Project:
Westmead Metro Station, Sydney Metro West
Location:
Westmead, Sydney NSW
Asset Owners:
Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium (GLC)
Client:
Sydney Metro
Project Completed:
1 August 2025
Project Background
Westmead metro station forms part of Sydney Metro West, a major underground rail development connecting Greater Parramatta to the Sydney CBD. The station is being constructed as a large underground cavern, supported by additional excavation zones, including a cross-over cavern, stub tunnels, and a station cavern to accommodate rail infrastructure and operational requirements.
The Challenge
The Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package requires a high-performance waterproofing system capable of protecting large, complex underground structures while achieving a 120-year design life. The scale of the caverns, combined with multiple interfaces - including cross-over caverns, stub tunnels, and enlarged excavation zones - introduces additional complexity in maintaining a continuous, watertight system.
Ensuring long-term durability requires a robust, fully sealed solution designed to manage groundwater ingress, accommodate structural movement, and maintain performance under varying ground conditions. The system must be reliably installed across extensive areas while meeting strict project specifications and quality requirements to ensure long-term asset protection.
The Bluey Solution
Bluey Technologies successfully delivered a complete BluSeal Very Low-Density Polyethylene (VLDPE) Tunnel Liner System for the Sydney Metro West – Western Tunnelling Package. VLDPE was installed throughout the Westmead metro station, including in the cross-over cavern, stub tunnels, and station cavern. It was selected for its enhanced durability and resistance to mechanical stress, making it well-suited to demanding underground environments where long-term performance is critical.
The system was supplied and installed by Bluey, ensuring full alignment between design intent and on-site execution. This included over 22,000m² of BluSeal VLDPE membrane, more than 2km of rearguard waterstops and injection hose for compartmentalisation and future maintenance, and approximately 6,000 bolt anchors to maintain membrane integrity across the structure.
Through integrated system design, engineered detailing, and hands-on installation support, Bluey delivered a continuous, fully welded waterproofing solution capable of achieving long-term performance in line with project requirements.
Client Benefits
High-durability VLDPE system supporting a 120-year design life in demanding underground conditions
Fully welded, continuous membrane ensuring reliable waterproofing performance across complex cavern interfaces
Compartmentalised system using rearguard waterstops and injection hose to enable targeted maintenance and long-term risk management