Australia, Boring, Installation, New South Wales, News

Snowy Hydro 2.0 faces challenging conditions

The Snowy Hydro 2.0 management team has confirmed that variable site and geological conditions have impacted the tunnel boring process for the NSW project.

The most impactful being the soft ground encountered, which is delaying tunnel boring machine (TBM) Florence’s progress at Tantangara.

The project team is working towards stabilising the encountered soft ground in order to enable TBM Florence to restart excavating.

Snowy Hydro chief executive officer Dennis Barnes also provided an update on TBM progress across multiple worksites.

“TBM Kirsten has tunnelled 2.9 km to reach the underground power station cavern complex and we now have access to this site from both ends,” Barnes said.

“We shortly expect to commence the 6 km tailrace tunnel that will feed into Talbingo Reservoir and the excavation of intakes at Talbingo and Tantangara are proceeding very well.”

At Lobs Hole, TBM Lady Eileen Hudson completed excavation of the 2.7 km main access tunnel. The machine is currently being reassembled at the Talbingo adit with new components.

It will be launched into the mountain later in the year to excavate the 6 km tailrace tunnel, which will feed into Talbingo Reservoir.

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