More than 1500 people converged on Cooma on Sunday, October 12 to welcome the latest Snowy 2.0 big rig – one of the largest traffic loads ever transported in NSW.
The main drive of TBM Monica – an integral component of the project’s fourth mega borer – drew an excited crowd of onlookers to Cooma town centre.
Spectators also flanked driveways and homes between Bredbo and Adaminaby to catch a glimpse of the big rig.
The convoy tipped the scales at a mammoth weight of more than 450 tonnes – across five trucks and a trailer, driven by 210 wheels across 35 separate axles.
Snowy Hydro Head of Social Impact and Community Sarah Norris described the transfer as a major milestone for both the project and the community.
“We were blown away by the attendance – it was a truly special evening, with an incredible atmosphere, as people lined the footpaths for the best vantage point to watch,” she said.
“It almost felt like a festival was taking place – we had free hot choccies and coffees and talented musician Leon Fallon on-hand to keep the crowd entertained
“Thanks to everyone who attended, we appreciate there were quite a few little people that stayed up past their bedtimes to witness a little piece of Snowy history.”
The mega transfer evoked memories for some community members of the mighty Thornycroft Antars hauling machinery and construction equipment through Cooma as part of the original Snowy Scheme decades ago.
There are 23 oversize loads being carefully planned and transported to Snowy 2.0 sites over the coming weeks associated with the assembly of TBM Monica.
COST REASSESSMENT UNDERWAY FOR ON-SCHEDULE SNOWY 2.0
03/10/2025
Snowy Hydro has directed Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV) to undertake a comprehensive line-by-line reassessment of its costs to deliver Snowy 2.0, as the project’s delivery remains set for its December 2028 completion.
At 67 percent complete, Snowy Hydro believes material cost pressures mean now is the time to oversee FGJV as it carries out the cost reassessment which is expected to take up to nine months to complete. Independent construction cost experts have been engaged to verify the principal contractor’s reassessment.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said Snowy 2.0 has made good progress since the 2023 project reset. Delivery rates have almost doubled in the past two years, with the average monthly progress of 0.57 percent increasing to 0.91 percent, and August 2025 hitting 0.98 percent delivery. This is despite pressures that reflect cost and productivity challenges currently being experienced across countless major infrastructure projects.
“Since the reset, the project has generally been progressing well and is now 67 percent complete,” said Mr Barnes.
“Despite disruption, including work stoppages due to safety concerns and continuing challenges with geology, we’ve been able to recover that time and get us to where we need to be in terms of schedule.
“The reset was about getting Snowy 2.0 moving again by creating a more collaborative relationship with the principal contractor and achieving safe progress. We’ve done both, but the productivity uplift hasn’t been to the degree we needed.”
Some of the most significant sources of cost pressure for Snowy 2.0 since the reset include:
Costs associated with contractor productivity targets not realised: While the 2023 reset succeeded in substantially increasing productivity, there remain challenges. This is due to a combination of factors, including delays from TBM stoppages in 2024, work stoppages associated with safety concerns and general productivity underperformance. Our reassessment will examine past productivity performance and our future productivity requirements.
Costs of de-risking challenging geology no longer being able to be absorbed: A fourth TBM will be used to derisk challenging geological conditions through the Long Plain Fault Zone and help protect the project’s schedule. The initial assessment was that the cost to purchase, deploy and operate would be covered within the project costs, however cost pressures have meant this is no longer possible.
Supply chain cost increases: Our contractor has identified unforeseen supply chain cost increases to significant, bespoke procurement, including major offshore purchases associated with Snowy 2.0’s underground power station.
Mr Barnes said while the need to reassess Snowy 2.0’s cost is disappointing, the critical importance of the project to electricity users across the network has not changed.
“Snowy 2.0 will be a cornerstone of Australia’s transition to renewable energy, providing more than half of the long-duration storage the grid needs by 2050.
“It will enable the introduction of more wind and solar by acting like a giant battery, storing and delivering enough excess energy to power around 3 million homes for a week.
“Snowy 2.0 is being built to operate for 150 years. It is as important to Australia now as the original Snowy Scheme was decades ago.
