The 8th National ASTT Conference and Exhibition kicked off in Melbourne during lead up to the AFL Grand Final, attracting hundreds of local delegates as well as visitors from Canada, China, Germany, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Featuring wide-ranging business sessions, large exhibition area and lively social program, the event was a great success with many delegates, exhibitors and international guests commenting that it was the best trade event they had ever visited.

Technical talk

Victorian ASTT Councillor Chris Frangos and his committee worked tirelessly as Program Chair to put together an outstanding technical program with a range of quality papers that included an impressive range of international speakers.

Presentations throughout the event covered a range of topics including in-depth discussion of asset management, relining case studies, pipe jacking and microtunnelling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD). In addition, the event hosted a free ‘bootcamp’ to introduce participants to Trenchless Technology and following the conference a day of training on condition assessment, pipe bursting, pressure pipe rehabilitation and HDD with trenchless experts Dr Dec Downey and Dr Samuel Ariaratnam.

Trenchless on show

The exhibition kicked off with an opening cocktail party where ASTT Chairman Trevor Gosatti welcomed representatives from across the trenchless industry to the event. There were over 60 companies exhibiting the full range of trenchless machinery, products and services. Trade visitors packed the 2,200 square metre space and traffic was high throughout the two-day event. Exhibitors reported ‘a quality crowd’ of over 650 delegates, speakers, exhibitors and trade visitors attending the exhibition.

This year’s best booth award went to TT Asia Pacific. The impressive TT Asia Pacific booth attracted a constant stream of visitors with the genuine Grundodrill and other equipment on display and the TT Asia Pacific team on hand to answer all the questions.

The social side

The social events at Trenchless Australasia 2009 were a resounding success. The exhibition lunches, Opening Cocktail Party, River Cruise and Gala Dinner provided networking opportunities and entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere.

The River Cruise, sponsored by Vermeer, was a fabulous night. Guests dressed up for the gangster theme, which was complemented by casino, with roulette and black jack. The evening aboard the Voyager was made complete with a tasty buffet dinner and dancing.

The Gala Dinner and Awards night, sponsored by Interflow, was a highlight of the conference. Dinner was held in the Member’s Dining Room offering spectacular views of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. AFL-themed entertainment provided by Hawthorn alumni Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico was a hit. The industry celebrated another successful conference in style with excellent food, a live band, and plenty of dancing.

Trenchless awards

The Gala Dinner is the industry’s opportunity to recognise the achievements of companies and individuals and celebrate excellence in Trenchless Technology.

The finalists for Project of the Year were;

  • Onslow Road Stormwater Upgrade – Advanced Pipeline Services
  • Rehabilitation of sections of the North Georges Submain (NGRS) – Interflow
  • Sewer Rehabilitation Program – Project Max and North Shore City Council
  • Lining of Stone Arch Stormwater Conduit, Haymarket–Water Infrastructure Group ISTT Chairman Dec Downey presented the award for 2009 Project of the Year to Interflow’s rehabilitation of sections of the North Georges Submain (NGRS) for Sydney Water.

The Lifetime Achievement award is a special award that recognises an outstanding contribution over many years to the trenchless cause. This year the award recognises Menno Henneveld. Mr Henneveld was the inaugural Chairman of the ASTT and served in the role from 1991–2009. He was instrumental in the promotion of the trenchless industry throughout Australasia and the world.

Alan Sutton from Kembla was recognised as Person of the Year and Joel Chong from Calibre Projects was awarded Young Person of the Year.

Until next year

See you next year in Coffs Harbour 17–20 October for Trenchless Live 2010, an experience like no other. A chance to see, hear and touch trenchless technology in action.