Trenchless Australasia

April 2010

From the Chairman’s Desk

We are now full speed ahead in to the New Year, and for the Australasian trenchless industry, we hope that it will bring many new opportunities post the global financial crisis.

Secretary’s Corner

New Members On behalf of the ASTT, I extend a warm welcome to the following new members.

See how they did it - rehabilitating the NGRS

The world’s largest spiral wound pipe project, installed by Interflow for Sydney Water in 2009, is on display at Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

Engineering 101 with Philip McFarlane

Philip McFarlane was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand at a ceremony on 19 March 2010. Mr McFarlane was recognised for input into improving Trenchless Technology practice and new techniques for rehabilitation of sewers in New Zealand.

A public affair

CIVENEX – Australia’s Annual Construction and Public Works Expo will be showcasing new products and innovations at the Western Sydney International Dragway from 20–21 May.

ASTT wrap up

At the 2010 ASTT AGM hot topics included changes to the board, the success of Trenchless Australasia 2009 and a positive outlook for the industry in 2010 and beyond.

Recognising industry leaders - ASTT Awards

Nominations for outstanding trenchless industry people and projects for the 2010 ASTT awards will close 30 August – do not miss the opportunity to recognise the leaders in our industry.

Workshops announced

Trenchless Live 2010 will feature a range of training which will be delivered via classroom and hands-on methods. An innovation at this year’s conference will be the inclusion of Toolbox Meetings. These sessions will offer delegates the opportunity to listen to a range of participants speak about the development and implementation of a single project.

Gympie Regional Council

Located 160 kilometres north of Brisbane, Gympie is a popular tourist destination in South East Queensland. Commonly referred to as the ‘Town that Saved Queensland’, the discovery of gold in 1867 sparked the Gympie Gold rush of the late nineteenth century, saving the state from almost imminent bankruptcy and enabling the colony’s economy to survive.

TTAP bursts the bubble on competition

Purchasing equipment for major projects is an important choice for contractors in the industry. TT Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd tells of two projects using machines that helped with their successful completion.

Frankston Drainage Improvement Project

Lucy Eldred

As a low lying area, Frankston on Melbourne’s Peninsula is subject to serious flooding during severe wet weather. Tunnelling works are currently underway as part of the $A41 million Frankston Drainage Improvement Project, which is one of Melbourne Water’s biggest projects and will provide increased protection from flooding and improve drainage in the area.

Broadbanding the Top End: HDD and then some

Northern Arnhem Land was recently linked to the rest of the country’s fibre optic network as part of Telstra’s $A34 million Broadbanding the Top End project. The harsh climate and inhospitable terrain, areas of cultural sensitivity and the crocodile mating season meant that the installation of over 800 kilometres of fibre optic backbone cable running across Kakadu National Park in Arnhem Land was no easy feat.

End of dry spell for Cloncurry

Until recently the town of Cloncurry has experienced water shortages due to extended periods of drought but with the support of the Queensland Government and Trenchless Technology water will soon be pouring in.

Down and dirty with Lucy Loo

At this very moment, ‘Lucy Loo’ the tunnel boring machine and her team are working on the Melbourne Main Replacement Sewer Replacement. Trenchless Australasia visited the site in Port Melbourne, and learnt about the technological complexities of the project and met the people responsible for improving the city’s sewer network. Kate Pemberton reports.

CIPP takes centre stage at the Horden Pavilion

During a routine CCTV inspection under the Hordern Pavilion, Kembla Watertech found concrete blocking a sewer pipe and used CIPP to save the stage.

CIPP gets a Singapore Sling

Singapore’s national water agency, Public Utility Board (PUB), have awarded four contracts totalling $US18.5 million to Insitu Envirotech.

How to select access chamber coatings

Ian Bateman, Interflow

Manhole maintenance is essential to the upkeep of the entire wastewater system. Ian Bateman from Interflow looks at the role of calcium aluminate cements in the strategy for renewing access chamber and underground structures.

A family affair with ISCO

Family-owned company ISCO opened its doors in 1962 and is still operated by the original owner and his two sons. ISCO has 28 locations worldwide including Brisbane and is concentrating solely on serving the high density polyethylene pipe market.

Why trenchless is the ‘green’ choice

Governments and the broader community are demanding environmentally friendly choices and sustainable solutions – especially of the construction and infrastructure industries.

Relining Ringleader

John Monro has served on the board of the ASTT for eight years. A qualified engineer, he has been involved with Trenchless Technology since the early 1990s. Trenchless Australasia spoke to John about his take on the industry and his career so far.

Trenchless Technology sparks the gas industry

Gas will be the source of more than one third of Australia’s electricity generation by 2030, according to a recent report launched by Australian Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson.

Gas in the pipeline

Thousands of kilometres of gas networks stretch across Australia, and Trenchless Technology is becoming a commonly used method to minimise the impact on the environment and on local residents. Trenchless Australasia spoke with Jemena in regards to their recent gas projects.

FutureGAS 2010 fires up the industry

The movers and shakers of the gas industry gathered recently for the FutureGAS 2010 Conference and Exhibition, held from 9–11 March.

Boring the urban environment

Codmah overcame the challenge of construction in an urban environment, installing a high pressure gas line in Paddington, New South Wales using a combination of open cut and under road boring.

Directional drilling for Devil Creek

Drilling works are currently underway for the installation of the offshore gas pipeline as part of the Devil Creek Development Project, 40 kilometres southwest of Dampier in Western Australia.

Nine hole win for HDD

AJ Lucas won the $A95 million contract to use horizontal directional drilling to construct nine holes as part of the Gorgon LNG Project in Western Australia.

Dig your paws in

Access to highly-urbanised subterranean infrastructure is becoming increasingly constrained, with ever increasing environmental impact concerns, companies in the trenchless drilling industry need affordable ways to process their mud solids.

New HDD rig designed to meet industry needs

JB Sales International has recently launched Astec Underground’s latest HDD rig, the DD-4045. Trenchless Australasia was in attendance and spoke to the developers of the rig.

Using drill slurry resourcefully

Up until now the question of ‘what to do with that drill slurry’ has been unanswered. After investigations on how to improve the HDD industry and its work practices it has been discovered that the disposal of drill slurry is not only extremely important but can also be recycled to benefit the environment.

Down the hole for free with HDD products

Brendan McConnell, Tsubaki Australia

Tsubaki Australia can provide HDD drill pipe together with a full range of complementary down hole tools including saver subs, starter rods, sonde housings, backreamers, pilot bits and more. The products the company stock are manufactured and supplied by Ballantine Inc USA.

AHD Trenchless earns ‘A’ for grades

AHD Trenchless has been awarded the Braybrook Sewer Diversion contract by principle contractor MFJ Construction and City West Water. Here the drilling team reports on the unique ground conditions of the project.

No need to borrow the neighbour’s vacuum

Greg Ehm, McLaughlin

Vacuum excavators have been on the construction scene for decades but it wasn’t until recently that councils and contractors have discovered what these machines can really do.

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