MTIA: Building a Sustainable Future

Building a sustainable future: MTIA integrating sustainable materials on major infrastructure projects

Platinum sponsor of #ISCACONNECT 2019, the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (MTIA), sustainability vision is striving to use valuable resources efficiently and seeking opportunities to use sustainable materials across MTIA projects.

A recent example of MTIA’s sustainable resource approach is evident at the Wyndham Vale stabling yard, where 120 composite material sleepers were installed over a span of 80 metres.

These composite sleepers made from recycled plastic have a design life of 50-years, compared to timber sleepers with an average lifespan of around 14 years. Innovations such as this challenge the broader industry to strive for excellent social, environmental and economic outcomes.

Other benefits of using composite material sleepers include:

• Less plastic waste ending up in landfill – one tonne of discarded plastic produces 30 sleepers, which after a design life of 50 years, can be recycled again.
• Reduced greenhouse gases – composite sleepers require less energy to produce than concrete or timber sleepers, thereby producing less greenhouse gases.
• Creation of employment opportunities – through manufacturing and the collection, sorting and transporting of the waste material.
• Supporting locally manufactured content – as these composite sleepers are produced in regional Victoria.

Image: Composite material sleepers at Wyndham Vale Stabling Yard, made using recycled plastic.

Mernda Station

Another recent example of MTIA’s use of sustainable materials is at the new Mernda Station, built as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project. Here 90,000 tonnes of excavated and crushed basalt rock were reused for fill and in gabion basket walls at the new station, significantly reducing waste to landfill.

Image: Crushed basalt rock reused for walls at the new Mernda Station.

In the wake of the recent recycling crisis, MTIA is already looking to increase the use of recycled content across all of its projects and contribute to the circular economy.

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Who is Major Transport Infrastructure Authority? Learn more here