City Rail Link Wins Award for Setting Sustainability Benchmark

City Rail Link Wins Award for Setting Sustainability Benchmark

New Zealand’s largest transport construction project, Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) has been judged the leader in delivering sustainable infrastructure.

Last night the project won the 2018 Deloitte Energy Excellence Award’s Large Energy User Initiative of the Year. This is for outstanding energy-related initiatives that have delivered significant benefits, carried out by large energy users.

The CRL is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below Auckland city centre transforming the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through-station that better connects the Auckland rail network.

The project has established a carbon foot printing programme on its first two contract packages to identify opportunities and actions for reducing energy emissions. CRLL has been working in collaboration with its construction partners Downer NZ and Soletanche Bachy JV and Connectus (McConnell Dowell and Downer JV) to deliver significant carbon savings.

From replacing diesel generators with grid-connected transformers to training haulage drivers in fuel-efficient techniques, CRL’s initiatives are expected to reduce energy emissions by over 2,000 tonnes – a 29% reduction project is on target to achieve its goals, while also reducing costs and saving time.

CRL’s CEO, Dr Sean Sweeney, says sustainability is a cornerstone of CRL thinking where the aim amongst everyone involved is to build the project without using unnecessary resources.

“The CRL will ultimately deliver a sustainable transport option and we want to make sure we are sustainable during its delivery. Our sustainability story also includes social outcome initiatives like providing employment and training opportunities for young people not already in jobs and addressing the construction skill shortage.”

Jointly funded by the Government and Auckland Council, the CRL is on track to be completed in 2024.