What is Trenchless Technology?

Trenchless Technology refers to a variety of techniques used to install, repair or replace underground infrastructure while minimising surface disruption.

Trenchless Technology has been used for water, wastewater, energy and communications systems in one form or another for decades. The techniques and methods now available are more sophisticated, more accurate and more reliable than ever before, and are used across a wide range of industries with considerable success.

Trenchless Technology reduces traffic delays, and where road traffic is impacted, it is generally for a shorter period of time than with open-cut installation and rehabilitation.

Trenchless Technology minimises environmental damage leaving trees and root systems unaffected. Environmentally sensitive areas are not disturbed and because there are less spoil heaps the likelihood of sediment washing into drains and waterways decreases dramatically. Trenchless Technology reduces the ultimate cost incurred by councils as less spoil means less costly disposal expenses.

Trenchless Technology reduces OH&S risk due to less open excavation; less human entry into deep holes; furthermore the smaller work footprint which means it is easier to prevent public access to the work site.

The sustainable choice

Trenchless Technology has greener credentials than open cut methods. The reduction in both excavation and traffic disruption translates to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

There are also wider community benefits created by selecting trenchless installation or rehabilitation. Less time is wasted by road users stuck in traffic jams, reinstatement costs on private and public lands is decreased, and the loss/reduction of business due to limited access to business locations is minimal. By choosing Trenchless Technology for local infrastructure projects, councils ensure that their community's individuals, families and businesses are not unnecessarily subjected to inconvenient and disruptive road works and their associated costs.

An industry of professionals

The use of Trenchless Technology in the installation and renewal of infrastructure is ever increasing ñ what was once used only occasionally has now become commonplace. As a result, contractors in the industry are highly experienced and well resourced. In addition, they invest in research and new equipment to ensure this improvement continues.

Across Australia, the Trenchless Technology industry is continuing to expand. Ageing infrastructure, water restrictions, increasing urban build-up and environmental concerns have all provided the stimulus for more trenchless projects, while the increasing sophistication of the technology and companies involved means that the industry is able to deliver exceptional service across a wide variety of projects.

Local governments involved with the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure and considering the trenchless option can take advantage of both the benefits of the technology and the experienced practitioners. To find best suppliers of products and services visit www. trenchless-australasia.com/directory

The potential uses for Trenchless Technology are diverse ñ whether infrastructure installation or rehabilitation crosses a local road, under an airport strip, a river, a front garden or past existing infrastructure, Trenchless Technology is the smart, desirable and economic choice.

Before you sign the next contract to install, repair or renovate water, wastewater or storm water networks ask the question: what is the trenchless alternative?

Visit www.trenchless-australasia.com to find out more.

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Case study

Located 160 kilometres north of Brisbane, Gympie is a popular tourist destination in South East Queensland. Gympie Regional Council covers an area of 6,790 sq km and manages approximately 330 km of water mains and 360 km of sewage mains. The Gympie water network is split up in a number of systems, with the water network in Gympie the main system is the second largest system located on the Cooloola coast. The remaining water mains under the management of Gympie Regional Council run throughout smaller towns in the region.

The provision of water and wastewater services to the community is a priority for the council. General Manager of Works East Division Greg Ingham said that Trenchless Technology has played an important role in the water and wastewater networks in the Gympie region.

The installation, rehabilitation and renewal works often involve the use of hydroboring, horizontal directional drilling and pipe jacking. One such example was the relocation and renewal work undertaken for the mains running under the 1,700 km Bruce Highway before the highwayís upgrade, in which boring and jacking was used to lower and renew the sewer and water mains.

Ingham has been working for Gympie Regional Council for two and a half years and considers the construction and maintenance, along with maintaining assets and interacting with the community, to be the most enjoyable parts of the role.