By rosebell
With the aim of determining the route for a proposed high-speed rail link to Sydney in Australia, as part of efforts geotechnical work has commenced on the New South Wales (NSW) Central Coast.
Passing through the Central Coast, the Newcastle to Sydney segment, is the initial focus and this development involves both tunnel and above-ground sections, addressing geological challenges in the area.
In order to understanding the terrain and identifying the best route for the project, the digging operations are currently underway.
The project is also under support of the Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees for the Central Coast and Hunter regions.
According to RDA Central Coast acting chair Anna Cruckshank: “The RDA Central Coast Committee has welcomed initial geotechnical investigations that have commenced on the Central Coast to determine the optimum route alignment for a proposed high-speed rail link to connect our region to Sydney in just 30 minutes.”
While the barges at the Hawkesbury River near Brooklyn and Brisbane Water in Gosford,are the locations of two drill rigs, these efforts are said to be critical for assessing the route, including sections requiring tunneling.
The expected time for operation of barge at the Hawkesbury River is about two months.
For collecting rock and sediment samples, six boreholes, each reaching depths of up to 140 metres are currently excavating by crews, whereas these samples are due to be analysed for construction planning, including tunnel design and totally, 27 boreholes will be drilled to address geological factors, including the escarpment near the Central Coast.
The awarded budget for planning and corridor protection of the Newcastle to Sydney section by Australian government is A$500m ($331.4m), while the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) is responsible for overseeing the project.
Considering that the population of the Hunter and Central Coast regions is estimated to grow significantly by the early 2040s, the high-speed rail is expected to enhance connectivity, decrease travel times, and create opportunities for economic growth.
Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said: “High-speed rail means generations of new opportunities for regional Australia, creating more jobs in more locations and giving people greater choices in where they live, work, study and play. Our transformational investment in high-speed rail will help shape Australia for decades to come.”
