- Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Lady Eileen Hudson has achieved a significant milestone, successfully breaking through into the Snowy 2.0 underground cavern complex and marking the completion of her tunnelling operations.
- Australia's most talked about tunnel boring machine, TBM Florence, has been performing strongly for some time and is now approaching the halfway point on its 15-kilometre tunnelling journey.
- Australia's largest renewable energy project continues to make progress, with the focus of the project transitioning to building the power station almost one kilometre underground.
A major milestone has been reached on Snowy 2.0, with TBM Lady Eileen Hudson completing excavation of a 6-kilometre tunnel and successfully breaking through into the underground cavern complex deep in the Snowy Mountains.
Crucially, this breakthrough marks the completion of the massive 2,300-tonne machine's tunnelling work on the project, having previously excavated a 2.85-kilometre access tunnel before the 6-kilometre tailrace tunnel, which will connect Snowy 2.0's underground power station to the lower water reservoir, Talbingo Dam.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the breakthrough is symbolic of the momentum being achieved at what is Australia's largest renewable energy project.
"There's nothing more exciting on a tunneling project than a breakthrough. Even more so with Snowy 2.0 because the geology we're working with is extremely challenging," Barnes said.
"The ground under the Snowy Mountains is making us work for every metre, but like the original Snowy Scheme, it's inspiring to see what Australia can achieve when we take on the hardest tasks."
Adding to this tunnelling momentum, Australia's most talked about tunnel boring machine has found a new lease of life, with TBM Florence's performance issues now a distant memory as it approaches the halfway mark on its 15-kilometre journey.
Mr Barnes said Florence is now consistently achieving personal bests.
Snowy 2.0's recently commissioned fourth tunnel boring machine, Monica, is one of the world's most advanced. Custom-built to get through the complex geology of the Long Plain Fault Zone, Monica is excavating the opposite end of the same tunnel as Florence.
The two machines will meet in the middle before being disassembled deep underground.
Mr Barnes says the key to Snowy 2.0's increasing momentum is the skill and dedication of its roughly 5000-strong workforce.
"Snowy 2.0's people are proud of the work they're delivering, the way they're solving problems and delivering incredible feats of engineering every day," he said.
"They're also proud of the legacy their work is creating for Australia.
"Just like the original Snowy Scheme, the project is difficult and not without its setbacks. But when we're done, we'll have an incredible asset owned by every Australian to underpin energy reliability and security for generations."
