Since first publication six years ago, Trenchless Australasia magazine has quickly become a vital communication tool for the industry and a great example of the successful partnership between the ASTT and Great Southern Press.

Great Southern Press is a small, family-owned business that is very proud to be associated with the trenchless industry, and hopes to emulate the industry’s inventiveness and innovation in our own products.

In addition to Trenchless Australasia, we also publish Trenchless International for the ISTT, as well as other industry titles including The Australian Pipeliner, Gas Today and EcoGeneration, along with associated websites and events.

Around 3,000 copies of each edition of Trenchless Australasia are printed and directly mailed not just to ASTT members and others active in the industry, but to all asset owners, councils and utilities and other government leaders. As well as providing a vital tool for communication within the industry, Trenchless Australasia also acts as a flagship to represent the industry more broadly, educate decision-makers and to expand the industry.

Alongside the magazine, we also publish the annual Trenchless Directory, now in its 4th edition. This handy reference sits on the desks of utility engineers and asset owners across the country and is a great reference as well as a useful guide to our industry.

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the ASTT in 2011, a special anniversary book will be published, documenting the history of the industry and the pioneers and colourful characters that have made it what it is today.

All publishing companies in recent years have been faced with the challenge of moving online and it is one that we’ve met head on. We still believe there is a strong role for print publications, and our advertisers and readers still strongly agree. The tangible feel of a hard copy magazine, the appeal of the colour and design, the reliability and trust demonstrated by the effort undertaken to produce it are all things not easily replaced online.

At the same time, we have enthusiastically embraced the web for what it can offer. You can read every edition of Trenchless Australasia online at no charge. Additionally, the website offers a range of other information, including the directory and news articles. The website has received nearly 200,000 page views since it was launched, and is currently receiving over 5,000 audited unique visitors every month, meaning it’s reaching a considerably wider audience than just the magazine. Every two weeks we also send an e-newsletter, keeping readers in touch with the latest news.

In addition to the publishing side, we also organise events and have been very proud to have organised the last three major ASTT Conferences in Sydney, Melbourne and now Coffs Harbour. We have recently formalised our arrangements with the ASTT and look forward to many years of successful events.

The innovative Trenchless Live event this year has given us the opportunity to experiment with a new format. In 2011, things return to normal with the major No-Dig Down Under taking place in Brisbane from 3–6 October. Going forward, the plan is to hold the ASTT’s major national conference in every odd-numbered year, with the even-numbered years having a Trenchless Live event and possibly other innovations in the future as well.

In 2011 we are planning a series of low-cost networking events taking place over one day or even just part of the day. These events will be aimed at bringing local ASTT members and potential members together in their home city to have the chance to talk about issues and spread the word more often than just once a year.

We will continue to work to promote trenchless to new people. Every day our team works to expand our circulation list and encourage new people to attend our events, with the aim of them becoming more engaged in the industry and increasing awareness of Trenchless Technology as an infrastructure solution for all utilities and not just a niche industry.

One of our biggest goals is to preach beyond the choir and spread the word about Trenchless Technology. We are talking to the ASTT about ways to take this to the next level, including government-level lobbying, getting more stakeholders and supporters on board and making the most of the media. Stand by for some interesting announcements here.

Also on the drawing board for 2011 are plans to play a role in industry training. We are already in talks with various parties about creating and promoting an expanding training package for the industry.

We are also expanding the range of information we offer and developing some higher-level data, including an in-depth project database and hard data on the size of the industry. This concept is called Trenchless Premium and will be available for purchase online soon.

And we will continue to work every day to ensure that the magazine and events remain the best of their kind.

We’d like to thank the ASTT Councillors, members, and all of our advertisers, exhibitors and contributors for their support in making what we do possible. We are always open to any suggestions and feedback, so please feel free to contact Kate or me anytime via the details elsewhere in the magazine.

We look forward to a huge 2011 for the industry.

Chris Bland

Editor-in-Chief