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NSW Issues Default Notice to M6 Tunnel Builders, Sets May 1 Restart Deadline

Officials insist the consortium accepted the construction risk under its contract.

Overview

  • Transport for NSW and NSW Motorways ordered the CPB‑GhellaUGL joint venture to resume tunnelling by May 1 or face potential legal action.
  • Agencies say a technical solution exists to complete the final 10% of the tunnels and warn they may appoint another contractor if work does not restart.
  • Tunnelling has been stalled since March 2024 after a 10‑metre‑wide sinkhole at Rockdale left about 244 metres of the twin tunnels unfinished.
  • Premier Chris Minns and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said taxpayers should not fund the fix and that the builder must make good on the project.
  • The opening target now stands at end‑2028, budget papers put costs near $3.193 billion, and estimates hearings revealed $5 million spent on external legal advice.