ACCIONA has been named joint winner of the Excellence in Governance Outcomes award for the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East Tunnels South. Presented at the 2026 Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) Awards in Brisbane on 3 June, it recognises strong governance and sustainable practices in major infrastructure delivery.

The award, which was shared with Metro Trains Melbourne, was presented to Suburban Connect, the consortium comprising ACCIONA, CPB and Ghella that is delivering SRL East’s southern section of tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley. The category recognises projects that demonstrate best practice in governance to ensure long-term value and resilience in infrastructure.

Delivering SRL East Tunnels South

SRL East Tunnels South comprises 16-kilometre twin tunnels, including 54 cross passages and two major station boxes. More than 25 cross passages will use ground freezing technology, reducing surface impacts by 90 per cent.

The project also incorporates extensive design measures to cut embodied carbon, including large-scale reductions in cement use and remanufacturing two of the project’s tunnel boring machines from components previously used on Sydney Metro.

Industry recognition and collaboration

Raphael Touzel, Project Director for Suburban Connect, said the recognition reflects the collaborative approach taken since the earliest stages of the project.

“On behalf of the entire team at Suburban Connect, I would like to extend a huge congratulations to everyone associated with this award. It’s thoroughly deserved recognition for the industry-leading work the project has been doing in sustainability,” Mr Touzel said.

The ISC Awards celebrate projects across Australia and New Zealand that embed sustainability from early planning through to long-term operation. This year’s winners were recognised for their ability to deliver resilient infrastructure that can adapt to change and provide ongoing community benefits.

Ambitious sustainability targets

SRL East Tunnels South continues to target ambitious sustainability outcomes, including powering all tunnel boring machines and site offices with 100 per cent renewable electricity and achieving a 35 per cent reduction in cement use. These measures aim to reduce carbon emissions and minimise environmental impacts during construction.

ACCIONA’s Sustainability Manager Andrew Kovacs, who accepted the award on behalf of the consortium, was also part of the ‘Procurement as the First Lever for Impact’ panel at the conference. He highlighted how early procurement decisions can shape sustainability outcomes well before construction begins.

Construction of the Tunnels South package is a critical component of the SRL East program, which will transform Melbourne’s transport network and improve connectivity for communities across the city.

Read more about the Suburban Rail Loop's sustainability initiatives here