The Department of Transport has launched a competition to name METRONET’s new micro tunnel boring machine, currently known simply as the TBM.
The Department said the machine would drill under the freight rail corridor near the Ranford Road Bridge as part of the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link project.
It said the 3.5-metre, 27,000-kilogram machine would drill twin 100-metre tunnels under the existing freight rail corridor near the Ranford Road Bridge to enable the Water Corporation’s Serpentine Trunk Main to be relocated.
Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti said a similar competition was held in 2017 when school students were asked to name the two TBMs used to drill the twin eight-kilometre tunnels as part of METRONET’s Forrestfield-Airport Link.
“One of the Forrestfield-Airport Link TBMs was named Sandy, inspired by Western Australia’s tunnelling insect, the sandgroper, while the other was named Grace in honour of pre-primary student, Grace McPhee, nominated by her classmates at Edney Primary School for her bravery while undergoing leukaemia treatment,” Ms Saffioti said.
“TBMs are traditionally given female names for good luck in honour of the patron saint of underground workers, Saint Barbara, who is believed to bring success to projects.”
The Minister said more than 100 entries were received during the 2017 competition.
“Western Australians have a strong track record for coming up with many creative, locally-inspired suggestions during similar competitions in the past and I’m excited to see what they can come up with this time,” Ms Saffioti said.
The competition is open to all Western Australians and entries can be submitted until 5pm on Monday 26 July at this PS News link.
