The Australian company has carried out an environmental project to build a 2000 square meters plant cover in a tunnel on the ‘EastLink’ toll road in Melbourne.
Broadspectrum is in charge of operation and maintenance on the 40 kilometers of this infrastructure in the state of Victoria, which has daily traffic of 250,000 vehicles. The purpose of this roof is to help improve sustainability in the area and support more diverse flora.
Getting students, residents, and the private sector involved
The idea first started with students from the Swinburne University of Technology, in collaboration with EastLink and residents in Melbourne’s Donvale district. To carry out this project, landscaping students from Swinburne presented their proposals according to a number of criteria: soil improvement, plant strength, and ease of maintenance. In all, the new space has more than 17 floors, different species of plants and takes inspiration from indigenous landscapes.
“We are very pleased to have been able to improve the surroundings for residents of the Donvale district, in addition to helping our client by offering a solution that is both environmental and social in nature that the local community will enjoy for years to come. We received a wide variety of proposals from Melbourne students and the solution that was chosen was the one that best met the project criteria”
Participation from the local community was an essential part of the development of this project: from its involvement in setting design requirements, to the selection and implementation of the final project. This initiative is a part of a commitment to the environment, as well as creating jobs in communities where the company operates. Thanks to this initiative, the new highway landscape has become an environmental standard in Melbourne.
From Melbourne to Madrid: Wagering on Plant Cover
Recently, Ferrovial Services, along with the City Hall of Madrid and the Capacis Foundation, installed a green roof on Cibeles Palace, the current headquarters of the capital’s city council. This project made green spaces in the heart of the city possible, along with creating employment for individuals at risk of social exclusion. The Cibeles Center Green Roof – which has an area of 130 square meters, over 4,000 different species of plants, and a basis in sustainable architecture – is located in one of the terrace towers of the City Hall.
