North East Link

What’s that? Ever wonder what that massive, enclosed structure over Greensborough Road in Watsonia is? Watch this and find out 👀

‘We want to create a culturally safe space where they can train and learn, but also grow as people’ says Kaelun, Director of Pathway Plumbing about Willan Program. An important partnership between Willan Program and North East Link is providing 10 weeks of pre-employment training to young Aboriginal people from backgrounds of unemployment. Upon completion, participants receive a Certificate 2 in Construction Pathways and opportunities to work on the North East Link tunnels. The program was established through a collaboration with Aboriginal business, Pathway Plumbing, and is one way over 118,000 hours were worked by First Nations people on North East Link in 2023.

1 down 43,999 to go 🔗 As tunnel boring machine (TBM) Zelda makes her way to Bulleen, over 100 segments that will make up the North East Link tunnel walls have already been laid. Here you can see the first segments being transported into the TBM and fitted in place!

‘It’s close to home and it puts me at home each night with my family instead of being out on the road’. The LS Precast facility in Benalla is the largest in Victoria and not only is it manufacturing 46,000 concrete segments to line the 6.5km North East Link Tunnels, it’s providing jobs close to home for locals like Sarah and Charmaine. The facility is currently employing around 120 people. Over the life of the North East Link project 12,000 jobs will be created across Victoria. Watch to find out more about Sarah and Charmaine’s role at the facilities and to find out about job opportunities on the North East Link project visit https://bit.ly/3TAlqEV

Tunnels Taking Shape ⭕ The first of two world class tunnel boring machines has started tunnelling a section of the 6.5km twin tunnels from Watsonia to Bulleen. Duncan Elliott, CEO of Major Road Projects Victoria explains what’s in store over the next couple of years.

Our second TBM has been named after local legend Dr. Gillian Opie. 🏥 Dr. Gillian Opie, a neonatal paediatrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women in Heidelberg. Gillian also founded Australia's first breast milk bank more than 10 years ago, providing sick and premature babies with safe, screened and pasteurised milk. TBM Gillian will soon commence digging one of the 6.5 kilometre North East Link twin tunnels that will take 15,000 trucks off local roads and slash travel times by up to 35 minutes. Find out more https://bit.ly/4cwSV28

Every Link needs a Zelda. 🧝 That's why we’re thrilled to introduce the name of our first hardworking TBM, Zelda! Named after groundbreaking woman, Zelda D’Aprano, a lifelong activist in the Australian feminist movement who lived and worked for much of her life in West Heidelberg. She was a key player in a long campaign by many remarkable women in working toward closing the gender pay gap. Her legacy as a fearless advocate continues to inspire efforts toward gender equality and social justice. Thanks to everyone who participated in the TBM naming competition and shared their stories! Find out more https://bit.ly/4cwSV28

Breaking news! 🗞️ Our first tunnel boring machine helping dig the North East Link tunnels has started its 6.5km journey to Bulleen! In keeping with tradition the 2 massive TBMs were named before tunnelling. Their names are Zelda and Gillian after two groundbreaking local women in Melbourne's north east. TBM Zelda and TBM Gillian will dig approximately 10 metres per day and install tunnel walls made of approximately 44,000 individual concrete segments made locally in Benalla. Once complete the North East Link twin tunnels will take 15,000 trucks off local roads and save drivers up to 35 minutes. Learn more https://bit.ly/4cv9Him

Our tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will dig up about 5.7 million tonnes of soil as they tunnel their way to Bulleen. With most of this dirt and rock coming from deep underground, it’s natural material that’s suitable for re-use. We’ve already reused more than 1.5 million tonnes of dirt on North East Link sites or sent it on to other transport projects and new housing estates. With tunnelling set to start soon, a significant amount of dirt will also help rehabilitate a former quarry at Point Wilson and the former Orica site in Deer Park – getting these sites ready for future development. Learn more https://bit.ly/3X5aeTG

Australia’s first Aboriginal-owned energy retail company is providing the power to the 2 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will help build the North East Link tunnels. 137.5 GWh of renewable electricity will be provided by Yurringa Energy – the equivalent power produced by more than 91,000 solar panels over a year! The renewable energy will be used to power North East Link’s site compounds and the 2 massive TBMs that will soon dig their way from Watsonia to Bulleen. Yurringa Energy is dedicated to creating employment opportunities for First Nations people and is another way we’re is investing $90 million in social enterprises and Aboriginal businesses while we build the North East Link tunnels. Learn more https://bit.ly/3X7WGH6