THE SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY OF THE CITY RAIL LINK

Liz Root, BA(Hons) DipArch MSc Principal Sustainability Advisor – CRL, Auckland Transport, Auckland

Abstract

There is a perception that public transport is inherently sustainable, but delivering new infrastructure can come at an environmental cost even if the delivered outcome provides social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits. The City Rail Link (CRL) seeks to address this issue and is aiming to set the benchmark for designing, building and operating sustainable infrastructure in New Zealand. From establishing targets and specific criteria to strive for, through to engaging with our contractors to construct in a more sustainable way, this paper describes the sustainability journey taken by the CRL to date and the challenges and opportunities in striving to deliver sustainable infrastructure. There is a focus on the 'early works' of the project for which we have engaged contractors on an ECI basis. Project context will be provided as well as consideration of the implications for future works packages for CRL as well as learnings for other infrastructure projects.

Keywords

Sustainability, Infrastructure Sustainability, ECI.

Introduction Chief Post Office (CPO) station building at Britomart and the construction of the tunnels Project context under this and Lower Queen Street. Contract 2 (C2) involves the diversion of a stormwater The City Rail Link (CRL) is a public transport main and the delivery of the two running infrastructure project delivering increased tunnels up Albert St from Customs Street to capacity to Auckland’s commuter rail network. Wyndham St. The ECI portions of the The project, in the heart of Auckland, involves contracts were awarded in April 2015. the construction of two 3.4km-long rail tunnels and two new underground rail Auckland Transport (AT) is developing its stations with modifications to two existing procurement strategy for the construction of stations. The designation to build and operate the main works and is currently undertaking the CRL has been confirmed. market sounding, seeking early feedback on potential procurement considerations. There are two main construction methods proposed for the CRL rail tunnels: cut and cover with the tunnels dug from the surface, Sustainability drivers and tunnelling using a tunnel boring machine (TBM) which travels at some depth below the Sustainability is woven into the CRL Project ground and significantly reduces impacts. Objectives, approved by the Auckland The cut and cover aspects of the works are Transport (AT) board in 2012 (see below) as being delivered in two ‘early works’ contract well as the Designation conditions issued in packages with an Early Contractor April 2014. The CRL project provides the Involvement (ECI) approach. The remainder opportunity to set a benchmark for designing, of the CRL, the ‘main works’, is at the building and operating sustainable reference design phase. Contract 1 (C1) of infrastructure in New Zealand. the early works includes underpinning the The CRL Project Objectives are: Improve transport access into and around What we are delivering: the city centre for a rapidly growing Auckland Currently road transport contributes to over a third of Auckland’s greenhouse gas • Future proofing for expected growth emissions – see Appendices figure 1. The Improve the efficiency and resilience of the delivery of CRL will contribute to Auckland transport network of urban Auckland Transport achieving a more sustainable • Improving journey time, frequency of public transport system. It will double the service and reliability of all transport peak capacity of the rail network as well as modes significantly reducing travel times, giving more vehicle commuters a viable alternative • Maximising the benefits of existing to their cars. It will also future-proof the and proposed investment in transport network, allowing for potential rail expansion. • Releasing the rail capacity constraint at Britomart As such, providing the CRL at the earliest opportunity, to specification and within Significantly contribute to lifting and budget, has the potential to provide the most shaping Auckland’s economic growth substantial sustainability benefits for • Supporting economic development Auckland through attracting drivers away opportunities from their cars. Ensuring that the project • Providing the greatest amount of provides a service that meets users’ needs benefit for cost and expectations and provides welcoming and appealing facilities will enhance • Enabling a more productive and patronage and consequently the sustainability efficient city of the project. Provide a sustainable transport solution that minimises environmental impacts How we are delivering it: • Limiting visual, air quality and noise Constructing and operating CRL will have an effects impact. The materials, energy and water used and waste generated through construction, as • Contributing to the country’s carbon emission targets well as operational energy, water and maintenance materials all contribute to the Contribute positively to a liveable, vibrant footprint of the CRL. This paper looks at the and safe city work undertaken by AT to date to address • Enhancing the attractiveness of the this – setting and applying sustainability city as a place to live, work and visit objectives for the early works contracts, • Protecting our cultural and historic applying the Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) heritage for future generations rating tool and working with the contractors to reduce the project footprint. • Helping safeguard the city and community against rising transport costs Construction footprint AT is in the process of establishing an organisation-wide sustainability framework. It As we move through the detailed design for is intended that work from the development of the early works and the reference design for the framework will feed into the development the main works, we have greater certainty of the CRL framework and vice versa. around the impact of the construction of CRL. It is currently estimated that the project will use: Sustainability context  Over 5,000 tonnes of structural steel There are two aspects to the sustainability of  Over 215,000 cubic m of reinforced the project, the ‘what’ we are delivering and concrete the ‘how’ we are delivering it. Whilst this paper focuses on the ‘how’, the context for and have: both is described below.  About 1km of cut and cover or top scheme requires the submission of down box construction documentary evidence to ISCA for independent verification.  Over 50,000 sq m station footprint There are six broad themes with 15  Over 3km of single bored tunnels categories (see Appendices Table 1). The IS  Over 1 km of mined tunnels and adits rating has a 100 point scale plus 5 bonus points available for Innovation. There are  40 escalators three certified levels shown in Appendices  20 lifts Table 2. and produce: AT, along with Auckland Airport and Panuku Development Auckland (previously  Over ½ million cubic m of excavated Waterfront Auckland) all have projects that material. are or have been NZ IS pilot projects The pilot projects have collectively worked with ISCA to tailor a number of the IS credits to The Sustainability Journey the New Zealand context to be trialled through the pilot phase. First steps

