From the Yellow Pages to an association

The NULCA association was founded 20 years ago, when Shirlee Cook saw there was a need to establish standards for all areas of Australia’s locating industry. Without NULCA’s members’ support, this would not have been achievable.

“People locating back then were listed under detectors electronic in the Yellow Pages. The industry was not even recognised,” NULCA’s Shirlee Cook said.

“In my wisdom, went to a post office, went through all the Yellow Pages from around Australia and posted a flyer, asking who would be interested in forming an association.

“In March 2004 we held our inaugural meeting in South Melbourne where we had 30 people come along from all over Australia.”

The requirement for an industry body was very apparent – with the need for standards, training, and networking very high on the first list.

The outcome from those who attended was to try to provide locators with leadership and support by partnering with utility network operators, specialised equipment suppliers and regulatory bodies.

There was also a need to provide a direct line for all other parties interested in promoting best practices to reduce and eliminate network damages, personal injury, and costs to the community during excavation and construction activities. 

Today, the association focusses on professional utility cable locators and other adjacency services including DBYD certified locators, vacuum excavators (non-destructive digging), CCTV and pipe inspections, utility surveyors, leak detection and ground penetrating radar.

NULCA provides an established network of industry professionals involved in any area of locating underground utilities, damage avoidance and utility mapping. 

The association was involved in the Australian Standard AS5488 and developing a National Training Course for locators.

“What a journey it has been since March 2004,” Cook said.

Training, industry standards, networking, and not forgetting identifying locating as a skill to be recognised with certification.

NULCA has collaborated with some inspirational people who have dedicated their time freely to help achieve goals for members and the industry. 

“The road has been long and slow at times, as we pushed through with industry bodies to have the locating industry recognised,” Cook said.

Anthony Johnstone is a proud member of NULCA, which he deems as a fundamental pillar of the industry.

“I continue to want to see a fair system for locators and recognition for these members for the work they do in the industry,” he said.

Johnstone said this has happened thanks to NULCA’s greatest added values of implementing specific training for the locating industry, providing support for members, and running the first ever damage prevention conference for locators.

“With the ability to work with organisations we have implemented training programs specifically for the locating industry,” he said.

For Coastal Cable Locator’s Scott O’Malley, NULCA is a “great group of resolute volunteers who continue to improve our industry.” 

A sentiment shared by NULCA’s chariman Ian Lambert.

“NULCA has evolved a lot in the past 20 years, from a group of enthusiastic industry participants to an incorporated association to a company limited by shares,” he said. 

“Seems like we may have evolved a little but not saying we have reached the end yet.”

NULCA is a unique entity in the industry because of its status, it takes a village to make this happen because it is a work of love with the help of the changing board members and assistance from members

“Everything we do is on a voluntary basis, so we do not work for NULCA, we work on NULCA,” Lambert said.

“We wish to continue to represent our locator members and the locating industry as a whole. 

With recognition comes the ability to sit on other boards and working parties and advisory groups to give locators a true presence to help achieve this.”

Moving forward, NULCA’s next event will be its 20 year anniversary to be held 16 and 17May 2024 on the Gold Coast, where NULCA will offer a warm welcome to anyone interested in the locating industry.

“With suppliers invited, good presentations and two evening functions we hope to see all interested parties attend,” Lambert said.

For more information, visit NULCA’s website.

This article featured in the February edition of Trenchless Australasia.