Plans for a new metro-oriented town centre above the future Sydney Olympic Park station have been approved as tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Daphne and Beatrice break through at the metro site.

TBMs Daphne and Beatrice completed their 18-month tunnelling journey to carve out the 11-kilometre tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park, breaking through at the Sydney Olympic Park metro station site in early October.

The TBMs have excavated a total of 2,052,119 tonnes of material, enough to fill about 316 Olympic swimming pools, while installing 72,456 tunnelling segments to line the new tunnel walls.

Work inside the 200-metre-long, 37-metre-wide, and 27-metre-deep station box at Sydney Olympic Park will now shift to dismantling the TBMs and getting the box ready for station construction. Meanwhile, work in the tunnels will focus on the completion of cross passages, these passages are a crucial safety feature that allows the movement of passengers between the two tunnels in case of an emergency.

The breakthrough coincides with another major milestone for Sydney Metro West as the Department for Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has approved plans for a new town centre that will create more than 300 new residential dwellings in Sydney Olympic Park.  

The vibrant, fully integrated precinct will have direct access to fast and reliable Metro West services, revitalising the area at the eastern end of Olympic Boulevard.   

Planning approval was received following the exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Sydney Olympic Park, alongside a Concept State Significant Development Application (SSDA).   

Feedback from stakeholders and the community helped shape the design for the precinct, which includes three buildings ranging from 21 to 45 storeys, with a mix of residential, commercial and retail uses.  

Following the approval of these buildings, Sydney Metro will also now seek to change the development plans to provide 190 more residential dwellings in line with the NSW Government’s priority to increase housing supply.

The station precinct will integrate with the existing public spaces and enhance the destination’s reputation as a premier location for cultural, entertainment, recreational and sporting events, aligning with the broader strategic vision for the area.  

The new metro station will be close to new light rail, pedestrian and cycling routes to help keep people moving around the wider precinct. 
 
Sydney Olympic Park metro station will feature an underground island platform for everyday use, plus two additional side platforms to provide increased capacity during events.   
 
The city-shaping Sydney Metro West project will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. It will make it easier and faster to travel around western Sydney, link new communities to rail services and support employment growth and housing supply.

Released by Sydney Metro on 9 October 2024.