lower end of Albert Street.
The “Excellent as-build” rating was presented by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) at an event held at the Chief Post Office in downtown Auckland earlier this month.
Upon receiving the internationally recognised award CRL Chief Executive Dr Sean Sweeney said, “I think you’d had to have been asleep for the past five years if you didn’t realise that sustainability is a really big thing”.
“Right from the get-go, one of the central pillars of our values is achieving industry-leading sustainability outcomes and the ISCA award reflects that commitment.”
ISCA is an independent organisation operating in Australia and New Zealand purposed with improving sustainability outcomes of infrastructure projects. To date, CRL is the largest project in New Zealand to have been awarded the “excellent” rating.
The outstanding sustainability achievements recognised included the recycling of 97 per cent of the 175,000 tonnes of spoil excavated from the lower end of Albert Street as well as the 23 per cent saving in energy-related greenhouse emissions with the switch from diesel power to grid electricity. This couldn't have been achieved without the hard work and commitment by C2 contractor Connectus - a McConnell Dowell and Downer joint venture.
The New Zealand General Manager of ISCA, Adrienne Miller, applauded CRL Ltd for tailoring the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) tool to suit not only Auckland, but also the New Zealand cultural context.
“Through partnership with mana whenua, the project has developed a cultural richness that is inherently about this place and the people of this whenua. A world first in the process - a korowai (cloak) for our IS rating scheme.”
Commenced in 2015, C2 comprised the relocation of a major stormwater line and creation cut and cover tunnels under and along Albert St from Customs Street to Wyndham Street. Works were complete in September 2020. Click here to find out more.