In 2013, a review was undertaken of Setting the IS target sustainability frameworks and rating tools used by over a dozen large infrastructure To enable an appropriate target to be set for projects in New Zealand and overseas. the IS rating, a self-assessment of the early Eleven sustainability frameworks and rating works was carried out against the IS criteria, tools from five different countries were using the evolving reference design. This reviewed for relevance to the CRL and the involved engaging with the project’s planners, wider AT business. The findings of this work engineers and architects to understand where concluded that the Infrastructure the project currently sat in the context of the Sustainability (IS) rating tool from the IS criteria and what the project could strive Infrastructure Sustainability Council of for. An initial conservative assessment, erring Australia (ISCA) was the most appropriate for on the side of caution, resulted in an CRL, albeit lacking the cultural context estimated score of 53.4, falling just within the required for NZ. ‘Excellent’ rating level. To some extent this Using an existing established framework provided initial endorsement of the quality of means we are not reinventing the wheel, and the outputs and the engineering solutions for having a framework that is not solely tied to CRL. It also demonstrated that it was within rail projects means that there is potential for reach to target the Excellent rating level for other AT projects to benefit from the learnings the Design and As-Built certification phases. in applying the tool. Adopting an Australian At the time of setting the target no certified framework was also seen as beneficial in projects in Australia had achieved a ‘Leading’ terms of receiving a level of (relatively) local rating and as a pilot project in NZ, targeting a support, with the ISCA offices located in Leading rating was not considered realistic Sydney. for the project. Targeting Excellent was seen as an appropriate level to enable management systems to be developed and Infrastructure Sustainability lessons to be learnt to feed into targets for Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) is a rating future construction packages or other AT system that evaluates sustainability across projects. the design, construction and operation As the reference design progressed and a phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. It is a better understanding of the IS framework was certification scheme that provides gained, it was established that it was realistic independent verification of sustainable to set a target for the project of 65 points – a outcomes. Targeting certification against this comfortable ‘Excellent’ score. Creating this target stretches the project to innovate and development of a Detailed Design that was creates a comfortable buffer to protect the optimised to provide the best outcome with likelihood of achieving the Excellent when it respect to technical, operational, comes time for verification. construction, health & safety, stakeholder, sustainability and all other relevant During the reference design phase an IS considerations. Management Plan was developed setting out how we will deliver the rating. As a project we It was key to set sustainability targets within also worked to get early verification of some the ECI contract to ensure the contractor of our credits so they could become understood, and was required to respond to, examples of ‘how to’ for us and our our sustainability goals. Four key contractors when they came on board. requirements linked with the sustainability work stream were written into the ECI phase

