Inland Rail has salvaged about 20,000 tonnes of steel from its recently completed Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 (N2NS) project to store for future usage, and is also donating additional steel and other materials to construction projects in New South Wales and Queensland, and to local community groups.
Inland Rail has prioritised sustainability right across the N2NS Phase 1 project, prolonging the life of these materials and reducing emissions that would have been generated through the production of new components – and avoiding sending the materials to landfill sites.
As part of the enhancement works on N2NS Phase 1, some pre-existing bridges required demolition and reconstruction before new bridges, capable of accommodating double-stacked trains, could be built.
Inland Rail was able to use the majority of demolished bridge material elsewhere, including five steel spans of the old Croppa Creek bridge repurposed for use on other Australian Rail Track Corporation bridge projects in Newcastle.
In addition, steel was also repurposed for an access platform for a bridge construction project along the Nerang River on the Gold Coast, and for other projects in Brisbane.
Principal contractor Trans4m also donated rail jewellery – the pins connecting sections of track – to the local Moree Men’s Shed, with the innovative Men’s Shed members utilising the pins to create hat and coat racks.
Inland Rail Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Stephen Jones, said Inland Rail had always recognised its responsibility to design and deliver the significant freight infrastructure program as sustainably as possible.
“Striking the right balance between cost, schedule, design, and benefits remains a challenge but also creates exciting opportunities to think and act differently,” he said.
