NEWS IN BRIEF
Melbourne Water awards contract to upgrade key sewer
Sewer pipe.
The John Holland Group has been awarded a contract to carry out one of the largest upgrades to Melbourne Water’s sewerage network, creating over 20 jobs in the process. The $200 million project will duplicate the Hobsons Bay main sewer, which is responsible for carrying more than 30 per cent of Melbourne’s wastewater to the Western Treatment Plant (WTP). Works on this important upgrade will begin at Scienceworks early next year and the project is due for completion in 2024. Minister for Water Lisa Neville said this vital project highlights the state government’s commitment to delivering essential water infrastructure to support the city’s growing population. “This sewer, originally built in the 1960’s and which runs under the Yarra River from Westgate Park in Port Melbourne to Spotswood, is integral to the Melbourne sewerage network,” Neville says.
Plans revealed for T2D Southern Tunnels The Federal Government has released plans for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Southern Tunnels, which will see the completion of the motorway between Anzac Highway to Darlington, South Australia. Stage One of the Torrens to Darlington project will include northern entry and exit points and a direct connection to Anzac Highway and includes 6 km of motorway, of which over 4 km is to comprise twin three-lane tunnels. Jointly funded by the Australian and SA Governments, the project is estimated to reach $9.9 billion. When complete, around 60 per cent of the T2D Project will be comprised of underground tunnels. Construction of the Southern Tunnels is expected to start in late 2023, with the entire 10.5km project to be completed – subject to planning, approvals and funding – in 2030.
Artist’s impression of Torrens to Darlington North-South Corridor.
Breakthrough on M4-M5 Link Tunnels
Westconnex M4-M5 Link Tunnels final breakthrough.
The final tunnelling breakthrough on the M4-M5 Link Tunnels has been competed, wrapping up a major construction milestone on the WestConnex project with roadheaders carving rock 43 metres below ground. WestConnex is the largest infrastructure project in Australia, linking Western and South Western Sydney with the city, airport and port in a 33 km continuous motorway, predominantly via an underground motorway scheme. The M4-M5 Link Tunnels are part of a $16.8 billion project to reduce travel times as the state reopens from COVID lockdowns, 14 TRENCHLESS AUSTRALASIA DECEMBER 2021
and the final tunnel breakthrough on the M4 and M5 Tunnel Links marks part of the third and final stage of the project. “This breakthrough isn’t just for a tunnel, but it’s a breakthrough for getting people home sooner and safer and helping workers to move around,” says Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “As we reopen Sydney and Australia, projects like this bypass and our record $110 billion infrastructure investment are going to give our economy even more of a boost.” The M4-M5 Link Tunnels will open to traffic in 2023.
