In the wake of the recent announcement regarding the reset of the Snowy 2.0 project, significant developments have unfolded, highlighting a unified approach to bring this venture to fruition by December 2028. The Snowy Hydro and Future Generation contractor teams are now a single team, working in close collaboration to achieve full commercial operation.
In a statement, Snowy Hydro said safety remains the number one priority and it is ‘focused on excellent environmental outcomes’.
As of September 2023, the project's Total Reportable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) for the past 12 months stands at 2.97, surpassing the targeted rate of 4.0. With a pronounced focus on planning and coordinated safety management, the project has seen a reduction in recordable and serious incidents.
Collaborating closely with Comcare and SafeWork NSW, Snowy 2.0 said it consistently integrates lessons learned and findings from regulators into its operational practices.
With regards to environmental performance, four independent audits of the Snowy 2.0 project have been conducted since its inception. A proactive approach to monitoring 163 biodiversity sites involves 1,500 hours spent annually, and over three years, more than 200 kilograms of native seeds have been collected for rehabilitation efforts.
Additionally, the project has carried out 27 heritage site excavations and has salvaged over 35,000 indigenous artifacts. These artifacts contribute to the rich history of the Snowy Mountains Indigenous people.
At the Lobs Hole worksite, Project Integration Manager Paul Smith provided an overview of the progress made so far, with over 40% of Snowy 2.0 already completed. Milestones include the excavation of the 2.85km main access tunnel, lined with nearly 13,000 locally manufactured concrete segments, and the excavation of the 2.9km emergency, cable, and ventilation tunnel.
Significant upgrades have also been made to Ravine Road, a critical 15km access road into Lobs Hole. Infrastructure supporting the construction includes main yard workshops, worker campsites, and an extensive network of access roads across three main worksites at Lobs Hole, Marica, and Tantangara.
Below the surface, excavation is underway for the 250m-long underground power station cavern and the tailrace tunnel. Furthermore, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Kirsten is being modified to excavate the world-leading inclined pressure shaft, while drill and blast operations are ongoing to create 11 cross passages and construction tunnels.
Above ground, a flurry of activities is taking place across all project sites, under the guidance of Lobs Hole Surface Works Project Manager Steve Lee. These activities encompass the removal of spoil, maintenance of site roads, environmental controls, main yard area operations, office facilities, directional drilling, and the Talbingo intake build.
The Snowy 2.0 project is currently the largest renewable energy project under construction in Australia. Once finalized, it will generate 2200MW of dispatchable energy.
