Project Description
The Lapstone and Faulconbridge station upgrades (the Project) were completed as part of the Transport Access Program (TAP), a NSW Government initiative to provide a better experience for public transport customers by delivering modern, safe and accessible infrastructure. The upgrades has made these station precincts accessible to people with a disability, limited mobility, parents/carers with prams and customers with luggage.
Key features of the upgrades include:
Faulconbridge
- Two new lifts to access the station platform and bus stop
- New unisex ambulant toilet and a family accessible toilet
- Upgrades to the pedestrian ramp connecting the commuter car park to the footbridge
- Upgrades to the existing, accessible car spaces
- Upgrades to the kiss and ride bay in the existing commuter car park
- Upgrades to station pathways, stairs and platform
- Additional CCTV, lighting and signage
Lapstone
- A new lift connecting the footbridge to Platform 2
- One new family accessible toilet, one new male ambulant toilet and one new female ambulant toilet
- Upgrades to the accessible car spaces
- Upgrades to the ramp from the commuter car park to the pedestrian footbridge
- A new station entrance to Platform 1
- Accessibility upgrades to the platform waiting room
- Upgrades to station pathways, stairs and platforms
- Upgrades to CCTV, lighting and signage
Key Achievements
The Project leaves a legacy of sustainable infrastructure, advancing the NSW Government’s commitment to a low-carbon future and achieving environmental, economic and social sustainability outcomes. The project was awarded a ‘Leading’ Design IS rating by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC).
Key sustainability initiatives and project achievements include:
- 5% reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across the project lifecycle, compared to a business-as-usual approach
- Waste Diversion from Landfill - 100% of clean spoil, 99% of inert spoil and 73% of office waste diverted from landfill
- Materials reduction achieved through use of resource efficient materials, fixtures and fittings
- Reduction in noise, vibration and air quality impacts from expanding grout excavation system at Faulconbridge
- Knowledge sharing through sustainability alerts and TfNSW Contractors forum
- Use of materials and services on the iSupply directory for Innovation Challenge
- Rock Scour Garden adjacent to the Lapstone lift
- No trees were removed during the station upgrade and 34 new trees were planted
- Positive contributions to the health and well-being of the local community through enhancement and enlargement of the existing Lapstone station Community Garden, including incorporation of the existing concrete community art pavers into the new concrete path and Aboriginal bush tucker plants included in the landscaping design
- Enhanced landscaping and urban design to station entries and carparks including a ‘Friendship bench’, informal seating and rest areas
- Commuter walking tracks to Leonay provide an opportunity to link to station heritage interpretation. As part of this, the access track is being improved to increase mountain bike access providing additional connection for community to the station and thereby linking to station interpretation. Increased use of mountain bikes will be facilitated by improved bike access from the station to existing bike routes. The improved access track will provide an elongated shallow steps facilitating access for bikes.
- Preservation and enhancement of heritage values at Faulconbridge – including removal of the privacy wall in front of the FAT and preservation of heritage waiting room elements
Highlights:
Highlight 1: Using Resources: Achieving reductions in resource use
The Project demonstrated resource footprint reductions which will be realised across the asset life cycle, supporting the NSW Government’s commitment to resource efficiency and climate resilience. A summary of key reduction initiatives implemented follows.
Energy and GHG Emissions Reductions
The project will achieve a 25.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across the project lifecycle, comparing the proposed design to the base case.
During the construction phase of the project, the GHG reduction was achieved by the:
- Use of efficient lighting and appliances in site amenities
- Use of 100% Green Power for Faulconbridge site amenities
- Adjustments to the construction program to maximise efficiencies in plant equipment and fuel usage
- Use of E10 ethanol fuel for 50% of construction vehicles.
