The Times Australia
The Times Australia

.

Snowy 2.0 project reaches new milestone

  • Written by Scott Morrison


The Snowy 2.0 project has reached a new milestone with the commissioning of a second tunnel boring machine which will further accelerate progress on the nation-building renewable energy project.

 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor attended the commissioning at a special ceremony at in the Snowy Mountains on Friday.

 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine, the ‘Kirsten’, marks another major achievement for Snowy 2.0, which is already creating thousands of jobs in the region.

 

“Snowy 2.0 is building on the proud legacy of the first Snowy scheme, using local ingenuity to deliver landmark new infrastructure that will benefit Australia and the National Electricity Market for decades to come.

 

“Our $1.38 billion investment in this project is already creating a local jobs boom, with a current workforce of more than 1,300 people and an expected 4,000 direct jobs over the life of the project, and many opportunities for local Australian businesses and suppliers,” Prime Minister Morrison said.

 

“Over $65 million has been spent with local suppliers and more than 150 local businesses have been engaged on the project to date and these numbers are expected to increase.”

 

“This is what a Liberal National Government is about – creating opportunities for Australians, delivering nation-building infrastructure and creating jobs.

 

Minister Taylor said the new tunnel boring machine would start work on a second tunnel and would dig through 30 metres of rock a day.

 

“The commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine shows the Snowy 2.0 project, Australia’s largest storage project, is well on its way to delivering affordable, reliable power for Australians” Minister Taylor said.

 

“Snowy 2.0 is critical to the National Electricity Market, and will deliver 2,000 megawatts of reliable electricity, to support record levels of renewables and help power half a million homes for over a week during peak demand.

 

“The new machine is expected to excavate a 2.9km-long tunnel to the power station complex and continue to tunnel uphill at a 25-degree grade. A tunnel at such a steep incline is a world first.

 

“The first tunnel boring machine, the ‘Lady Eileen Hudson’, has already surpassed 1,000 metres underground, making great progress of excavation at the main access tunnel.”

 

The new tunnel boring machine will be named in honour of astrophysicist, science communicator and proud Wiradjuri woman Kirsten Banks.

 

Information on the new tunnel boring machine:

  • The new tunnel boring machine is 205 metres long, the equivalent of two rugby league fields.
  • It has a diameter of around 11 metres, or the same as a three-storey building.
  • It will excavate a 2.9km-long tunnel to the power station complex and then continue to tunnel uphill at a 25-degree grade to create an inclined pressure shaft.

Temu’s Local Seller Program opens fully in Australia

Local businesses of all sizes across Australia now have a new, low-cost channel to reach millions of online sh...

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...