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| GO CLEANER GO GREENER |
 THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CARBON SAVINGS OF RAIL |
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PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDING FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES 
QR Limited’s operations span almost all habitats including wet tropics, wetlands, marine, rural pasture,
arid regions, mountains and cold climate regions.
The diversity of these conditions, combined with the scale of QR’s operations, requires QR to operate in an environmentally responsible manner and to demonstrate leadership in the protection and conservation of the environment. QR is taking a proactive approach to meeting its environmental obligations and continually improving environmental performance through an environmental management system that is consistent with International Standard AS/NZS ISO 14001 and A.S. 3806 Compliance Programs. QR’s Environmental Management System is designed to ensure that the environment policy is implemented, achieved, reviewed and maintained and covering the following:
Code of Practice – Railway Noise Management QR recognises that while our principal function is to provide an effective transport network, railways are a source of environmental noise. QR has an obligation to its immediate neighbours and the local community to, in a reasonable and practical manner, control any “unreasonable noise” from its operations. To meet this obligation, QR developed a Code of Practice for Railway Noise Management (the Code) which was approved by the Minister for Environment in 1998. The Code is currently undergoing re-approved by the EPA following updating based on QR’s learning’s from implementation. Within the railway industry, approval of the Code by the Minister for the Environment is a leading industry initiative. Alternative Sleeper Sourcing Project Since early 2003, QR has been pursuing alternative sleeper technologies with an emphasis on composite type sleepers. There are over 9 million timber sleepers on the QR network and annually uses approximately 280,000 hardwood sleepers during maintenance. Over the life cycle of the sleeper, significant environmental gains can be made by introducing sleepers other than the traditional hardwood type. Specifically, the following beneficial environmental outcomes are gained:
In 2002, QR commissioned the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to investigate Threatened Species and Habitats on corridor land in the Darling Downs area and to recommend management practices. The enterprise was deemed by WWF participants to be a "ground breaking partnership" between a large corporation and a non-government environmental organisation. The assessment found a number of these fauna species using the rail corridor as habitat and provided a number of recommendations to further manage those species. QR developed and implemented a biodiversity management process that, allowing for the introduction of these recommendations wherever possible on existing rail corridors. Stuart Creek Rehabilitation Project QR embarked on a rehabilitation program at Stuart Creek in September 1996 as part of a major project to develop a new integrated maintenance depot for Rollingstock. The 20 hectares of riparian land had been untended for many years. The project included the removal of exotic weeds, improving habitat diversity and water quality, woodland protection and planting of native species, encouraging controlled public access and wildfire management. QR was recognised with the corporate category of the Queensland Arbor Day Award 2002 for the outstanding contributions this project made to local biodiversity and community partnerships. Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) QR and QCC commenced a three year partnership in 2003 to boost the profile of environmental issues. During the partnership QR has sponsored environmental projects and activities throughout the state, with the main events including:
QR supports the Queensland Government objectives under its Integrated Regional Transport Plan (IRTP) to improve the links between walking, cycling, public transport and work places. These initiatives include working with Queensland Transport and Brisbane City Council to launch the Translink integrated ticketing system for trains, buses and ferries since July 2004 and improve co-ordination of bus and rail passenger services between residential areas, community and retail services, and the work place. Since 2005, QR has provided over 400 additional car parking spaces across the CityTrain network as well as launching a program for the provision of bicycle lockers at stations which has been highly successful, with high occupancy rates. |
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