Works are stepping up in and around Bulleen to make way for North East Link.

This update outlines upcoming works in your area. North East Link will reduce travel times between Melbourne’s north and south east by up to 35 minutes. Linking the M80 to an upgraded Eastern Freeway, it will take 15,000 trucks off local roads each day, and give local roads back to local communities.

Moving the Yarra East Main Sewer (YEMS)

The sewer currently runs beneath Bulleen Road and needs to be moved out of the way for the future North East Link. Completing these utility works now, will give us a clear run to build North East Link and avoid lengthier disruptions during major works.

We're building more than 3 kilometres of main sewer and connection lines, as well as seven tunnel shafts and 24 maintenance holes.

3 mini tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are now underground digging between several works sites near Bulleen Road. Sewer works will be complete by the end of the year, with major construction for North East Link to follow.

Construction phasing

Phase 1 - complete

Preparatory works for new sewer including site establishment, temporary road realignment works and traffic changes.

Phase 2 - in progress

Builders will dig underground to build mini tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch and retrieval points at different locations in and around Bulleen Road.

Phase 3 - in progress

Mini TBMs begin tunnelling the new sewer and works start on the new reticulation sewer.

Phase 4 - late 2021

The new sewer is fully connected and operational, and major construction on North East Link can start.

1. Avon Street

April 2021 to November 2021

A retrieval shaft is being built at Avon Street for the arrival of mini TBM Izzy, with some night works required.

2. Greenaway Street / Bulleen Road

May 2021 to November 2021

A retrieval shaft is being built near Greenaway Street and will connect to the northern section of the existing YEMS, with some night works required.

A tunnel will later be built between the Avon Street and Greenaway Street shafts.

The car park near Greenaway Street has been closed during works and an offset car park is available further down Greenaway Street.

3. Bulleen Road maintenance hole construction

May 2021 to October 2021

4 maintenance holes are being constructed next to Bulleen Road between Trinity Grammar School’s Marles Playing Fields and Ilma Court.

Smaller sewer pipes will later be installed between each maintenance hole.

Some trees had to be removed to safely construct the three metre-wide shafts using a 30m piling rig and 110 tonne crane. We are working with local council to reinstate and re-vegetate here once works are finished. The southbound footpath and bike lane on Bulleen Road are closed until late 2021 with a detour in place.

4. Trinity Grammar Marles Playing Fields

December 2020 to October 2021

A launch and retrieval site has been constructed in the northern section of Trinity Grammar School’s Marles Playing Fields. After driving south towards Marcellin College, mini TBM Izzy is now driving north towards Avon Street. Other works include establishing ball net fencing, with connecting sewer line works to follow.

5. Veneto Club

June 2021 to September 2021

A worksite is being established in a section of the Veneto Club car park, where a retrieval shaft will be constructed.

Smaller sewer pipes will later be installed between a maintenance hole in Bulleen Park and the Veneto Club. All club facilities remain open during works.

6. Bulleen Park

May 2021 to September 2021

3 maintenance holes are being constructed around Bullen Park Oval 1. A smaller section of sewer will later be installed between each maintenance hole.

An offset car park has been built to replace spaces lost during construction. All club facilities remain open during works.

7. Marcellin College

February 2021 to October 2021

A retrieval shaft has been constructed and mini TBM Izzy broke through at Marcellin College in May 2021.

Using the same shaft, mini TBM Athena will drive towards the Boroondara Tennis Centre. Once this drive is complete the shaft will be converted into a maintenance hole.

Other works include the relocation of fire services and the construction of ball net fencing.

8. Carey Bulleen Sports Complex

April 2021 to September 2021

2 maintenance holes are being constructed around the Dunshea Oval at Carey Bulleen Sports Complex. Smaller sewer pipes will later be installed between each maintenance hole.

Other works include establishing an offset car park and ball net fencing, as well as relocating shot put facilities.

9. Manningham Hotel & Club

May 2021 to November 2021

A retrieval shaft is being constructed next to the car park of the Manningham Hotel & Club to receive mini TBM Valerie from the Boroondara Tennis Centre. This will connect the current Koonung Creek Main Sewer to the Yarra East Main Sewer. All club facilities remain open during works.

10. Boroondara Tennis Centre

January 2021 to November 2021

A launch and retrieval shaft has been constructed and mini TBM Valerie is driving towards the Manningham Hotel & Club. A new car park has been developed to accommodate for the loss of parking to establish the worksite. All centre facilities remain open during works.

11. Freeway Golf Course

February 2021 to November 2021

A launch shaft has been constructed at Freeway Golf Course and mini TBM Athena is driving toward the Boroondara Tennis Centre.

We are also building four maintenance holes, a gas meter, sewer line and installing a sewer monitoring system within the golf course. A boundary fence will later be constructed in the course, ready for the main project to start. The club remains open as an 18 hole course with some interim layout changes.

Mini TBM progress

As of 1 July 2021:

• 882m dug
• 315 pipes laid
• 63 days underground

What's in a name?

In the tradition of naming tunnel boring machines (TBM) after women, our 3 mini TBMs have been named for the Yarra East Main Sewer works. Our first mini TBM was named ‘Izzy’ after the YEMS Project Manager, Isolde Piet. Our second and third mini TBM names were chosen with the help of nearly 250 local grade 5 and 6 students from St Clement of Rome in Bulleen and Templestowe Heights in Templestowe Lower. They were crowned ‘Valerie’ – meaning strength and power – and ‘Athena’ – after the Goddess of Wisdom. The mini TBMs need all these qualities to get the job done.

The students also participated in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activity, making battery-powered TBMs of their own.

Preferred bidder announced

In a big milestone for the project, we've selected Spark as the preferred bidder for the tunnelling package for North East Link. We'll now work on negotiating a final contract before sharing details of their concept design with the community before the end of the year.

Regreening as we go

More than 30,000 trees will be planted with at least two trees planted for each tree removed.

Works are being carefully planned, designed and managed to keep as many trees as possible. We are working with local councils to re-vegetate sites in and around Bulleen following the completion of sewer works with species indigenous to the local area.

Bulleen Park & Ride

We’re building Melbourne’s first dedicated busway – with work starting in July on a new park and ride in Bulleen. A worksite has been established next to Thompsons Road and Kampman Street, Bulleen. Once complete, the new Bulleen Park and Ride will make it easier for people to use faster, more frequent public transport to get to and from the city.

• a 5000 square metre green roof community park
• parking for up to 370 cars
• dedicated quick drop off and pick-up bays
• walking and cycling paths that connect to Koonung Creek Trail
• bike storage, toilets and myki facilities.

Contact us

Contact us, and stay up to date with current works.

Call our contact centre on 1800 105 105 – we're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sign up to our e-updates or email us at community@northeastlink.vic.gov.au

Visit us at our Bulleen Office, 7A Kim Close, Bulleen or Watsonia Hub, 17 Watsonia Road, Watsonia.