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An Innovative Landfill Live Expansion – The Great Wall of Sydney: Erskine Park’s Landfill MSE Wall
We are thrilled to announce that Global Synthetics Erskine Park Landfill MSE Wall has been honoured with the ATA International 2024 Achievement Award of Excellence for our groundbreaking work on the Erskine Park Landfill live expansion project, famously known as the "Great Wall of Sydney." This award is a testament to our innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence in the face of complex engineering challenges.
A Landmark Achievement in Landfill Expansion
The Erskine Park Landfill project presented significant obstacles. With the landfill’s airspace predicted to be exhausted by late 2020, and no other landfill assets available in the NSW portfolio, a unique solution was required. Traditional expansion methods had reached their limits, and the site’s location on an excavated volcanic diatreme in Western Sydney meant lateral expansion wasn’t an option. The challenge was to extend the landfill’s capacity without interrupting ongoing operations, while also meeting a 100-year design life requirement.
The Award-Winning Solution
Global Synthetics, in collaboration with WSP, implemented the Terralink® MSE wall system - a geogrid reinforced mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall with steel mesh facing. This innovative solution, distinct from conventional methods like piggybacking, enabled live expansion of the landfill, increasing its capacity while operations continued (known as ‘live’ expansion). The approach not only maximised available space but also offered a cost-effective solution, aligning perfectly with Cleanaway’s Blueprint 2030 strategy for landfill optimisation.
Celebrating Our Success
Winning the ATA International 2024 Achievement Award is a proud moment for everyone at Global Synthetics. It reflects the hard work, expertise, and collaboration of our technical and sales teams who were involved from the project’s feasibility stage through to construction and technical support. This award underscores our ability to tackle complex projects and deliver exceptional results.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our team, partners, and clients for their trust and support. Here’s to celebrating this incredible achievement and to many more successes in the future!
