I want to thank all of those who took the time and opportunity to respond to the Internet survey conducted by ISTT to develop the Society’s Strategic Plan. This Plan will set the future direction of ISTT and will shape the policies and approach taken to our rapidly changing environment over the next five years. The International Board of ISTT will consider for endorsement the draft of the Strategic Plan at the Brisbane No-Dig in October, 2006.
There have been some significant decisions made by the Executive Sub-Committee of the International Board of ISTT with respect to future International No-Dig and Regional Trenchless events. The 25th International Conference and Exhibition will be the No-Dig Mediterranean 2007, hosted by the Italian Society for Trenchless Technology in Rome on the 10 -12 September, 2007. The No-Dig for 2008 will be hosted by the Russian Society in Moscow during the northern summer. Regional events which the ISTT has indicated it will support in 2007 include Trenchless Dubai in March, 2007; the NASTT National Trenchless event in San Diego in April 2007 and a Trenchless event in Macau conducted by the Chinese Hong Kong Society in the last quarter
of 2007.
Trenchless in Australasia
It was very pleasing to be able to award Rob Tindall from Underground Services Australia the very first National Certificate Level III in Civil Construction (Trenchless Technology). Most will recall the response from ASTT to requests from our Members for recognised training in Trenchless Technology. ASTT worked closely with CCF to develop training packages based on nationally recognised competency standards. Together with funding from the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund, these training packages were developed in close liaison with the trenchless industry practitioners to provide practical, industry focussed training packages. It is now up to industry to provide their employees with the opportunity to participate in these nationally recognised training courses.
The latest report from the Conference Organising Committee on progress for the Brisbane International No-Dig event shows that exhibitor participation, sponsorship and presentation papers are all meeting expectations. As always, we would like to see delegate numbers confirmed a little earlier, but it is expected that the end of July early-bird discount will start to attract numbers. The Conference agenda is outstanding and has drawn considerable praise from international quarters. It is now up to Australian and New Zealand participants to show their support for this Event, which promises to be bigger and better than the last International No-Dig conducted in Perth in 2000.
It was also pleasing to hear of the success of the “Trenchless Technology – The Unseen Solution” conducted in Melbourne on 12 July 2006. There was a particular focus on the Trenchless options available to those responsible for underground asset management, and the financial realities and project planning and development needs of those involved in Trenchless projects. These topics and the means of dealing with them clearly demonstrated the next level of evolution of our industry in Australia and New Zealand.
Menno Henneveld
Chairman ISTT,