Coliban Water will use a $1.5 million laser-guided tunnel boring system to replace the East Bendigo sewer trunk main in Victoria.
The utility company’s Manager of Infrastructure, Corey Bourne likened the tunnelling technology to the massive tunnel boring machines digging the Melbourne Metro Tunnel, but on a much smaller scale.
“The technology means we can reduce the need for excavation, limit disruption to nearby residents, and avoid damage to trees and habitat,” he said. “It allows us to constantly monitor and manoeuvre the machine to ensure accuracy.”
Coliban Water is working with German company Bohrtec – which developed the technology – to bore a microtunnell that will house the new 507 metre sewer trunk main.
“The new sewer main will cater for Bendigo’s growing population by improving the capacity of the network to carry sewage from the growing suburbs of Strathfieldsaye, Junortoun, parts of Strathdale and East Bendigo to the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant,” Bourne said.
The work, which began on 6 February, is expected to take seven weeks.
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