GHG Reduction During Operation
During the expected operational life for the project, the GHG reduction is achieved due to:
- LED lighting only is proposed, and additional savings through low light power density
- Use of energy efficient fans
- Lighting and fan controls to minimise consumption
Materials Reduction
The main opportunities include:
- 30-50% Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) replacement in our concrete (including the use of Envirocrete)
- Reinforcement with 100% recycled steel content
- Quantities of concrete and steel reinforcement reduced at Lapstone via a zig-zag ramp and slab design refinement
- Reduction in asphalt use with platform resurfacing has been combined into single possession to complete all areas with no need for temporary ramp works
- Glass reduction in lift shafts and replacement with Danpalon polycarbonate Roofing for the Family Accessible Toilet (FAT) canopy at Faulconbridge station (Danpalon is a recycled polycarbonate product).
Highlight 2: Improving Ecological Value and Habitat Connectivity
The enhancement of ecological value and habitat connectivity was achieved by:
- Avoiding tree removal during station upgrades and the planting of 34 new trees to improve ecological value and habitat connectivity
- Avoidance of negative impacts on native vegetation in the project footprint, through reducing project boundaries and limiting tree trimming
- Landscape design maximising the use of planted native vegetation and minimising hard surfaces in design, where possible
Highlight 3: Social/Community Impacts
The project made positive contributions to the health and well-being of the local community through:
- Enhancement and enlargement of the existing Lapstone Community Garden through:
- dilapidated areas adjacent to the community garden were upgraded with new landscaping
- existing concrete community art pavers were incorporated into the new concrete path
- redesigning of the access path around the community garden in order to retain and preserve community value
- Aboriginal bush tucker plants being included in the landscaping design
- ecological and habitat connectivity enhancement for the area surrounding the community garden
- Collaboration with local resident and station representative
The project was able to use cost-effective measures and go beyond the project scope to ensure community concerns were addressed through the public display process, and through alignment to the local Community Strategic Plan to do more for the community. In addition, the project team effort to give back to the community by working with different design sub-disciplines during workshops and working with the construction team to identify ways to collaborate with the community, allowed a greater response to community issues. This provides the community with visibility that their needs are being addressed by council and government representatives thereby making them feel valued.
Urban Design
The following urban design initiatives were achieved on the project:
- At Faulconbridge, a ‘Friendship bench’ has been incorporated and located under platform stairs and informal seating rest area located in front of the Kiss and Ride area
- Open and enhanced landscaped areas providing visual amenity for the community
- At Lapstone, the walking bush track to Leonay improves walkability as well as direct access to Lapstone station from the bush walk path
- Community garden and landscaping enhancement including Aboriginal Heritage recognition through use of Bush Tucker plants
- new access ramps providing a connection between the carparks and the station
- At Lapstone, the 1960’s architectural style of the station that is unique on the Blue Mountains Line, was being enhanced; and
- landscaping has incorporated Low Maintenance Native Plants Species selected
Lapstone Station entrance
Faulconbridge Station
Heritage
The following heritage values have been captured in the design:
- Aboriginal inclusion was captured by introducing bush tucker plants as part of Landscaping Design
- Garden beds that were a feature of Blue Mountains Stations of the mid- 20th Century are to be reinstated after works completion
- The existing boards historic Sydney timetables in conjunction with historic roller boards are being retained in the stations’ Waiting Room.
- Commuter walking tracks to Leonay provide an opportunity to link to station interpretation. As part of this, the access track is being improved to increase mountain bike access providing additional connection for community to the station and thereby linking to station interpretation.
- Bike track access - Increased use of mountain bikes are being facilitated by improved bike access from the station to existing bike routes. The improved access track will provide an elongated shallow steps facilitating access for bikes.
Innovation Credits
The project also achieved a number of innovation credits for exceeding credit benchmarks for small project pathway criteria and Innovation Challenge 8 iSupply products and services.
Acknowledgments:
The achievement of the Leading Design IS Rating for the Lapstone and Faulconbridge Station Upgrades has been the result of a collaboration involving:
- Transport for NSW as Project proponent
- Arenco, the Project principle contractor who co-ordinated and embedded sustainability into construction; and
- ISC project management staff