of the early works contracts, these required IS Project Outcomes the contractor to: The Management and Governance 1. Contribute to and not hinder the categories of IS aim to influence internal completed project’s ability to achieve project or asset management including an “Excellent” certified Infrastructure decision-making, supply chain management Sustainability (IS) rating, with a target and management of specific risk including of 65 points climate change. Driven by the IS 2. Develop a Waste Management Plan requirements, environmental and social with the goal of zero waste to landfill considerations have been included within the through construction risk register for CRL and in decision-making processes; both an environmental and 3. Provide data and support the project sustainability policy statement have been in the creation of a carbon footprint included within the CRL project management 4. Provide monthly reporting on energy system; and climate change risk workshops and water use and waste generation have been held with the project team leading to specific risks being incorporated into, and The contractor was also required to provide a managed through, the main project risk Sustainability Manager to manage the register. Piloting these aspects on the CRL achievement of the sustainability objectives has provided the opportunity for and support the construction team in the understanding the benefits for introducing integration of sustainability into construction them to the wider organisation. methodologies and documentary evidence required to support the achievement of the IS The Using Resources categories of IS focus rating. on modelling and measuring resource consumption (energy, materials and water), Further embedding sustainability outcomes identifying and implementing feasible into the contract, the integration of opportunities to reduce consumption, and sustainability objectives and IS targets into thereby achieving significant reductions in construction methodology was included as resource use across the infrastructure one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) lifecycle. Undertaking this work is enabling us reported on monthly. to better understand the operational impacts of the project and, applying dollar costs, provides inputs to undertake whole of-life- ECI activities costing. At the start of the ECI phase, Sustainability Managers from C1 and C2 held workshops with their respective construction teams to Early Works Contract Requirements upskill them on the project’s sustainability One of the key outcomes sought through the objectives and to generate sustainability ECI process for the two early works contracts opportunities registers. These workshops was for the contractor to support the identified ways and means that the project can reduce materials, energy and water use and waste generation. These opportunities ‘Technical Clarifications’ required on the IS have been tracked during the ECI phase with guidance and ‘Scope Outs’ (credits not some identified as not applicable and others applicable to our works) were also identified planned for construction. The use of a hybrid and issued to ISCA. These have been excavator for earthworks was identified as an resolved to assist us in moving forward with opportunity, but due to the nature of the the right priorities. excavation in the construction methodology it was established that the potential savings would not be realised on either contract and Waste management planning so this has not been adopted. After investigations however it has been Part of working towards achieving zero waste established that the use of a 5% biodiesel to landfill during construction has been the blend in construction plant and machinery is production of Waste Avoidance and feasible with associated reductions in Resource Recovery Management Plans, greenhouse gas emissions. identifying anticipated waste streams during the ECI phase and applying the waste C2 identified an opportunity to reduce carbon management hierarchy: avoid, reduce, reuse, associated with construction by switching recycle, treat and as a last resort – dispose. from a diesel generator to the use of grid electricity to drive the pipejack for the new For C1, where there will be refurbishment of stormwater main. Investigating this option existing facilities, a focus area is the reuse of identified that as well as a predicted 10% items from the CPO into both the temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for facilities being located to the rear of the glass construction, avoiding the need for a house and in the finalised CPO. As well as dedicated diesel generator would result in a identifying opportunities for fixtures and cleaner, quieter local environment. This fittings to be used in other AT facilities, initiative has been adopted and is expected to investigations have taken place into contribute to a total 19% reduction in repurposing materials such as the potential greenhouse gas emissions for C2 reuse of existing bluestone tiles as an construction. aggregate in the finished polished concrete floor. For C2 a focus area is the productive Sustainability forums have been held bringing reuse of spoil, and where practicable C1 and C2 together to collaborate and share reducing excavation volume. on project developments, learning outcomes and initiatives to drive sustainability across the two early work contracts. One of the Working with Mana whenua outcomes of the collaboration has been C1 and C2 aligning the sustainability questions The CRL Mana whenua forum, comprising going out to their suppliers and sub- eight Auckland Iwi, meets monthly. A design contractors, assisting with providing sub-group of this forum meets separately to consistent messages to industry around the focus on integrating cultural narratives into CRL project’s