14th Annual Australian Tunnelling Conference

Opening AddressEd TaylorPresident

Australasian Tunnelling Society

Welcome• This annual event has the backing of the ATS

• It supports and adds value to our Industry

• Sydney, the tunnelling hot spot

• As the National President, I have the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you

A Growth Spurt – 1I commented last year;

Undisputed need for major infrastructure …

… and political influences can adversely impact delivery.

But the pipeline did look rosy!

A Growth Spurt – 2• Sydney’s current monopoly

• Three roads and one rail project,

• A major rail project at tender stage,

• And with more in the pipeline

A Growth Spurt – 3Melbourne now on a roll with its Metroand road project, both under tender

A Growth Spurt – 4Perth’s airport rail line has commenced the construction phase with site works at Forrestfield

and slowly, Brisbane’s Cross River Rail plans are being re-ignited.

Are we coping – 1?• A very positive atmosphere

• Consultants, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers that service our industry all very busy

• Some may even say we are a little over stretched?

Are we coping – 2?• Do our State governments communicate well

enough?

• Managing the procurement process on major infrastructure projects

• Surely appropriate stagged timing is in the best interests of all parties

• Could the ATS help to facilitate at Government level?

Are we coping – 3?• The ATS is formalising a technical advisory

group that could add value in such discussions

• EA’s “Infrastructure Position Statement”

• If you think we can assist in such areas, please talk to us.

Commercial break!• The National Executive is active on a number of

fronts

• We believe these initiatives are to the benefit of our members and the Industry as a whole

• But some feedback would be nice

• Is what we are doing what the members really want?

• And what are we not doing that we should be doing?

“Flag waving” initiativesJust a quick look at a few of our current activities;

• where members, both individual and corporate, can receive a benefit

• and also provide an opportunity to tell their own story for the benefit of others.

ATS Tunnelling Journal

• More local and contemporary articles are needed

• There is much to shout about and plenty of good ideas coming out of the work being done here in our Region.

Our new ATS Journal; a partnership with Tunnelling Journal

Next ATS Conference• Our next triennial conference, this event

should be on everyone’s calendar

• Sydney 2017 this time next year!

• A dedicated subcommittee is working hard

• Please support the call for papers which will be out soon

• We look forward to your support

Our Bid for WTC 2020• We are bidding for the right

to host WTC 2020

• Melbourne is the host city

• A wonderful opportunity to show case our expertise and enthusiasm

• We will know the outcome in June next year

ATS young membersCloser to home• ATSym group is growing and very

active• Challenge to re-vamp the ATS web

site• Launch of our inaugural National

Tunnel Day; this is based on a successful BTSym led event in 2015

• The aim is to promote the Industry by sharing achievements across social and main stream media

Group Technical SessionsAnd off course, not forgetting;

• Monthly ATS technical sessions

• Hard working Group committees deliver

• Quality events that,

are of interest and topical, as well as

provide a valuable networking forum

Supporting other Events• And there are other commercial

conferences, not just this one

• ATS proactive in its support for these ventures …provided that are seen as value to the Industry

• Members receive a discount on registration

In Conclusion• This conference is one of those

• I thank you all for supporting Informa

• The program looks good so let’s get the show on the road!