A consortium between Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke has been appointed by the New South Wales Government to deliver the $2.16 billion Western Tunnelling Package for the Sydney Metro West project.
Sydney Metro West project will deliver a new direct, 24 kilometre underground rail connection between the CBDs of Parramatta and Sydney, with stations confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
The project’s tunnelling work has been structured into three packages, with the Central Pckage awarded to an Acciona and Ferrovial Joint Venture in July last year.
The remaining two tenderers – John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella Australia Joint Venture and Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Joint Venture – were bidding for the Western Tunnelling Package.
Sydney Metro has also begun the process to appoint its third major tunnelling contractor for the Eastern Tunnelling, with three consortia shortlisted earlier this year. This contract for tunnelling between The Bays and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD is expected to be awarded by late 2022.
The scope for Western Package includes excavation and construction of nine kilometres of twin tunnels between Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park.
A Tunnel Boring Machine will launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling first toward Sydney Olympic Park and relaunched from Rosehill toward Westmead.
A segment manufacturing facility at Eastern Creek will be constructing over 60,000 segments for the tunnel.
Dato’ Yun-Ling Lin, Group Managing Director Gamuda Berhad thanked the NSW Government for the award.
“We are excited to share our international experience in building high-frequency rail sustainably, and are focussed on generating benefit for communities in Western Sydney.”
Cathal O’Rourke, Managing Director, Laing O’Rourke said: “We are proud to once again partner with the NSW Government to deliver a vital piece of infrastructure for Sydney Metro. Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke share an innovation mindset and a commitment to people which will be at the heart of this successful consortium.”
Simon Hussey, Western Tunnelling Package Project Director said: “There is a huge opportunity for us to leave a positive legacy through this project by engaging suppliers in Western Sydney, creating local jobs and building strong partnerships with local stakeholders and communities.
“This includes establishing a Tunnel Infrastructure Academy, to attract and train a more diverse and inclusive tunnelling workforce.”
Gamuda brings decades of international experience in metro rail construction and engineering innovation which will be harnessed during delivery of Western Tunnelling Package.
Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs, with many of these jobs generated by this major contract.
Early works will commence on the Western Tunnelling Package within weeks, with tunnelling scheduled to start late 2023.
Related stories:
- Consortia shortlisted for Sydney Metro West’s final tunnelling package
- Acciona and Ferrovial joint venture awarded $1.96B Metro West contract
- First mega boring machines ordered for Sydney Metro West