A Bolt from Bluey boosting jobs in the West
19 Sep 2016
A humble rock-bolt, engineered using Australian innovation has provided ongoing job security for 160 workers at Campbelltown and 25 employees at Gladesville in Sydney's West. Workers at manufacturing company Jennmar and civil engineering firm Bluey Technologies will this month start work building a 'first of its kind' rock bolt for the WestConnex project as part of a $25 million deal. The 'Bluey bolt' will make its world debut next month in underground tunnels connecting Homebush and Haberfield (M4 East) and the New M5, linking Haberfield to St Peters. A downturn in the mining industry has led to many job losses in associated sectors, however Bluey and Jennmar have both experienced a boom in employment. The WestConnex contract will create 18 new jobs, with a further 52 existing employees, including engineers, trainees and steel workers finding work on the project. An inner west success story, Daniel Bosco built his civil engineering firm from the ground up in Rozelle thirteen years ago, before moving to Gladesville. “If it wasn't for this project we would be looking at halving our business rather than doubling it to 25 people,” Mr Bosco said. “This tunnelling project is fantastic news for workers in the west.” 22-year old Victor Ngo is one of two Sydney University graduates, recently hired as civil engineers at Bluey. “For me this is a great start to my career, it feels good to work on a huge project, which I know will have a positive impact on people,” Mr Ngo said After three years of research and development, including trials in France, the 'Bluey bolt' will next month start being drilled into the roof of the M4 East tunnels to help stabilise them. By the projects end, more than forty thousand of the steel bolts will fill 14.5 kilometers of tunnel. “Until now rock-bolts have been fairly vanilla, this new design enables the entire head and nut to be driven into the tunnel wall, making it safer and more cost efficient,” Mr Bosco said. “This innovation means we can not only compete with imports from Asia and Europe but better yet we can export this ripper Aussie design into tunneling projects overseas, with high demand in the US also.” Managing Director of Jennmar Peter Roberts says his company is the second largest employer in the Narellan District. “This contract has given us the opportunity to continue providing work, jobs and security during and after the WestConnex project,” Mr Roberts said. “The Bluey bolt puts us at the forefront of manufacturing on a world-wide basis and demonstrates the ability of Australian companies to invent and innovate in the manufacturing sector.” Bluey Technologies are also supplying joint venture partners CPB Samsung, John Holland and Dragados with cement grout to hold the rock bolts in place. During construction WestConnex will support 10,000 jobs, including hundreds of apprenticeships.
