Green light given to final section of tunnelling for Sydney Metro West

Another major milestone has been reached on the Sydney Metro West development in New South Wales with planning approval granted for tunnelling works between The Bays and Sydney CBD. 

Tunnelling works for Sydney Metro West will be delivered under three packages, namely the Central, Western and Eastern packages. 

The recent planning approval is for the delivery of a 3.5-kilometre twin tunnels from The Bays to the CBD, running under Johnstons Bay and Darling Harbour as part of the Eastern Package – the third and final tunnelling works package. 

The approval will also get excavation works underway at the Pyrmont and Hunter Street stations. 

“Starting at The Bays, tunnel boring machines will cross under the harbour, alongside Anzac Bridge, before heading to the new Pyrmont Station, then under Darling Harbour before reaching Hunter Street Station in the Sydney CBD,” Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said. 

Two of the three tunnelling packages have already been awarded. 

The first tunnelling package – the Central Package – was awarded to the ACCIONA and Ferrovial Construction Joint Venture and it will deliver the 11-kilometre twin tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and The Bays. 

On the other hand, the Western Package was awarded to the Laing O’Rourke and Gamuda Australia Joint Venture earlier this year. This package will deliver the 9-kilometre twin tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead. 

Three shortlisted consortia were also announced early in 2022 for the Eastern Package. The list includes the ACCIONA Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Ferrovial Construction (Australia) Pty Ltd joint venture (AF JV); the Bouygues Construction Australia Pty Ltd, Vinci Construction Grands Projects Australia Pty Ltd and Soletanche Bachy International joint venture (BV JV); and the John Holland Pty Ltd, CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and Ghella Pty Ltd joint venture (JCG JV). 

The contract for the Eastern Package is due to be awarded in late 2022. 

“This is the final tunnel section for the new 24 kilometre metro line on this game changing project that will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. 

“Sydney Metro West will significantly cut crowding on three major train lines, take tens of thousands of cars off the roads every day and support the creation of 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs in western Sydney,” Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said. 

Subject to further community and stakeholder engagement, future planning approvals for Sydney Metro West will include rail infrastructure, station buildings and precincts as well as adjacent station developments at several locations. 

Major construction on Sydney Metro West commenced in 2020 and the project is on track to be completed by 2030. 

In 2030, Sydney is projects to have a network of four metro lines along with 46 stations and 113 kilometres of new metro rail. 

Features of Sydney Metro West will include: 

• Faster, more frequent access to major employment and education centres like Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park 
• A new metro station in the heart of the Sydney CBD commercial centre, connecting directly to Sydney’s established and growing employment precincts 
• A new metro station at Westmead – one of Australia’s largest health and education precincts 
• Delivering new rail services for the first time at Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays and Pyrmont 

• A new metro station at Sydney Olympic Park – Sydney’s sporting and entertainment super-precinct 
• A new metro station at Pyrmont – delivering major benefits to the Pyrmont community and supporting plans to transform this harbourside suburb 
• Integrated with the rest of Sydney’s public transport system 
• Fully accessible with lifts and level access between trains and platforms 
• Next generation fully air-conditioned metro trains 

• All Sydney Metro infrastructure like the stations, trains and railway tracks are owned by the NSW Government 
• Sydney Metro uses Opal ticketing and fares are set by the NSW Government 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Sydney Metro (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Inside Construction