Environment and sustainability

Perth is rapidly growing and beginning to experience the same transport issues larger cities face around the world, such as increased congestion, increased costs of owning a car and driving, increased parking costs, and an increased social awareness of sustainable living.
The average commuting distance in Perth is 30km. Driving this distance daily, to and from work by car, generates around two tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.

Switching from car to public transport to commute to and from work will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions and could save you approximately $5500 a year.

Our Environmental Policy outlines how the PTA shall manage operations in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner.

• Environmental Policy

The PTA prepares environmental plans as part our commitment to being environmentally responsible and meeting the requirements of government legislation. Our environmental plans and reports are provided on this page, when they're available, for interested parties.

• Bushfire Management Strategy (PDF 550KB)

For environmental plans and strategies relating to a PTA project visit the projects section of our website.

Our Sustainability Policy outlines how the PTA shall manage operations in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner.

• Sustainability Policy

We’re making sustainability central to the way we work. Below is a summary of our sustainability initiatives:

• Developed an Environmental Management System Manual to ensure that all activities managed by PTA staff and contractors are conducted in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner.
• Annually report carbon emissions to the Commonwealth’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Program including assessing energy usage across our operations to identify opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Develop and annually report water efficiency initiatives and savings to the Water Corporation through our Water Efficiency Management Plan, which contains water efficiency targets.
• Water loggers have been installed at some of our train stations for the early detection of water leaks.
• Landscaping with native shrubs and trees at stations, depots and along the train lines to reduce water consumption and create habitat for native species (birds, animals and insects).
• The three and six-car electric trains are fitted with regenerative brakes. When the breaks are applied, they generate electricity which is returned to the grid. This has reduced our energy consumption by a minimum 20 per cent.
• Transperth is gradually replacing its bus fleet with buses conform to the Euro6 emissions standard, and all bus replacement programs have selected low emission vehicles.
• The introduction of the SmartRider ticketing system has seen a reduction in waste by cutting the quantity of throw-away paper tickets required. Furthermore this system significantly reduces the energy and resources required to service cash ticket machines and collect cash fares by security organisations. The travel data collected by this electronic ticket system also allows the PTA to plan services more efficiently.
• Our railcar washing facilities at Claisebrook, Mandurah and Nowergup depots recycle more than four and a half million litres of water a year.
• Continue working with a number of agencies to promote the sustainability benefits of Transit Orientated Developments. These developments encourage residential developments around transport hubs, reducing reliance on car-based travel.
• Adopt measures in our Project Definition Plans for evaluating sustainability and driving sustainability performance across all stages of our projects.
• Consider energy and greenhouse requirements, recyclability, in addition to other ecologically sustainable development principles, in our business planning and procurement processes.

Project environment teams assist in the preparation of environmental impact assessments on future projects. Aboriginal and heritage, contamination, flora and fauna, groundwater/surface water and noise and vibration studies all feed into applications for various approvals as required. They conduct environmental monitoring (prior to and during construction) and rehabilitation (post-construction).

PTA environmental advisors support the delivery of projects through compliance reporting and site inspection to ensure project/location conditions and/or requirements are met.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Rating Scheme is Australia and New Zealand’s only comprehensive rating system for evaluating economic, social and environmental performance of infrastructure across the planning, design, construction and operational phases of infrastructure assets.

From the get-go the METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link project committed to being an innovative and sustainable project, providing a solution for enhancing the connectivity, liveability and prosperity of Perth and its eastern suburbs, including the airport. The PTA, in conjunction with lead contractor Salini Impregilo - NRW Joint Venture took a holistic approach that informed thinking and decision-making to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

In 2018, the project was awarded an Excellent Design Rating recognising the project’s commitment to an innovative and sustainable transport solution for Western Australia.

With the project complete and the Airport Line operational, an As Built rating was sought. In December 2022, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council awarded a Leading Rating – the highest classification within the framework – verifying that the commitments made as part of the design have been successfully implemented.

The METRONET Forrestfield-Airport Link project is proud to be the first rail project in Western Australia to achieve an IS rating, delivering a sustainable legacy for the people of Western Australia.

PTA project environmental advisors provide support for unexpected environmental events that can occur while delivering projects, and often liaise with regulators to ensure our responses and actions are as environmentally conscious as possible.

We identify, manage and remediate any contaminated sites across our system. This includes remediating and managing any asbestos-containing assets. A large number of our rail stations across the network have been remediated.

While noise emissions from trains are exempt from the Western Australian noise regulations (and there are no regulations for vibration), it’s our priority to respond and resolve any noise and/or vibration complaints. We regularly prepare noise management plans for all night maintenance works, which are pending approval by local governments before works commence.

More information is available on the Operational Railway Noise and Vibration Management fact sheet.

Claisebrook Railcar Depot – Noise and Vibration Management Plan

Mandurah Railcar Depot – Noise and Vibration Management Plan

Nowergup Railcar Depot – Noise and Vibration Management Plan