Thornleigh Inlet Outlet Main

As Sydney's north continues to grow, Sydney Water is duplicating the drinking water pipeline linking Thornleigh Reservoir and the Thornleigh-Wahroonga Water Pumping Station to secure long-term supply resilience for the region.

Empire Infrastructure supplied approximately 1,184 metres of DN1800 (OD2400) BONNA Reinforced Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe (RCCP) jacking pipe for the project, delivering Australia's first RCCP microtunnelling pipe system.

Supplying Australia's First RCCP Microtunnelling Pipe System

Empire supplied DN1800 (OD2400) BONNA Reinforced Concrete Steel Cylinder Pipe (RCCP), chosen for its compressive strength, durability, and performance under jacking loads. The pipe was suited to a pressurised potable water main rated to PN16.

Each pipe section weighed approximately 22 tonnes and was transported via international break-bulk shipping, requiring specialised lifting and handling at every stage from manufacture through to site.

"RCCP gave this project the pressure performance a raw water main needs, in a pipe that could still be single-pass microtunnelled." Aaron Mackley, Director of Sales & Operations, Empire Infrastructure

A Record-Breaking Microtunnelling Drive

The scope included a record-breaking single-pass microtunnelling drive of over a kilometre, installed beneath private properties and local roads at depths of up to 33 metres. This represented one of the largest diameters attempted for RCCP microtunnelling in Australia.

The combination of DN1800 pipe diameter, PN16 pressure rating, and single-pass installation methodology set a new benchmark for trenchless water main delivery in Australia.

A Project Built on Precision and Partnership

Empire coordinated closely with the Ironbark Joint Venture and shipping and port authorities to keep 22-tonne pipe sections moving safely from manufacture through to site, achieving staged, on-time supply throughout the project.

Through technical precision and reliable international supply, Empire Infrastructure continues to deliver landmark pipe infrastructure projects across Australia.