Sustainably Delivering Key Infrastructure on an A-Class Reserve - Rottnest Island
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the broader aspects of public works on Rottnest Island, Western Australia, highlighting the planning, designing, constructing, and operating of infrastructure projects that improve the visitor experience for the tourist island.
With the island being an A-Class reserve the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects has a unique set of challenges ranging from environmental, cultural, financial to logistical. Over the past three years, Rottnest Island has undertaken several key infrastructure projects to meet the increasing demands of visitors and residents.
Significant investments have been made in upgrading the island's infrastructure with key projects being the ongoing planning for the upgrade of renewable energy infrastructure, planned to increase the island's renewable energy production capacity and reduce diesel fuel consumption by 40%, abating approximately 14,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Additionally, the bolstering of the potable water network is ongoing to ensure the availability of adequate services for the growing number of visitors
As a pristine environmental and cultural precinct, construction projects must be preceded by strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The RIA's approach to fostering partnerships with contractors, local businesses, and the community has been crucial in achieving project planning and construction delivery objectives and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the island's infrastructure.
Experiences and lessons learned from the ongoing planning, delivery and operation of Rottnest Island's infrastructure are shared, and given its relatively small size and that it is fully self-contained in the production and supply of utilities and management of roads, buildings and marine infrastructure, this paper presents examples of the intensive nature of interaction between infrastructure planning and delivery in an operational and sensitive environment.