Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke consortium awarded major Sydney Metro tunnelling package

The AUD$2.16bil Western Tunnelling contract for the mega Sydney Metro West project is the second of three tunnelling contracts on this once-in-a-century infrastructure project.

PETALING JAYA: A consortium of Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke has been appointed by the Government of New South Wales (NSW) to deliver the A$2.16bil (RM6.58bil) Western Tunnelling Package (WTP) on the Sydney Metro West project.

Sydney Metro West will support a growing city and deliver world-class metro services to more communities.

This new underground railway will connect Greater Parramatta and the Sydney central business disctict (CBD).

Project scope includes:

> Twin 9km tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead;

> A Tunnel Boring Machine launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling first toward Sydney Olympic Park and relaunched from Rosehill toward Westmead;

> Excavation for a services facility and crossover structure at Rosehill to allow provision for fresh air ventilation and emergency egress;

> Tunnel portal and dive excavation at Clyde Services and Maintenance Facility;

> Earthworks, retaining structures, drainage and utilities corridor for the Clyde Maintenance Facility;

> Excavation and civil works for Parramatta and Westmead Stations; and

> A segment manufacturing facility at East-ern Creek constructing over 60,000 segments.

Datuk Lin Yun Ling, group managing director Gamuda Bhd said: “We thank the NSW Government for placing their trust in us to deliver this critical portion of Sydney Metro West.

“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, WTP 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 the delivery of WTP.

Laing O’Rourke has a long track record in successfully delivering large projects throughout Australia. It is this power of experience which the business will bring to the Western Tunnelling Package.

Sydney Metro West will double the rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, transforming Sydney for generations to come. This once in a century infrastructure investment will reduce commuting times to around 20 minutes between the two centres, link new communities to rail services, and support employment growth and housing supply.

Sydney Metro West will create over 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs, with many of these jobs generated by this major contract. Appropriate disclosures of the contract award have been made to Bursa Malaysia.

Early works will commence on the WTP within weeks, with tunnelling scheduled to start late 2023.