Sandstone from Sydney Metro tunnels will be reused to help build the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
More than 500,000 metric tons of sandstone will be transported from Metro tunneling sites at Chatswood and Marrickville to the Western Sydney International site.
According to Western Sydney Airport CEO Graham Millett, more than 148,000 metric tons of sandstone have been transported to the airport site since May.
“This high-quality sandstone will be used as a high-strength foundation to support the construction of the runway, taxiways and roads on site,” Millett said. “It is a great example of how we can make the most of Sydney’s infrastructure boom, not only to save taxpayer funds but also to cut down on waste.
“It’s about sustainability and efficiency, reusing resources and reducing carbon emissions,” he added.
“Building the airport is one of the biggest earthmoving challenges in Australian history, but we’ve already moved more than 1,000,000m3 [35,314,700ft3] of earth across the 1,780ha [4,400 acre] site.”
The sandstone is generated by tunnel boring machines excavating the 15.5km (9.6 mile) twin railway tunnels between Chatswood and Marrickville, which are already 50% complete.
Western Sydney International is on track to open for its first passengers in 2026.