expectations. the station architecture and public realm design, reporting back to the main forum. With AT measuring the carbon footprint of the project, our contractors were provided with a The IS framework was presented to the CRL ‘simple’ carbon calculator so that during Mana whenua forum at the time that the ECI design optimisation, when options were being contracts were being tendered. Strong evaluated, the carbon impact could also be concerns were raised by Mana whenua about considered. Including this in the decision the use of an Australian tool, with little or no making process has been valuable in terms consideration of cultural values. As of understanding materials and energy use as discussions evolved over time, a well as potential waste creation resulting from sustainability sub-group of the forum has design and methodology changes. been established and we are now working with Mana whenua to identify opportunities to In terms of the IS process, during the ECI respond to New Zealand’s cultural context phase the contractor provided input into the within this framework. IS Management Plan drafted by AT. A selection of nine credits (of the 52 within investigating sustainability opportunities; the IS framework) have been chosen to focus measured predicted savings in greenhouse on and these are progressively being gas emissions from construction activities reviewed and amended to address principles and waste avoidance and resource recovery of kaitiakitanga (guardianship). As this work plans being produced well ahead of progresses alongside AT developing an construction starting. Undertaking this work organisational sustainability framework, we during the ECI phase means that we are are considering how this work might be setting ourselves up to succeed during applied more widely than just for CRL. construction. We are working to submit our IS Design rating for verification early 2016 – systems Future Work Packages and processes are key to managing the work As AT carry out market sounding on the across all the credits that we are targeting. procurement approach for the main works, The early works are being a good ‘pilot’, a thinking about sustainability for this significant test of our sustainability goals. There is more portion of design and construction is we can do, and will be looking to do, for the progressing. How sustainability is main works. incorporated into the contract(s) for the main The Management Systems category of IS is works may differ depending on the very strong, providing valuable guidance that procurement approach. We are working to can be applied to infrastructure at a project or understand where real gains are being made programme level and this may be where the in the early works and what requirements and real benefit lies for AT as an organisation. activities are driving change. The scale of CRL and the fact that the project ISCA recognise that currently the IS sits within AT means that lessons learnt can framework does not fully address all aspects be shared with AT as well as the wider of social sustainability and in Australia have industry. Understanding requirements and undertaken scoping studies for both a activities that are driving the best outcomes workforce and an economic theme for the enables us to pick and choose the most rating tool. We recognise that the CRL early productive parts of our sustainability work to works have also not fully addressed social implement at an organisational level and sustainability to date and with the main works share with other projects. Once construction sustainability strategy are working to consider of the early works is in full swing, further the social legacy of the project. lessons learnt can be shared and implemented across the business. This is just the start of the sustainability journey for CRL. Conclusion The IS framework has enabled the project to Author Biography kick-start its sustainability journey, acting as a catalyst for engaging with the project team to Liz has been working in sustainability within understand and gauge the project’s the built environment sector for over a performance and talk about what was decade, in the UK, Australia and NZ. Starting achievable. Using IS has also provided a her career at the Building Research framework for AT to engage with our Establishment in the UK, Liz has been part of contractors during the ECI process. Overall the City Rail Link team since 2014. Prior to we are making progress and delivering this Liz worked as part of a Facilities change, making strong gains in some areas Management team in the tertiary sector, was but requiring better systems in other areas to Sustainability Manager for a main contractor have a greater impact on outcomes. and held roles as Technical Manager at both the NZ and Australian Green Building Embedding sustainability requirements into Councils. She holds a BA(hons) and DipArch the ECI contracts has driven real change, in Architecture and an MSc in Energy resulting in the C1 and C2 construction teams Efficient and Sustainable Building. being actively involved in identifying and Appendices

Figure 1 Auckland’s Emissions Profile (source The Auckland Plan)

Table 1 IS themes and categories Score Themes Categories possible

Management Systems 10.5 Management and Governance Procurement and Purchasing 5.0 Climate Change Adaptation 5.0 Energy and Carbon 10.5 Using Resources Water 7.0 Materials 7.0 Discharges to Air, Land and Water 10.5 Emissions, Pollution and Waste Land 7.0 Waste 7.0 Ecology Ecology 10.5 Community Health, Well-being and Safety 5.0 Heritage 5.0 People and Place Stakeholder Participation 5.0 Urban and Landscape Design 5.0 Innovation Innovation 5.0

Table 2 IS rating levels Score Rating Level < 25 Not eligible to apply for a certified rating 25 - 49 Commended 50 - 74 Excellent 75 - 100 Leading