“Like the original scheme, which still helps underpin electricity reliability today, the benefits of Snowy 2.0 will be felt for generations.”
What weighs more than 137 tonnes, is seven metres wide and is transported by 152 wheels?
An integral piece of Snowy 2.0’s new tunnel boring machine’s cutterhead!
TBM Monica’s centre cutterhead piece was transported through Cooma last Wednesday night en-route to the Marica worksite north of Kiandra.
At 73 metres long, the transfer was a sight to behold as it travelled up Sharp Street bound for the final leg of its journey on the Snowy Mountains Highway.
Snowy Hydro Chief Delivery Officer – Snowy 2.0 Dave Evans said the smooth transfer was the result of months of hard work and planning.
“It’s an amazing sight to watch the huge pieces of our tunnel boring machine travel through Cooma and up to our remote Marica work site,” he said.
“It’s a credit to the project’s hard-working traffic and transport team that we’ve been able to complete this complex operation safely.”
The cutterhead – which is the main excavation tool of a TBM – is too large to move in one piece and has been split into five.
More than 140 big loads have been delivered to the Marica site from Port Kembla in recent weeks.
TBM Monica will become the project’s fourth active mega tunnelling machine, once it is assembled and commissioned in the coming months.
The fourth mega tunnel boring machine on the Snowy 2.0 project will be named after a talented Tumut High School student who scooped top prize in an Indigenous art and storytelling competition.
Aspiring engineer Monica Brimmer, 15, wowed the judging panel with a stunning piece that reflected the spirit and purpose of Australia’s largest renewable energy project.
Inspired by flowing water, connected dams, mountains, energy, an underground power station and a connection to Country, Monica’s creation was awarded top marks in the competition, organised by Snowy Hydro in partnership with the Stars Foundation and Tumut High School.
Cheered on by her delighted schoolmates during a special school assembly, Monica said her artwork represented the creation of renewable energy and symbolised a “greener future in which the land and our animals are better cared for”.
“When my name was read out I felt nervous and surprised but also really proud. I had hoped to win the competition but I really didn’t expect it,” she said.
“Knowing there’s something really important to the project out there with my name, in the mountains, is really cool.
“I’ve been interested in engineering for quite a while – and it’s pretty cool to put art and engineering together as part of something I could put my mind to.”
Monica’s winning artwork.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said Snowy 2.0 is a nation-building project and it’s fitting its next tunnel boring machine will carry the name and vision of a young local student and future engineer.
“Monica’s artwork captures the spirit of clean energy and connection to Country and reflects the brighter, cleaner energy future we’re building together,” he said.
“It’s inspiring to see the next generation in Tumut leading the way on creativity for Australia’s clean energy transformation.”
Snowy Hydro Chief Delivery Officer – Snowy 2.0 Dave Evans said the winning artwork perfectly encapsulated the project’s role in underpinning Australia’s clean energy future.
“Monica’s artwork and the story behind it blew all the judges away,” he said.
“The lightbulb shines bright and displays the power that we’re going to generate for the east coast of Australia through Snowy 2.0’s huge 2200MW capacity.
“It also perfectly highlights our workforce who are almost 1 kilometre deep underground in the Snowy Mountains building one of the world’s biggest power stations.”
Tumut High School principal Brad Taylor said the calibre of entrants was “exceptional”.
“Monica is a highly academic student, and someone that we’re very proud of at the school, so I’m not surprised she’s produced such thoughtful artwork,” he said.
Stars Foundation program coordinator Nioka Marlowe said the competition showcased students’ talents and storytelling skills.
“This made clear to these young Indigenous girls that they’re important – and they’re seen – and gave them an opportunity to be on the big stage,” she said.
The TBM will shortly begin its assembly at the Marica work site, located on the Snowy Mountains Highway near Yarrangobilly Caves, ahead of tunnelling starting in late 2025.
Julie and Monica Brimmer celebrate winning the TBM4 naming competition.
Beyond building one of the most complex and challenging feats of engineering in the world, through its pumped hydro expansion to the iconic Snowy Scheme, Snowy 2.0 is also leaving a skills legacy.
