Groundwater and Tunnelling in Melbourne: considerations, complexities and a recent project example

Registrations: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/event/2019/10/groundwater-and-tunnelling-melbourne-considerations-complexities-and-recent-project

 

The hydrogeology of Melbourne is highly variable. The intersected and surrounding ground conditions of tunnelling projects will strongly influence the groundwater response and consideration for required groundwater control. This presentation will provide an overview of Melbourne’s hydrogeology as well as relating this to challenges in tunnelling projects. The example of groundwater assessment and control measures adopted for the EastLink project will be presented, along with discussion on the implications for environmental and performance requirements for current tunnelling projects.

 

The EastLink tunnels were constructed in an ecologically sensitive environment in eastern Melbourne. The project adopted strict tolerances on groundwater drawdown and tunnel ingress. In permanent design a fully tanked tunnel design option with compartmentalisation of the tunnel using cut-off and grout curtain was adopted which was a first in Australia.

 

Bios:

 

Peter Campi

Peter Campi has over 20 years of experience as a geologist, engineering geologist, and geotechnical engineer and is a graduate from RMIT. His experience spans both the mining and civil industries including underground and open pit mines, civil road/rail/water tunnels, and caverns and surface excavations. His underground experience in Melbourne include EastLink and most recently Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project. Peter is a Principal with Coffey.

 

Brigid Moriarty

Brigid Moriarty has 15 years experience as a hydrogeologist and has a Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science from The University of Melbourne. Brigid has worked across the groundwater resources, mining, oil and gas and transportation and civil infrastructure sectors including road, rail and water tunnels. She currently leads the specialist groundwater studies and input to the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project for the Tunnel and Stations PPP package. Brigid is a Principal with Coffey.

 

2019 Australian Tunnelling Society Victorian Group Annual Special Meeting

The event will start with 2019 Australian Tunnelling Society Victorian Group Annual Special Meeting. The approximate duration of the ASM is 15min with the following agenda:

• Apologies
• Minutes of 2018 ASM
• Matters Arising
• Chairman’s Report
• Financial Report
• Election of Committee
• Other Business

 

Please forward nominations for membership of the committee, and any business to be raised in the ASM meeting, to anthony.bennett@aurecongroup.com by Tuesday 29th October 2019.

 

If you would like to discuss Committee membership, please feel free to contact:

Richard Buckingham 0439 369 317 richard.buckingham@jhg.com.au

Tony Bennett 0412 529 028 anthony.bennett@aurecongroup.com

Requirements for Committee membership are, an interest in tunnelling and financial (or student) membership of the Australian Tunnelling Society. Your commitment will be to attend about six Committee meetings a year. Recently, these have been held at 5 pm at Engineers Australia, timed to precede an ATS Technical Session. However, these arrangements can be changed to suit the new Committee membership.

 

The rules for election are:

• ATS is required to re-elect the local Committee every two years. On that basis, we are now calling for nominations for eight vacancies in the general positions to form a new local Committee in Victoria. (four members are continuing their current terms).
• If you would like to nominate yourself (or someone else with their agreement and details as follows), please provide your name as well as a brief statement about what you do and why you would be a good Committee member (refer to the guide below). Nominees must be financial members of the ATS.
• Nominations must be received by the returning officer anthony.bennett@aurecongroup.com no later than Tuesday 29th October 2019. Late applications will not be eligible for election.
• If eight or fewer general nominations are received; a Committee will be formed without a ballot. However, if more than eight nominations are received, we shall proceed to a ballot of the members present on the evening to elect the Committee.

 

So that the Group functions effectively, the expected contribution of the elected Committee members includes:

1)            Organising at least one Technical Session per year, individually or jointly. (Note that the venue booking and publicising is carried out by the Committee with Engineers Australia).

2)            Attending the Committee meetings or sending apologies (and a report when needed) if unable to do so.

3)            Assisting in the forming of sub-committees with at least four to six committee members, plus others (industry representatives etc.) who could add value to the event when we are due to hold a conference or short course.

4)            Actively participating in other activities.

5)            Promoting and supporting the ATS within the tunnelling industry.