Menard Bachy, through its parent company, Soletanche Freyssinet, is committed to the principle of sustainability. This commitment includes an in-depth study of the CO2 production linked to the activities of its two main specialist areas: soils and structures. As a mark of this new direction and the commitment to it of its three Australian entities, Freyssinet Australia, Reinforced Earth and Menard Bachy, the group adopted a new motto at the beginning of 2007: “Sustainable Technology”.
In 2006, Menard Bachy used the soil-bentonite cut-off barrier technique, as the means of environmental protection, to prevent pollution of the Hunter River by seepage of contaminated ground water from the former BHP steel works in Newcastle. The 1.5 km long wall, with a depth of 15 to 49 m, was built around the perimeter of the 35 ha area to substantially reduce the inflow of pollutants into the river.
The group has employee education programs in place throughout the world (such as the “Safety First!” scheme, campaigning against drug-addiction, holding safety seminars and regularly organizing methods training before starting work on sites) and has now stepped up its efforts to improve risk prevention and its safety results at the local level.
In 2006, the company appointed a local Quality, Safety, and Environmental representative and launched a bold plan of risk prevention by management and planning processes. Backed by the current ISO 9001 (Quality) Certification, 2008 marks the addition of AS/NZS 4801 (Occupational Health & Safety) and AS/NZS 14001 (Environmental) Disciplines in the combined Integrated Management and Planning Processes.
Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal, Sydney