Giant hole planned for Sydney Harbour park for Metro tunnelling

MACHINES will burrow into an iconic harbourside park to prepare for the Sydney Metro and locals are concerned the idyllic spot — popular for New Year’s Eve fireworks viewing — will never be the same.

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A GIANT hole is set to be carved into an iconic harbourside park to aid the construction of the Sydney Metro.

Henry Lawson Reserve has been chosen as a removal point for the Metro’s tunnel boring machines.

Investigations have found a series of rock fractures and sediments along the planned path of the twin rail tunnels under the harbour, which means a specialised machine is required.

It will start its work at Barangaroo, and make its way across the harbour, where it will be removed at the Blues Point park.

A tunnel boring machine being retrieved from the Cherrybrook construction site on Sydney Metro Northwest after a 9km journey from Bella Vista. Picture: Paul A Blunden

The two machines tunnelling from Chatswood will also be removed in the same spot, as they cannot work under the harbour.

State Government representatives have visited residents to inform them of the plans to excavate the park and build a shaft.

“During construction, the project team would look to minimise the amount of time required at the temporary retrieval site,” a Transport for NSW spokeswoman said.

She also said the site would be backfilled and the parkland reinstated once tunnelling was completed.

Premier Mike Baird and Transport Minister Andrew Constance at Blues Point making an announcement about the Sydney Metro. Picture: Tim Hunter

The Lavender Bay Precinct has concerns about the impact the works will have on the park.

“There’s a lot of sandstone under here, and they will completely alter the soil profile,” precinct secretary Ian Curdie said.

“Once they refill it, will it settle again? Will it look like this? We just don’t know.

“It has to happen, as we need these new transport systems.”

Ian Curdie is concerned about the impact the construction will have on the park. Picture: David Swift

The boring machines and the spoil may be removed by barge or by truck along Blues Point Rd.

The Sydney Metro, which will stretch for 15.5km from Chatswood to Marrickville, will see new stations at North Sydney and Crows Nest.

The first tunnel boring machine is expected to be in the ground before the end of 2018.

Henry Lawson Reserve and the adjoining Blues Point Reserve are popular viewing spots for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

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