Our company, Blackley Construction, recently missed the opportunity for a river crossing because the client did not want to any risk of failure for their river crossing because they were aware that an attempt to cross the river further upstream had failed 5 years earlier. While we tried to convince the client that the technology and the methodology had changed considerably since the failed attempt, he was still not prepared to even attempt a drilling solution.
While this is disappointing, it is just the way it is. We also still have the opposite extreme, where trenchless solutions have been specified but they are either the wrong technology or use incorrect tolerances for the technology. This situation is just as frustrating as the one above.
However in making these comments, and from the limited feedback I have obtained from local members, the Trenchless Technology market is buoyant and continues to develop steadily. This is probably linked to a very buoyant civil construction market which is generally facing more work than it can handle due to a lack of skilled and experienced staff.
This staffing issue is one that the trenchless industry needs to confront as well, especially from the site foreman level down. We need to find, train and retain good, intelligent, keen people if we are to continue to grow acceptance of the technology.
Projects Underway
It is pleasing to see micro tunnelling projects underway in Auckland and Wellington and plans for more projects of this nature. It should also to be noted that some of the equipment being used on these projects has been locally manufactured to standards that match equipment being supplied anywhere in the world.
There have also been good number of challenging directional drilling projects out in the market, especially in the north of the north island, and there has been a steady flow of drill work around the country without returning to the crazy communication installation days.
I have also had feedback on the number of pipe lining operations that are underway in different parts of the country and this aspect of Trenchless Technology appears to be gaining some momentum, as is an increased level of interest in pipe bursting which has seen a number of reasonable sized projects in the market.
Seminars Run
In conjunction with the NZ Water & Wastes Association, Blackley Construction ran three introductory seminars to Trenchless Technology. These seminars introduced participants to the range of trenchless options now available in the market and we spent time discussing how these projects need to be planned and monitored, and we also looked at systems and approaches that can be used to get the technology on board in the most effective and appropriate manor.
The seminars were held in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland and proved very successful with around 100 attendees. I must acknowledge the assistance of my co-presenters, Phillip McFarlane from Projectmax in Auckland and John Monro from Interflow in Sydney. I also need to acknowledge the assistance of NZWWA for promoting these seminars and arranging the venues.
Conference
We now have the combined NZWWA/ASTT conference enviroNZ 05 which has to be one of the best vehicles available for the direct promotion of Trenchless Technology to a specific group of people that need to know about what we have to offer.
To this end we have Samuel Ariaratnam from the Arizona State University presenting our Iplex Pipelines keynote address. I have asked Sam to look at where the Trenchless Technology industry has come from, where the industry sits now and what it currently has to offer, and where is the industry going in the future and what might it be able to offer.
We also have a range of technical papers on offer and a workshop session for Friday which will go through all of the stages involved in preparing and putting in place a Trenchless Technology project and includes site visits.
Summary
I believe continued promotion of Trenchless Technology, its applications, its restrictions and its benefits is the key to our success. We have to make the most of the opportunities on offer and at present a continuing and growing workload looks assured. Those in the game have to continue to maintain and improve on their professionalism and continue to develop their techniques and knowledge and also support those who are helping to develop the industry they are working in, specifically the ASTT and the NZWWA.
Grant Binns
New Zealand Councillor, ASTT.
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