The Western Program Alliance (WPA) is a project team with a particularly specialised skillset – it is very good at removing level crossings!

The WPA comprises of McConnell Dowell, Arup and Mott Macdonald, Metro Trains Melbourne, VLine and the Level Crossing Removal Project. In amongst all their work is a strong vein of environmental action, from sourcing sustainable materials, to exploring more Earth-friendly alternatives, to setting up recycling and other ethical waste management systems.

WPA acknowledges that when it comes to environmental initiatives, its people are its strength. It has recently partnered with us to plant 15 trees for each hard-working staff member identified as a Sustainability Warrior.

We love the idea of planting trees as staff rewards. We’re proud to have planted 135 trees for WPA and would like to join in applauding the efforts of the staff acknowledged below.

Sanmay Khanvilkar

Presently, Sanmay has his dance card full as Environmental Advisor spread across the Mt Derrimut Road, Waurn Ponds Duplication and Diggers Rest Projects. But Sanmay always has time for sustainability.

Some examples of his fine work include:

• Innovative thinking. Sanmay has brought to the attention of the WPA project team new sustainability initiatives. These have included – Waterups sub irrigation channel system that reportedly increasing plant growth, saves water and reducing maintenance works;  recycled plastic bar chairs replacing steel and tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions; and recycling hard to recycle materials such as PVC pipes and other materials to local suppliers rather than having them disposed at landfill.
• Resilience. Sanmay worked tirelessly to attempt to have the Waterups irrigation system implemented on the MDR project. Whilst it was not implemented his supreme effort should be recognized. The man will never be defeated nor disheartened and due to his hard work it is in the mix for the DIT project.
• Attention to detail. Sanmay has showed meticulous attention to detail providing the sustainability team all required environmental monitoring data in a timely manner.

As can be seen Sanmay is a very worthy winner of the Fifteen Trees award, and the sustainability team thank his warrior ways. We hope that this inspires others to get on the sustainability bandwagon helping to contribute to intergenerational equity, and fighting the good fight against the impacts of climate change.

Amir Mehdizadeh.

WPA would like to recognise the hard work of the sustainability warrior Amir Mehdizadeh.

Some examples of Amir’s fine work include:

• Proposing innovative materials made from recycled tires, such as permeable pavement that promotes tree growth and enhances infrastructure longevity around urban trees.
• Collaborating with the design and sustainability team to incorporate the permeable pavement made from recycled tires in the Webb Street Project.
• Transforming a problematic waste stream like used tires into a high-performance use.
• Amir and his team have successfully prevented at least 10,000 waste tires from ending up in landfills to date.

Ross Hardwick.

WPA would like to recognise the hard work of the sustainability warrior Ross Hardwick.

Some examples of Ross’s fine work include:

• Collaborating closely with the design team to replace the drainage tank design with recycled plastic, resulting in substantial savings.
• Identified sustainability opportunities and achieved emissions savings along the Webb Street project.
• Worked hand in hand with the sustainability team to implement high supplement cementitious material mixes in low-risk areas, effectively reducing the use of Portland Cement, a major emission contributor.

Christian Borchert.

WPA would like to recognise the hard work of the sustainability warrior Christian Borchert.

Some examples of Christian’s fine work include:

• Working to change tube stock planting (SL-01 and SL-02) to seeded native grasslands and wildflowers at the Mount Derrimut Road project. This will result in more biodiversity with up to 20 different species per m2 compared to only 6 max for planted.
• Working in collaboration with the architecture team to design the rooftop garden at the MDR project.
• Integrating Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung stories and connection to Country into the Landscape design.
• Working to ensure that the Solar Reflective Index of the MDR site is above the Urban Heat Island Effect criteria.
• Push to reuse site won mulch at the MDR project.
• Push to reuse recycled hardwood as timber posts in place of steel at the MDR project. This will save greenhouse gases from steel production.

The trees were planted by volunteers from the Koala Clancy Foundation at Lara, VIC. Some of the tree species planted for WPA Sustainability Warriors, included River-red gum, Yellow gum, Manna gum, Sweet Bursaria, Wirilda and Lightwood. All trees were sourced from local indigenous nursery at Western Plains Flora.

The Koala Clancy Foundation is working with landowners and councils to provide habitat corridors for their local wild koala populations. During the course of this planting season (April – September) they hope to plant thousands of native trees.

Thank you so much for your support this tree planting season.  Thanks to supporters like you we can continue with our community tree planting projects to provide habitat trees for our local wild koala populations.

Janine Duffy | President | Koala Clancy Foundation

At the Koala Clancy Foundation, koalas are their top priority but to properly care for one specie, they have to care for the entire ecosystem. When they plant trees for koalas, they are also providing habitat for local bird species such as these 4 threatened woodland species; Speckled Warbler (top L), Diamond Firetail (top R), Brown Treecreeper bottom L) and Jacky Winter (bottom R).

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.