Trenchless Technology events in Asia have always had for me a bit of special magic reflecting the venue, the mix of delegates and exhibitors and the amazing culture, language and local geography aspects and so I approach the upcoming 24th International No Dig Conference in Brisbane with great anticipation. Osaka in 1990, Taipei in 1997 and the Trenchless Asia events in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai all had their special feel and 18th International Conference in Perth was without parallel so can the Aussies do it again – you bet they will! Nobody throws a party quite like Australians.

One of the key contributions will be the special workshop to discuss the applications and experience of Trenchless Technologies in the region with promised participation from Japan and Korea in the North, the US and Canada in the East, India in the West and a whole host of folk from the centre of the region including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China and we hope many more. The region offers a rich and varied challenge to our industry ranging from the old colonial cities with their ageing infrastructure flavoured with British, French, Dutch even Russian engineering practices of the 19th Century to the Asian mega-cities with an overwhelming need for the provision of first time water and sewerage.

There is much to be gained from technical exchange within the region; Japan developed much of our understanding of microtunnelling off the back of its amazing achievement building around 250,000 km of its sewer network since 1960, mostly in the urban environment. South Korea repeated this sewer building miracle in the 1980s so both nations have a wealth of experience to share with their neighbours and it should be a two way street as Korea enters a new era of sewer rehabilitation as it gets down to the task of tackling about a third of its 85,000 km network over the next twenty years. Good exchange can also be anticipated with Hong Kong where the Water Supply Department is now embarking on a water mains renewal program of major proportions 3000 km in a little over ten years, a great challenge for system providers and local contractors and the Workshop should bring forward a good discussion on the issues such as stand alone pipe linings being faced there.

The needs gap in the developing countries presents a totally different challenge and contributions from all may help the industry to gather its thoughts perhaps for presentation to the principle funding agencies active in the region, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the World Bank.

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Delegates from India may bring forward news of their initiative to harness trenchless initiatives in the countries participating in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Planning for the Workshop is at an advanced stage and briefing notes will be issued to the official spokesmen of the ISTT affiliates and associates in the region in the next few days. Individual contributions from all interested in the region are welcome too – we plan to have a lively debate and issue a formal summary communiqué after the event. So come prepared!