Sydney Water last week launched TBM Bessie Rouse to start tunnelling on the North West Wastewater Connection.
The TBM, named after local pioneer Eliza Ann Rouse, will tunnel 800m at depths of up to 27m. The new pipeline will link the Taylee Place pumping station to the Rouse Hill Water Resource Recovery Facility.
In Western Australia, Water Corporation is assembling two TBMs for the A$2.8bn (€1.56bn) Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP).
The TBMs will construct a 2.5km intake pipeline and a separate 4km outfall pipeline up to 13m below the seabed. The machines will take 18 months to excavate through rock, sands and clay and install 32,000 concrete segments.
ASDP’s first 50 billion-litre stage will supply drinking water to more than 2.5 million people and reduce pressure on climate-impacted groundwater sources.
Water minister Don Punch said desalination was fundamental to water security in Western Australia but he also emphasised the need to be “waterwise”.
“With large parts of southern WA experiencing some of the driest years on record, it’s up to everyone to make sure we use water, our most precious natural resource, as responsibly as possible,” he said.
