What a wonderful day it was opening “Schaefer Crossing”, the groundbreaking pedestrian bridge installed at Newenham.
This bridge contains 70%, or nearly 500kg, of recycled soft plastics, which is enough to fill 29 standard 240L kerbside recycling bins.
Developed and manufactured by Wingfield composite manufacturer Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (SIS), this bridge is the first project in the world to use these innovative composite panels, which blend soft plastics such as shopping bags, plastic film, and food wrappers with a proprietary resin-like material to produce prefabricated panels.
Developed over four years in collaboration with The University of Adelaide, SIS’ prefabricated panels have a structural strength on par with concrete but provide a reduction in embodied carbon of up to 48%, and can last well beyond 100 years! The SIS composite panel is also a fifth of the weight of a comparable concrete structure.
“Our panels have been designed, developed, and manufactured in South Australia and provide a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials by providing a genuine reduction in embodied carbon while delivering attractive, low-maintenance, long-lasting structures,” says SIS Managing Director Nick Wotton.
“Recycled plastics have been used in the manufacture of structural building materials for decades, but SIS’ technology is the first to incorporate unprocessed mixed post-consumer soft plastics into high-performance structural panels that can accommodate loads of up to 60 tonnes,” continues Nick.
“We are proud to have worked with South Australian partners the Mount Barker District Council and Burke Urban to deliver a bridge that not only will benefit the local Newenham community but also the environment.”
Mount Barker District Council repurposed the existing concrete weir as the footing for the new bridge, avoiding the need to demolish and rebuild the weir structure, saving costs, storing internal carbon and ensuring the creek environment was undisturbed.
“This collaboration between Mount Barker District Council, SIS and Burke Urban exemplifies our shared commitment to environmental stewardship, delivering environmentally sustainable, high-quality assets which perform for the local community,” says Mount Barker District Council Mayor David Leach.
For the community at Newenham, it’s an exciting milestone that marks the first step in connecting residents from the eastern and western sectors of Newenham.
“The community can now easily cross the Western Flat Creek providing safe access to and from Kings Baptist Grammar School, our linear park, playground and the Kitchen Farm.” says Burke Urban Developments Marketing & Sales Director Olivia Burke.
“At Burke Urban, we see every project as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on communities. The installation of this innovative footbridge represents our belief in using innovative solutions to create lasting impact and is a symbol of our dedication to creating spaces that connect people, and building communities that thrive,” says Olivia Burke.
Named in honor of the Schaefer Family, whose legacy spans four generations of living and working on land in Newenham since the early 1900s. “Schaefer Crossing” stands as a tribute to their enduring contribution to the land and the community.
As we look ahead, we’re filled with anticipation for the countless moments of connection and joy the bridge will provide for generations to come. It’s not just a structure; it’s a promise of a brighter, more sustainable future – one step at a time.