Eight Year 12 students at Monaro High School have become the first NSW cohort to complete a school-based apprenticeship and traineeship (SBAT) program in supply chain operations, all while working on Australia’s largest renewable energy project.
The Cooma students spent one day a week gaining real-world insights and skills at the Polo Flat segment factory, serving as strong foundation for their careers.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the project would create a lasting skills legacy while securing Australia’s clean energy future.
“We are incredibly proud to empower local students by offering career-defining opportunities close to home on this once-in-a-generation project,” he said.
Monaro High School principal James Armitage said students embraced the opportunity to step into the workforce while still attending school.
“This SBAT partnership has shown how powerful it is when education and industry come together with a shared goal of supporting young people into meaningful careers,” he said.
Snowy Hydro has partnered with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to expand captive breeding of the endangered Macquarie perch.
Through the Snowy 2.0 Threatened Fish Management Plan, Snowy Hydro has funded the construction of eight new purpose-built aquaculture ponds at Narrandera Fisheries Centre.
This funding will allow for the reintroduction of the species into protected habitats and boost genetic diversity in locations including in the upper Murrumbidgee River below Tantangara reservoir.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said Snowy Hydro was committed to environmental stewardship while building Australia’s largest renewable energy project.
“We are pleased to work collaboratively with NSW DPIRD Fisheries to carry out the associated monitoring and research that will improve the resilience of Macquarie Perch in both the catchments where Snowy 2.0 will operate and also across the state,” Mr Barnes said.
“Beyond delivering positive environmental outcomes, Snowy 2.0, with a design life of 150 years, will underpin Australia’s clean energy future by storing excess wind and solar power and delivering it to homes and businesses across the grid when it’s needed most.”
Snowy Hydro is now preparing for the arrival of its fourth tunnel boring machine to join Snowy 2.0 – Australia’s largest renewable energy project.
This 178-metre long machine has been purpose-built to excavate a 5km tunnel through a complex geological area deep in the NSW Snowy Mountains, known as the long plain fault zone, that will eventually connect Tantangara reservoir with an underground power station built almost 1km underground.
The TBM has now passed factory acceptance testing at Herrenknecht’s Guangzhou factory in China, ensuring all its major systems (mechanical, electrical, control and hydraulics) are validated and the machine is ready to be shipped to Australia.
The pumped hydro expansion to the iconic Snowy Scheme, Snowy 2.0’s incredible scale and power will translate 2200MW of capacity to 350,000 MWh of energy, taking the excess electricity produced by wind and solar during the day and delivering it to provide stability to our energy grid when it’s needed most.
Snowy Hydro Chief Delivery Officer – Snowy 2.0 David Evans said the project would play a pivotal role in enabling Australia’s transition to clean energy.
“Snowy 2.0 is essentially a giant battery, providing long-duration storage for wind and solar power to complement the short-duration storage that batteries provide,” he said.
“The successful completion of factory acceptance testing is testament to months of meticulous design, rigorous testing, engineering excellence and collaboration.”
Following a comprehensive review, Snowy Hydro is permanently ceasing its cloud seeding program. This decision follows a review that determined the escalating costs of the program outweighed its benefits.
The review, initially announced in June of last year after a program pause in 2024, concluded that the escalating costs and resources required to continue the program would outweigh any benefits.
Increasing costs were primarily driven by Snowy Hydro’s existing cloud seeding equipment reaching the end of its operational life, meaning significant investment would be needed for it to be replaced.
Rising operational expenses for resourcing and fulfilling regulatory obligations also contributed to the decision.
Snowy Hydro will work with stakeholders to develop a decommissioning plan for equipment removal.
Further Information:
Snowy Hydro has conducted cloud seeding since 2004 to enhance snowfall under suitable conditions. The program was backed by scientific research, independent review, and its operation followed stringent environmental regulation.
Work on Australia’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy 2.0, continues with good progress across multiple work fronts, despite recent work stoppages.
Across Snowy 2.0, recent progress of note includes:
POWER STATION CAVERNS
Development of the Snowy 2.0 power station complex is progressing well, with excavation and installation of rock support within the caverns more than 35% complete.
