FULLBORE HDD
Winton Solar Farm
Winton North Solar Farm — HDD Infrastructure
Full Bore HDD was engaged by Sterling Infrastructure to deliver specialist horizontal directional drilling works on the 108 MW Winton North Solar Farm near Benalla, Victoria.
The scope involved three 320 m HDD crossings beneath the Hume Freeway, installing 500 mm diameter sleeves to accommodate bundled underground power infrastructure. Working alongside live high-voltage electrical infrastructure demanded careful planning, controlled construction practices and a strict focus on maintaining safe separation from existing services throughout.
Ground conditions added a further layer of difficulty. A wet Victorian winter combined with unexpected reactive clay along a significant section of the bore alignment, and Full Bore adapted its drilling methodology, tooling and drilling-fluid program on the fly to maintain progress through the changing geology.
The Kemtron drilling-fluid recycling system ran throughout the works, managing and recycling fluids across the large-diameter, long-distance bores. Effective recycling minimised waste, reduced the need for fresh drilling fluid and limited the project’s environmental footprint.
Backed by the newly commissioned Vermeer 60×90 S3, Full Bore’s crew delivered all three crossings despite shifting weather, ground and site conditions.
Winton North is a clear example of Full Bore HDD’s ability to deliver large-diameter, long-distance installations in genuinely difficult conditions — without losing sight of safety, environmental management and service protection.
