Sydney Airport Visitor Centre
The Western Sydney Airport Visitor centre project at Sydney’s west Badgerys Creek is designed and built to keep the public informed on the up and coming Western Sydney Airport. The new visitor centre features interactive displays and an augmented reality experience of the Western Sydney Airport and airport control room. Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge described the new visitor centre as “cutting edge design” that will “give the community and visitors a real insight as the airport takes shape.” The waste management plan for this project utilized the latest in waste management innovation achieving some of the highest rates in recycling and landfill diversion.
The future $5.3 billion Western Sydney Airport is scheduled to officially open in late 2026. The Visitor centre opened its doors to the public on 2nd September 2019.
The Builders
Awarded to design and build the Sydney airport visitor centre is national construction and property development company Watpac. Watpac places great importance on ensuring responsible environmental management and works closely with partners and suppliers who understand, develop and perform best industry practices.
Grasshopper Environmental was recommended to Watpac as experts in environmental sustainability and waste management with the capacity to deliver on sustainability objectives outlined in the Western Sydney Airport Sustainability Plan.
Project Requirements
Working closely with Watpac’s project and sustainability Managers, a tailored waste management and sustainability plan was developed in accordance with the integrated sustainability approach set out in WSA Sustainability Plan. The plan aimed to; reduce the environmental footprint, support resource efficiency and reduce the project’s overall carbon footprint.
Watpac required a Green Star accredited waste management provider to meet set recycling targets of 95%. Detailed reporting and proof on the recovery rates of all waste was another essential requirement on this project to assist in the project’s green credential accreditation process.
Solutions
In order to achieve outstanding recycling and resource recovery rates, Grasshopper environmental implemented it’s ‘waste to energy’ plan. Waste to Energy is fast becoming the global preference in sustainable waste management and achieves;
- Maximum Sustainability – The most environmentally sustainable option available to the Sydney construction industry for waste management.
- Highest guaranteed diversion from landfill at 97 – 99% of the total waste stream
Waste to energy on the WSA Visitor centre project enabled waste that traditionally could not be recycled to be converted into PEF (Process Engineered Fuel) an alternative to fossil fuel.
Measurable Data
In addition to exceeding recycling targets by achieving 97-99%, Grasshopper Environmental provided comprehensive Green Star and NGERS waste-data reporting on the contents of every skip bin removed from site and recovery rate down to the kilogram.
Opening of the Western Sydney Airport visitor centre