Hundreds of applications have been received for the all-women tunnel boring machine crew that will help build Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL).
Almost 870 women have applied to take part. The team will be one of several TBM crews helping to carve the SRL East twin tunnels and will include around 25 highly skilled roles – including the TBM operator, gantry and segment crane operators, grouters and support roles.
The team will be led by SRL East Tunnels South Construction Manager Isolde Piet, who was the first female TBM pilot in the world.
“A project the size and scope of Suburban Rail Loop offers fantastic opportunities for women and it’s wonderful to see so many who want to develop their careers in construction,” Ms Piet said.
Expressions of Interest closed on Friday 4 October and applications are now being assessed. Women selected for the program will complete comprehensive training and will receive hands on experience to gain the skills needed for the roles.
With such a strong response, women not selected for the TBM crew roles may also be considered for other suitable roles on the project as part of the assessment process.
SRL East between Cheltenham and Box Hill will deliver six new underground stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill, with works now underway at every site.
Crews are building tunnel boring machine launch sites, moving underground services and preparing sites for major works. Construction of SRL East is creating up to 8,000 jobs, with more than 1,400 people already working on the project.
Tunnelling will start in 2026 and the all-women crew is expected to be operating by 2027.
Consortium Suburban Connect is delivering the Tunnel South contract to build the 16km of twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, where the all-women crew will be one of eight crews operating. At least ten per cent of total labour hours on the Tunnels South works will be worked by women.
