Of the visitors to No-Dig Down Under 2011, over 400 were first timers to the event. Over the course of four days, delegates attended training sessions led by world-class trenchless experts, including ISTT Chairman Dr Samuel Ariaratnam and Dr Tom Iseley, Professor at the IUPUI-Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana. The conference program consisted of presentations from international and local speakers; as well as the Asset Management Forum and the Keynote Breakfast Session open to the public and featuring a speaker from NBN Co Ltd.

Featured sessions included relining, HDD, condition assessment, tunnelling, rehabilitation, new technologies and standards, underground solutions as well as two super panels on rehabilitation and installation. Throughout the event, delegates had the opportunity to view an impressive array of the latest technology in the exhibition hall.

The Platinum sponsor of the event was Interflow; Gold sponsor was Vermeer; Silver sponsors were Kembla Watertech, Insituform Pacific and Zueblin Australia; Bronze sponsors were Bothar Boring and HOBAS; and sponsors were Murphy Pipe and Civil and Bettergrow.

Trenchless people

This year’s conference drew delegates from Australia and New Zealand as well as Italy, Switzerland, US, Netherlands, Thailand, Germany, China, UK, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

The conference continues to move forward with great momentum, with interest and attending numbers growing from year to year. This year’s conference saw attendance numbers exceed those of Trenchless Australasia 2009, which had 682 attendees. Moreover, the 2009 event built on the 2008 event, which had 420 attendees.

Super Panels

Upon registering for the conference, delegates were offered the opportunity to submit questions on rehabilitation and installation to shape the Super Panel discussions.

The Super Panel on Installation was moderated by trenchless expert Dr Sam Ariaratnam, who posed delegate- submitted questions to expert panellists Dave Cook of MWH, Drillit International’s Stuart Harrison and Vermeer Sales and Service’s Simon Coles.

The Super Panel on Rehabilitation was moderated by Queensland Urban Utilities Project Director Kathryn Turner, with a panel comprised of conference speakers Professor Tom Iseley of the IUPUI-Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Interflow’s Ian Bateman, Sastti JV’s Lance Horlyck and Kembla Watertech’s Chris Frangos.

Asset Management Forum

The keynote address of the Asset Management Forum was delivered by the Institute of Public Works’ Leon Patterson, who then joined a panel consisting of QUU’s Shane Makin and the National Utility Locating Contracting Association’s (NULCA) Andy McLean. The audience took the opportunity to question the panel on contemporary issues facing Australian assets.

Turn to page 74 for a detailed report on the Asset Management Forum.

Keynote Breakfast Session, National Broadband Network

The final keynote address for the conference, held in the Exhibition Hall and open to the public, was incredibly well attended. The session had been noted by many attendees as one of the highlights of the conference, outlining one of the new, exciting ways Trenchless Technology is expanding in Australia. National Broadband Network (NBN) Co Ltd State Manager Rob Seal outlined the aims, achievements, and future plans for the project, stating “We only want to dig if we have to.”

For a detailed overview of this keynote session turn to page 32.

Trenchless training

Attendees were given the opportunity to take advantage of specialised trenchless training in addition to the conference program.

Dr Sam led a well-attended training module on HDD, which provided an introduction to HDD applications, discussion on equipment involved in the process, recommended planning criteria, drilling fluid applications and demonstration of environmental benefits to assist and facilitate successful HDD installations.

The second course was on Structural Water Main Renewal and hosted by Dr Iseley. Attendees benefited from Dr Iseley’s incredible experience in the sector.

Bringing the industry together

The social program for No-Dig Down Under 2011 kicked off with a very European flavour, with HOBAS hosting the Beer and Bratwurst-themed Exhibition Opening. ASTT Vice Chairman and Queensland Councillor Andy Krumins officially welcomed attendees to the exhibition opening. A friendly and lively atmosphere was created with German barmaids ensuring all delegates’ beer mugs were kept topped.

The Vermeer-sponsored cruise along the Brisbane River was an unforgettable night of revelry. As delegates boarded the impressively sized ship, they could be overheard joking that a cruise was the best way to keep rowdy trenchless folk from causing chaos in the Brisbane CBD. The boat was festively decked out in Hawaiian themed decorations, with attendees rising to the occasion by donning Hawaiian shirts, festively coloured leis, and grass skirts.

The prestigious Gala Dinner and Awards Evening, sponsored by Interflow, was the most anticipated event of the show. Delegates, exhibitors and their partners made their way to the elegant Victoria Golf Complex for a night of sophistication. The event was hosted by ex-AFL player Richard Champion, whose insight into all things AFL was regaled in a very entertaining way. Trenchless Australasia Editor Kate Pemberton welcomed the guests and introduced Geoff Weaver from Interflow, who congratulated the trenchless industry for its vast accomplishments over the past decade. The guest speaker of the night, Kerry O’Keefe, was very well received as he shared his views on cricket, Australia and life.

Industry recognition

The highly anticipated 2011 ASTT Awards were presented at the Gala Dinner by ASTT Chairman Trevor Gosatti. The projects were judged by the ASTT on their innovation, use of technology, environmental benefits and health and safety.

Project of the Year — Installation

This award went to the Sandgate Avenue Drain Flood Mitigation project, which involved the construction of a 1,550 m long, 2.5 m internal diameter tunnel excavated by a dual slurry-earth pressure balance TBM. The project was completed by Pipelines Alliance.

This project has reduced the likelihood of floods during severe storms to residential, industrial and commercial properties located within the City of Frankston's main catchment area, hence mitigating the severe economic and social impacts associated with flooding.

To read more on the project, turn to page 52.

Project of the Year — Rehabilitation

This award was taken out by the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer Rehabilitation project. The project involved rehabilitating 911 m of sewer with two different relining technologies, and was completed by Water Infrastructure Group.

The project began in January 2010 and is part of Sydney Water’s $A560 million SewerFix Program to improve the sewerage system and help protect community health, the local environment and beaches. The pipe is listed as a heritage item as it is more than a hundred years old and important to our local history.

Young Person of the Year

This award recognises the important role younger members of the Australasian trenchless industry play in the growth of the sector, and to encourage involvement of young people in the sector in years to come. The recipient was Daniel Gamboa, General Manager Asia Pacific Rehabilitation with Insituform Technologies.

Daniel’s involvement with the trenchless industry began early in his career in 1992, during his first engineering position with Sydney Water. In 2006, Daniel was offered the opportunity to re-launch the Insituform brand in Australia as the company’s first Australian employee. Under Daniel’s management, the Insituform Pacific business has grown rapidly to become one of the largest pipeline rehabilitation companies in Australia, with current revenues in excess of $A20 million per annum.

Person of the Year

This award acknowledges an individual who has made major and sustained contributions to the trenchless industry and went to Andy Krumins, who until recently was the Manager Infrastructure Planning for Queensland Urban Utilities.

Andy’s career in the trenchless industry began in the 1960s. He has served as the Queensland councillor for the ASTT since 1994, and is also the Vice Chair of the ASTT.

As one of the ASTT’s longest standing Councillors, Mr Krumins has a wealth of experience in Trenchless Technology.

The award recognises his outstanding contribution to the development of the trenchless industry in Australasia. To read more on Andy’s work, achievements, and recent retirement, turn to page 76.