The Ferguson Street level crossing removal (delivered by our Western Program Alliance) has taken home the top honour at the 2023 National Landscape Architecture Awards.
The project won the landscape architecture award for in the infrastructure category, 2 months after winning at the state awards in September.
As part of a new rail trench built to carry trains below Ferguson Street, we built a brand-new North Williamstown Station inside the trench and a new station precinct at ground level.
The project included new cycling paths and pedestrian connections, thousands of new trees, plants and shrubs, seating, a table tennis table, bike storage facilities, landscaped open space, and public artwork.
The artwork features Heavy Harry, largest locomotive ever built in Australia, which was manufactured in 1941 at the Newport railway yards, only a short walk away from the Ferguson Street level crossing.
Getting around the station has also been made easier. There is a new signalised pedestrian crossing, and secure storage for 40 bikes in a new bike Parkiteer. A 4m wide shared use path has also been installed through the precinct, connecting the station with key areas of Williamstown.
Importantly, the station and landscape design ensured the station’s early 20th century heritage building was restored so it now sits proudly above the lowered platforms inside the rail trench.
The jury citation for the award praised the engaging local space that helped connect people and enhanced the local character of the area.
“The jury commends the collaborative engagement with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, which led to the station precinct telling a story of the land – its sheltered green ‘campgrounds’ and gathering places are complemented by inlays and etchings of water journeys and natural resources in the pavement,” it said.
“Its crafted and restrained approach reflects the community’s value of local heritage, as well as the cultural values of the Bunurong.”
More than 40,000 native plants, trees and shrubs have been planted around the station and surrounding areas, including more than 400 mature trees and over 50 different species of plants.
During construction, crews dug out around 50,000 tonnes – enough to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools – of soil, clay and tough basalt rock from under Ferguson Street.
Our EGM People & Group Strategy Steve Collett recently spoke with Australian publication, Inside Construction, about how we are harnessing our ‘Employee Promise’ to attract new people to our industry and provide meaningful, challenging and impactful careers.
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In partnership with some of our forward-thinking customers our teams are embracing the circular economy, using innovative recycled materials and products, including some industry firsts...
McConnell Dowell and Built Environs are proud to commit to our next Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) ‘Innovate’ which has been fully endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.
After completing our first Reflect RAP in 2022, MCD and Built Environs have worked together to realign our approach taking the RAP pillars of Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance to the next level for the Innovate Phase.
Some of the key commitments include further cross-cultural awareness training, exploring local story telling opportunities through our projects, review of key policies and procedures to ensure they remain free of bias, creating more meaningful employment and supply chain opportunities for First Nations businesses.
Jim Frith, Managing Director of Australia said that McConnell Dowell had a proud history of working respectfully with First Nations all over Australia.
“We as a company have worked respectfully and closely with First Nations people on our projects long before commencing our RAP,” Jim said.
“What the RAP gives us though, is a consistent structure to build on and to challenge ourselves with our learning, listening, understanding and just doing more.
“Reconciliation is a journey and together we are stepping towards something more meaningful.
“This company delivers projects all over Australia and our work with communities and our investments in supply chain and local economies, gives us some unique opportunities to make a real difference.”
Michael Clemenger, Built Environs Managing Director said we have implemented a RAP to demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation with First Nations.
“Innovate is the next stage from Reflect and is a step up for us,” Michael said.
“Our business straddles two different but very rich indigenous cultures across Australia and New Zealand, and we are very excited to learn more about their deep spiritual cultures, history and connections to their lands.”
Click on the picture below to read our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
If you've ever wondered how a multi-national construction company approaches a goal of net-zero emissions, read this article by our Chief "Eco-nomics" Officer (aka Environment and Sustainability Operations Manager) Tim Walker in the latest edition of Inside Construction.
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