The METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line project is the first rail infrastructure project in Western Australia to earn a Platinum rating from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC), under the IS v2.0/2.1 scheme. This rating recognises achievements at Morley, Noranda, Ballajura, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook stations and reflects the project’s strong performance in social, economic and environmental outcomes.  

Firsts for Western Australia 

The project introduced several innovations never seen in Western Australia before:  

• Modular pool covers over construction dams reduced water use by around 15%. 
• Reptail ballast box spreaders imported from Finland made laying ballast, the layer of crushed stone that sits under train tracks, faster and more efficient. This method used less fuel, reduced material waste and water consumption and required less equipment than traditional construction methods.  
• Whiteman Park Station became the state’s first solar-powered construction site, running almost entirely on renewable energy with 44kW of solar panels and a 50kVa hybrid battery. 

Other sustainability innovations  

A three-month FOGO trial tested the best mix of food and garden organics compost for native plants. Early results are already influencing other METRONET projects and monitoring will continue for two more years to see the long-term impact. 

• Tracking of energy and fuel use led to a 33% drop in carbon emissions, while using sustainable construction materials cut emissions by 13%. Reusing construction and demolition materials in road base, adding 10% reclaimed asphalt and reusing spoil in embankments reduced waste and the need for imported construction materials. 
• Early urban and landscape planning helped public spaces around the stations thrive. Community feedback shows the stations have improved the look and feel of areas around them.  
• The project followed a set of management plans covering sustainability, procurement, biodiversity, site safety and soil management to ensure construction was safe, efficient and environmentally responsible. 

The METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line project shows how sustainability can be integrated into every part of a project. It also demonstrates that new rail infrastructure can deliver real benefits for the community and the environment.