Description:
The Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 (TRR5) project will deliver improved road safety, efficiency and travel time reliability for freight and passenger vehicles on the Bruce Highway in Townsville. The project forms part of a larger 36-kilometre section of highway known locally as the Ring Road with the TRR5 project being the final component of an upgrade program which began in 2003.
The project will duplicate the only remaining 2-lane section of the Townsville Ring Road between Vickers Bridge and Shaw Road. The 6km project will also include construction of an interchange at Beck Drive, with new on and off-ramps to provide access for all directions of travel.
The project includes the construction of six (6) major structures, significant upgrades to ITS and PUP infrastructure and safety improvements such as emergency services U-turn facilities, upgraded crash barriers, five (5) new VMS gantries and over 3.5 kilometres of new shared pathways.
Rating Highlights
| Category | Credits | Achievements/Risks |
| Waste | Was-3 | The Project achieved a verified level of 3 with a score of 1.15.
The Project identified material types suitable for recycling and re-use, representing 92% of project capital material costs (including supply and install costs). Deconstruction and end-of-life recovery options for each element are also included in a Deconstruction Plan. |
| Water | Wat-1 | The Project achieved a verified level of 3 with a score of 5.19.
The Project achieved a 74% water consumption reduction (2,003,580 KL to 515,436 KL) compared to the base case. The following initiatives contributed to the water reductions:
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| Heritage | Her-1 | The Project achieved a verified level of 3 with a score of 7.68.
The Project conducted a cultural heritage risk assessment and identified areas of medium to high risk to indigenous cultural heritage surrounding the project boundary. A Cultural Heritage Management Agreement was developed between TMR and the Gurumbilbara-Wulgurukaba Aboriginal Party to minimise the potential heritage impacts from project activities. Heritage interpretation activities and initiatives such as a First Nations mural was also implemented to enhance and celebrate local intangible heritage assets and values. |
Verified Innovations
| Name | Verification Date | Project Publication sign off | Innovation Type | Description & Sustainability Benefits |
| Boral Plant Upgrade | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Market Transformation | The Project received 1 point for this innovation.
Due to Project demand, Boral Resources in Townsville has recently undertaken significant infrastructure updates to improve operational efficiency. This upgrade has ensured a local supply of sustainable products and materials from the Lower Carbon Concrete range. The prioritisation of Boral’s plant upgrades in Townsville has demonstrated benefits to several projects and has contributed to improved technical capabilities and knowledge regarding sustainability products in the local area. |
| MRTS04 | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Market Transformation | The Project received 1 point for the development of a specification that defines alternative embarkment fill requirements.
The alternative specification enables the use of dispersive soils found in the region and produce circular economy opportunities. This has resulted in reduced quarry processing requirements, reuse of sodic embankment cut materials, greater engagement of local industry and more efficient resource management in the region’s supply chain. |
| Black Throated Finch habitat rehabilitation | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Innovative Technology or Process
Australian First |
The Project received 3 points for this innovation.
The Project is claiming an Australian First for the commercial production of two native seed species, Dichanthium sericeum and Paspalidium distans. The seeds are being made commercially available as part of a 3ha habitat rehabilitation area for the Black Throated Finch bird species and squatter pigeons. |
| Slurry Thick | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Innovative Technology or Process
Australian First |
The Project received 3 points for this innovation.
The Project is claiming an Australian First innovation for the use of an organic thickening agent (Vital Chemical’s Slurry Thick) to treat and repurpose sediments in high efficiency sediment basins. This innovation addresses an industry-wide inefficiency in cleaning and decommissioning of sediment basins during construction. As a result, reductions in material, energy and waste associated with excavating sediments and transporting dry materials have been achieved. |
| Piloting v2.0 Sta-1 | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Innovation Challenge (IC-1) | The Project received 1 point for providing feedback on v2.0 Sta-1. |
| Piloting v2.1 Her-1 | 13/09/23 | ☒ | Innovation Challenge (IC-1) | The Project received 1 point for providing feedback on v2.1 Her-1. |