The transformer hall is now almost 50% excavated by volume and the machine hall is now 28 metres deep.
The drill and blast tunnels providing access to various levels within the caverns, and other parts of the power station complex are more than 93% complete.
Excavation of the 266 metre-long collector waterway tunnels, which will pass water from the power station to the tailrace tunnel and onto Talbingo reservoir, is 80% complete.
UPPER RESERVOIR INTAKE
A 40-metre high tower crane is assisting with construction logistics in the Tantangara intake pit, where the project’s first permanent concrete structures are being built. More than 6,600 cubic metres of concrete have been poured so far.
LOWER RESERVOIR INTAKE
A total of 370 metres has been excavated from both ends of the connection tunnel which is 825 metres long and will create a connection between the Talbingo intake structure and the tailrace tunnel.
A 70-metre tower crane has been installed to lift heavy equipment and materials in and out of the intake pit.
MARICA SURGE SHAFT
Excavation of the 240 metre deep and 28 metre wide Marica surge shaft has passed 151 metres.
The shaft will provide water storage when Snowy 2.0’s power station starts up. When the station is shutting down, the Marica surge shaft will also provide pressure relief in the headrace tunnel. When completed, it will be one of the widest and deepest operational shafts in the world.
DOWNSTREAM SURGE SHAFT
Excavation of the upper chamber for the downstream surge shaft is 68% complete. This shaft will be approximately 200m high and provide water storage when the power station starts up in pumping mode and pressure relief in the tailrace tunnel when the power station starts in generation mode.
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES (TBMs) Florence
TBM Florence is excavating the 17-kilometre headrace tunnel, which will connect the underground power station to the upper Tantangara reservoir.
The machine is now more than 3.0-kilometres into the headrace tunnel.
Lady Eileen Hudson
TBM Lady Eileen Hudson is excavating the 6-kilometre tailrace tunnel, which will connect the underground power station to the lower Talbingo reservoir.
The machine has now completed 85% of the tailrace tunnel, having already completed the 2.85-kilometre main access tunnel. This tunnel is now being used by workers to access the power station caverns.
Kirsten
TBM Kirsten is excavating the very steep, 1.6-kilometre Inclined Pressure Shaft (IPS) connecting the underground power station to the headrace tunnel.
The machine has excavated 14% of the shaft to date.
We expect the performance of our tunnel boring machines to continue to vary in line with ground conditions.
TBM4
In December 2024, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure approved Snowy Hydro’s application to deploy a fourth tunnel boring machine. The machine will help protect the delivery timeline by boosting the project’s ability to tunnel through a complex geological fault zone.
Work to prepare for the launch of the machine is underway. It is set to begin excavation by the end of 2025.
RESTART AFTER WORK STOPPAGES
Underground work on Snowy 2.0 has been progressively restarting over the last two weeks. Operations for all three tunnel boring machines are underway, as well as power station drill and blast cavern excavation.
Above ground work was not impacted and continued throughout the period underground work was stopped.
Following a serious safety incident at Snowy 2.0, Snowy Hydro will seek an immediate independent safety review and audit, and will require changes to principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture’s (FGJV) leadership on the project.
These actions follow an underground fan failing and losing part of its blade on Tuesday morning. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Underground work was stopped to allow inspection of all fans. FGJV will work with SafeWork NSW to ensure they are safe, with the aim of progressively restarting work.
Nothing is more important to Snowy Hydro than safety. Recent safety concerns at Snowy 2.0 have made it clear that as the client, our assurance role over FGJV’s activities requires this intervention.
We’re committed to working with our workforce and unions to ensure that the safety standards we expect are in place at Snowy 2.0.
Snowy Hydro has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, covering the progress the energy generator and retailer has made in areas such as environmental stewardship, social impact, and understanding and responding to its carbon emissions and climate risks.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the report reflects the company’s role in enabling Australia’s transition to renewable energy, while highlighting its progress and ambitions.
“At Snowy Hydro, we understand that sustainability goes beyond fulfilling our environmental commitments,” Mr Barnes said.
