Steve first became involved with the ASTT in 2005 at the New Zealand Water and Wastes Association conference in Auckland and regularly attended ISTT and ASTT events. In 2009, Steve was appointed the ASTT New Zealand councillor and continues to be a key player in the industry.

Steve is the Director and founding Partner of ProjectMax, which started up in 2002. The company is an engineering consultancy specialising in pipeline inspection, condition assessment and trenchless rehabilitation. Its clients include utilities, councils and contractors.

Strong advocate for trenchless

Concerning the ASTT, Steve said that industry associations such as the ASTT are important as they give individual members of the trenchless industry a voice, and help promote the use and development of Trenchless Technology.

In the past 18 months Steve has achieved a number of accomplishments in advocating Trenchless Technology.

He has continued and expanded the NZ Trenchless Technology forums.

“The forums are half-day events open to members of the ASTT and others who have involvement or interest in the trenchless industry. There are three forums each year; March, July and November," Steve said.

At each forum there are at least four industry speakers presenting trenchless project case studies, discussing a new technology or other topical/technical issues related to the trenchless industry.

“I believe that the forums have been very successful because they have increased the awareness of trenchless issues, introduced new technology and provided a place for people in the industry to regularly get together,” Steve said.

In addition to organising and holding a live trenchless demonstration event at the 2009 WaterNZ Conference in Rotorua, Steve also campaigned and organised the ASTT Technical Paper Stream at the 2010 WaterNZ Conference in Christchurch.

“In 2009, I commenced discussions with the WaterNZ executive for a Technical Paper Stream as part of their conference program in 2010, with the aim of making it a biannual event. Despite an already very full conference program, our proposal was eventually accepted by WaterNZ and I joined the Conference Technical Committee to promote the stream, and ensure a quality program was developed to show case the ASTT at this conference.

“This stream was indeed very successful as one of the most attended Technical Paper Streams at the conference, providing the opportunity to promote Trenchless Technology to the wider water and wastewater industry and securing an ongoing feature of their conference program,” Steve said.

Furthering industry development

Steve has also helped out with regards to developing industry training across New Zealand. He has volunteered to participate in Industry Advisory Groups working with New Zealand training organisations representing the interests of the ASTT in the review and development of training qualifications.

In addition, Steve also drafted and submitted submissions to the New Zealand Department of Economic Development’s consultation process for the National Broadband Roll-Out (NBR).

Steve said that the written submissions were about how Trenchless Technology can benefit the NBR and the role that the ASTT can play.

The ASTT has also registered its interest in participating in the development of standards for the NBR.

Steve has been an instrumental player in promoting the importance of standards and guidelines for the industry, particularly in New Zealand. With a personal interest in the condition assessment and planning aspects of the trenchless industry, Steve’s company ProjectMax developed the latest edition of the New Zealand Pipe Inspection Manual.

Aiding in the Canterbury recovery

Following the earthquake in Canterbury on 4 September 2010, ProjectMax was requested by Waimakariri District Council to assist them to get their wastewater network back up and running.

“I spent four weeks in the Waimakariri District co-ordinating the removal of the liquefied soil blocking the network, CCTV inspection of the pipes, assessing the pipeline condition and implementing the emergency repairs to the gravity network.

“Our expertise in pipeline condition assessment and rehabilitation meant we could specify the best solution for the council,” Steve said.

As a result, Trenchless Technology played a significant role in the speed of the emergency recovery and its affordability. There were 113 CIPP patches installed in the network to return the wastewater services to the occupied properties in the town of Kaiapoi and surrounds within six weeks of the earthquake.

“The sewers in Kaiapoi and the other nearby affected towns are typically deep, in silty sand with a high ground water table. The cost of open excavation repairs is very expensive and rather slow. The use of Trenchless Technology provided a faster and cheaper option for emergency repair,” Steve said.

Now that the network is up and running, ProjectMax are working with the council to assess options for long-term recovery and identify the sewers in need of full rehabilitation or replacement.

Looking forward to the next challenge

We asked Steve what his goals were for the next year, both professionally and as an ASTT Councillor, to which he responded to keep advocating and promoting Trenchless Technology as well as education and standards development within New Zealand.

Steve said that 2011 will be a challenging year for many in the industry due to the ongoing economic situation and the amalgamation of the seven Auckland councils into a single entity.

“Promoting the technology and continuing the development of skills at this time is important to ensure prosperity of the industry and continued quality growth,” Steve said. “I would hope to grow the ASTT’s affiliate contacts across the utility, water and wastes industries.”

“This year, as every year, I am looking forward to the challenge of growing the business and expanding our great reputation throughout the country,” Steve said.

Steve lives in Red Beach, on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of Auckland with his wife and two children – a four-year old son and three-year old daughter.