The multi-billion Metro Tunnel will create a new rail line with high-capacity trains and five new underground stations in Melbourne, Victoria by 2025. The Tunnel and Stations package is being delivered under an availability based Public Private Partnership by Bouygues Construction Australia as part of Cross Yarra Partnership, together with Lendlease Melbourne Metro, John Holland and Capella Capital. The 9km long twin tunnels are constructed by TBMs up to 40 metres beneath the city’s surface.

Rendel has been engaged to perform an independent check of the steel reinforcement ratio one on the Franklin East Shaft, a multi-storey underground structure to be constructed within an already excavated temporary shaft through the bottom-up method. The study consists of benchmarking the steel ratio resulting from the certified design against the steel ratio commonly found on similar projects, developing a calculation model to determine an optimised steel ratio and preparing detailed steel reinforcement drawings for a typical slab and a typical peripheric wall.

Rendel has also been engaged to investigate the possibility of optimising the construction sequence for the shaft at La Trobe Street. This shaft is constructed using the top-down method with the use of temporary plunge columns to support the structures. The optimisation of the plunge columns removal sequence will reduce the construction programme. Rendel’s scope includes the preparation of structural models, testing of various scenarios and definition of amendments to be implemented in the design to allow the selected alternative plunge columns removal sequence to occur.

Both shafts are part of the State Library/CBD North Station.

Rendel carried out proof engineer checks on the permanent works of all the complex bridges and the flyover. In addition, Rendel provided proof engineering services for the erection engineering and launching for the twin arch bridges. Additional services during the construction phase included the proof engineering of design changes and temporary works packages.

The Sydney Gateway project is part of Transport for New South Wales’s (Transport) strategy to increase the capacity of the infrastructure and services in the area surrounding Sydney Airport at Mascot. Sydney Gateway will provide a new toll free connection from St Peters Interchange to the International and Domestic Terminals and beyond. It is being delivered to improve travel times to Sydney Airport, the M5 and Eastern Distributor.

Transport awarded a design and construct contract for Sydney Gateway to John Holland Seymour Whyte Joint Venture in November 2020. Major construction has started late 2021 and the project is expected to be open to traffic in late 2024.

Rendel’s team in Australia has been appointed in a technical advisory role for Surf Lakes in Yeppoon, Queensland.

Surf Lakes is currently developing a cutting-edge Surf Park featuring a proprietary Wave Machine and innovative bathymetric reef designs, slated for construction in various locations worldwide. A prototype surf park has been operational in Yeppoon for approximately six years, serving as a demonstration site for this groundbreaking technology. This design is generic in nature and is to be adapted into site-specific detailed designs for each Surf Park location. This will start with upgrading the Yeppoon site to a commercial facility.

Rendel brings its wealth of experience in engineering design to the concrete lake bed with scope including:

• Review of proposed commercial lakebed design and jointing details.
• Value management to suit the site and its intended use.

This is a critical and exciting step to assist Surf Lakes in converting its prototype site into a commercially operating facility. Design work is well underway and the outcomes are looking good for an economic and robust solution that will allow perfect waves for the full facility design life with minimalised maintenance requirements.

Rendel Limited has been appointed to undertake the Proof Engineering services for the detailed design of the Enabling Works for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2. This appointment follows our successful tender bid with John Holland.

Our involvement as part of the Enabling Works will begin with the delivery includes Proof Engineering services for a new 340-metre long concrete segmental, post-tensioned bridge over the Parramatta River, between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will see the delivery of 14 stops over a new 10-kilometre two-way track, with travel times of around 31 minutes from Camellia to the Carter Street Precinct via Sydney Olympic Park, and a further seven minutes to the Parramatta Central Business District.