The $A5 million tunnel boring machine (TBM) was named Sandy by a local Frankston Primary School student due to the sandy clay it will need to bore through. Sandy is a slurry TBM with earth pressure balance capabilities.

Lucy Eldred from Trenchless Australasia attended the naming ceremony to witness Project Director Phil Corluka unveil Sandy the TBM. Local MP Alistair Harkness also gave a speech at the ceremony.

Under the operation of Winslow Infrastructure, Sandy will excavate a three metre outer diameter tunnel to house the new 2.5 metre diameter concrete stormwater pipeline. Depending on the ground conditions, Sandy is expected to progress at a rate of ten metres per shift and will require eight tunnellers per shift to operate.

Sandy the TBM was manufactured by German company mts PERFORATOR who specialise in building, developing and servicing microtunnelling systems ranging from ID250 mm to ID3000 mm and up.

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The Frankston Drainage Improvement Project began construction in September and saw construction of a twelve metre deep shaft at Monash University Peninsula Campus from which Sandy will begin tunnelling next January. Three more access shafts will be constructed throughout the project along the 1.5 kilometre route from Monash University to Kananook Creek.

As a low lying area, Frankston is subject to serious flooding during severe wet weather. The $A41 million Frankston Drainage Improvement project is one of Melbourne Water’s biggest projects currently underway and will provide increased protection from flooding and improve drainage. The project is being construction by the Pipelines Alliance, a joint venture between Fulton Hogan, Jaydo, GHD and Melbourne Water.

The tunnelling section of the project is expected to be completed by May 2010 with the project being fully commissioned in early 2011.

Melbourne Water has also announced another $A7 million project which involves replacing 60 metres of the Riviera outlet pipeline. The new project, which will commence work next month, will contribute to helping protect Frankston from flooding and complement the Frankston Drainage Improvement Project.