Trenchless Technology is changing the way underground infrastructure is managed in Australia, and the seminar was specifically focused on bringing trenchless practitioners together with representatives of local councils and water/wastewater authorities, especially those who are not particularly experienced in the use of Trenchless Technology, to highlight the benefits of the technology to new potential markets.

The combined problems of increasing urbanisation, environmental restrictions, ageing infrastructure and diminishing water supply were all highlighted to council and authority representatives, as was the ultimate conclusion facing many underground asset installation or rehabilitation projects – Trenchless Technology as not just an option, but in many cases a necessity.

Reflecting the unfamiliarity of many attendees with Trenchless Technology, the opening presentation for the seminar, delivered by ASTT Secretary Jeff Pace, was titled ‘Trenchless Technology – Where do I start?’

In his presentation, Jeff addressed the options available for both new installations and the rehabilitation of existing assets. Issues considered included the costs of Trenchless Technology compared to other options, the financial realities and planning that needs to be done, environmental issues and strategies for contracting as well as dealing with all the planning, regulatory, insurance and other legal issues that can arise.

Contracting strategies and legal issues were also up for discussion, with lawyer Arch Fletcher of Clayton Utz putting some of the main legal issues associated with contracting into plain English, explaining the basic structure and looking at the advantages and disadvantages of Lump Sum, Pre-Qualified, Schedule of Rates and Alliance contracts, including a few traps to avoid and plenty of tips for the unwary.

Lance Horlyck of L.J. Horlyck and Associates was on-hand to discuss inspection and condition assessment, looking at the processes in establishing, implementing and evaluating a program for the trenchless rehabilitation of a gravity pipe network. Lance covered issues such as problem realisation, asset criticality, inspection and assessment techniques, and data capture and processing, trenchless rehabilitation capabilities, tender documentation, rehabilitation evaluation and contract management.

A number of case studies were also presented during the seminar. From Infrastructure Constructions, Business Development Manager Peter Brown and Construction Manager David Gunnell presented a general introduction to Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), and then led discussed a recent project which highlighted many of the practical issues which arise in a typical HDD project.

Relining projects were covered by Chris Frangos, Kembla Watertech’s Business Development Manager for Water and Pressure Pipeline renewals, who looked at the practical details of recent projects undertaken by Kembla in both water and sewer (pressure and non-pressure) pipes. Interflow Marketing Manager John Monro also looked at sewer rehabilitation, presenting on a project that aimed to reduce infiltration and inflow into a waterside sewer system.

After a day filled with informative presentations, mixed in with a variety of valuable networking breaks, including a close-of-day happy hour, the feedback from attendees at the event was overwhelmingly positive – which bodes well for the next seminar to be staged by Trenchless Australasia, in Brisbane on 1 August.