Asset management, Australia, Boring, Featured, Installation, News, Pipe jacking, Victoria, Wastewater

TBM completes Hawthorn sewer journey

Hawthorn Sewer Upgrade map

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Lucy’ has completed her 172 m journey on the Hawthorn Main Sewer and has broken through at Richmond.

Melbourne Water is replacing the sewer siphon that transfers sewage under the Yarra River as part of the second phase of the Hawthorn Main Sewer upgrade. 

Stage 1 of works were completed back in September 2021 and included 1.7 km of sewer main upgrades between Denham Street, Hawthorn and Murphy Street, Richmond.

Constructed nearly 120 years ago, this section of sewer is reaching the end of its service life.

A vital part of Melbourne infrastructure, this section of sewer services around 70,000 people and transfers sewage to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. 

In mid-January 2022, TBM Lucy broke through at Richmond after her 172 m journey from Hawthorn. 

This major milestone means Melbourne Water will be able to install a new sewer siphon, housed in the jacking pipes installed behind the TBM. 

Melbourne Water expects to have completed the sewer upgrades with the new sewer siphon connected to the existing network by late 2022. 

The utility said the purpose of the project is to deliver security for the people of Melbourne for the next 100 years. 

For more information visit the Melbourne Water website. 

Send this to a friend