“It’s about supporting our people, driving better diversity outcomes and making a positive difference to the communities we serve.
“The 2024 report shows the progress we are making and achievements we are proud of. While we recognise there is still more to do, this report serves as our roadmap, keeping us accountable and focused on delivering even better outcomes for stakeholders and the community in the future,” Mr Barnes said.
Mr Barnes also acknowledged Snowy Hydro’s responsibility as custodian of the water that flows through the Snowy Scheme, highlighting its role in balancing electricity network reliability, with the irrigation needs of farmers and other water users.
Key sustainability achievements in the 2023/2024 financial year include:
Producing 3,937 GWh of renewable electricity from our hydro generation assets – enough energy to power around 600,000 homes for a year.
Growing our mass market retail brands business to 1.4 million customers, with a focus on delivering authentic, personal customer service.
Our retail brand Red Energy recognised with the Customer Satisfaction Award for the 14th year in a row
7,958 students benefitting from Snowy STEM Academy programs
Keeping our people safe, reflected in our low Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate (TRIFR) score
Delivering five events of 8-hour peak water flows from Jindabyne reservoir to improve the health of the Snowy River ecosystem
Maintaining outstanding reliability across our generation assets, with our hydro generators starting successfully 99.7 per cent of the time, and gas 98.5 per cent of the time, underpinning our ability to contribute to stable electricity supply
$557,000 spent through our community giving programs
Increasing the proportion of women in senior leadership roles
$320,000 of funding for Murray River rehabilitation work to maintain waterflow and prevent erosion
Snowy Hydro is the third largest generator of electricity in Australia by capacity. We can generate 5,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity across eight hydroelectric power stations, three natural gas power stations, and four diesel power stations.
Snowy 2.0 and the Hunter Power Project are set to deliver 2,860MW of additional capacity. This significant boost to the network’s capacity will make a meaningful difference to energy supply reliability, particularly on hot days in summer.
When these fast-start generating assets come online, they will enable further wind and solar generation that can displace more than 33 million tonnes of CO2-e per annum.
This carbon emissions displacement would represent a 28 percent reduction in the National Electricity Market emissions from 2022 levels, and approximately 13 percent of Australia’s 2030 total emissions reduction target.
FIND OUT MORE – SNOWY HYDRO COMMUNITY RESEARCH UPDATE
14/11/2024
Findings from Snowy Hydro’s 2024 Community Insights research have now been published, with opportunities for locals to attend in-person information sessions to ask questions and provide feedback.
The research campaign conducted earlier in the year invited all community members across south-eastern NSW to provide their opinions and experiences related to Snowy Hydro operations and the Snowy 2.0 project.
Insights gathered from the survey will help shape Snowy Hydro’s approach to community engagement and commitment to supporting positive social outcomes, according to Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Scott MacKillop.
“We’re really grateful that people gave up their time to talk to us about how they see Snowy Hydro in the community and share their ideas,” he said.
“The research told us there is strong support for Snowy Hydro and the Snowy 2.0 project across the region.
“There was also great feedback around how Snowy Hydro can continue to evolve the way it engages with local communities, which we are using to inform our approach going forward.
“The community also made it clear that there is a strong expectation that Snowy Hydro continues to have a positive impact on the region, particularly in terms of the legacy Snowy 2.0 leaves for the region after construction.
“We look forward to talking with you at the information sessions so you can ask questions and find out more about the recommendations being developed by the Snowy Hydro team.”
The Snowy Hydro community information sessions being held throughout the Snowy Mountains and surrounding areas will give community members a chance to hear about the research findings, ask questions and give us their feedback.
The sessions will also include updates on regional water operations and Snowy 2.0 project construction progress, including plans for a fourth tunnel boring machine and milestones achieved at the Tantangara and Lobs Hole worksites.
The Snowy Hydro Community Insights survey was open to individuals aged 18 and older from the Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Towong, Bega Valley and surrounding local government areas. A series of focus groups, one-on-one meetings, phone surveys and community pop-up stalls supported the online survey.
Research findings will be available on the Snowy Hydro website and at the community information sessions. Details below:
