The Kangaroo Point Bridge which spans the Brisbane River has been certified as ‘Excellent’ under the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s Design and As-Built Rating Scheme.
Concrete Institute Bronze member, BESIX Watpac, claims a number of firsts in sustainable construction for Queensland, and Australia for the 460-metre-long pedestrian bridge that has a main span of 183 metres.
The project team ensured the concrete and steel structure achieved major reductions in construction and operation emissions, innovative material use, and heritage integration, along with strong social outcomes.
BESIX Watpac said the certification recognises the construction team’s “sharp focus on embedding sustainability throughout [the] design and construction”.
The company’s CEO, Mark Bak-r, attributed the project’s success to working with partners and local subcontractors who helped implement “groundbreaking construction innovations” that contributed to the ‘Excellent’ sustainability certification. These included Concrete Institute Silver member WSP, Blight Rayner, Aspect Studios, Rizzani de Eccher, Beenleigh Steel Fabrications, and Fitzgerald Constructions.
“We’re continually integrating smarter ways to build, and using drones for water sampling – a first for an Australian civil construction project – is an innovation we’re proud to see contributing to this certification,” Mr Baker said.
BESIX Watpac also delivered a Queensland-first with the installation of the world’s largest lifting capacity tower crane on a single temporary support pier – a concept designed and tested using digital construction tools. This allowed the construction team to lift massive steel components transported down the Brisbane River, which improved efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
Look for the full story in the June 2026 issue of Concrete in Australia.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com.