Corrugated pipes, typically favoured for use in culvert installations, come in a range of materials with their own unique properties, advantages and disadvantages. Modern plastic culvert pipes are made from either corrugated or double-sided PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or HDPE (high-density polyethylene). They are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, cost-effective, and relatively easy to transport and install. However, they are not designed for heavy [...]
FRP composites could increase the lifespan of utility infrastructure. But clear standards for non‑destructive testing are needed to harness the benefits. Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been used successfully for decades as a safe, cost-effective alternative to metals for making vessels, tanks and piping that store and transport corrosive materials in a variety of industries. However, a long-standing barrier to more widespread [...]
How can utilities navigate onboarding and identity challenges remotely without compromising security? Many Australian utilities are faced with a unique challenge: their workforce is often spread across vast geographic areas. This dispersion makes onboarding new team members particularly cumbersome, as it frequently requires field workers to be taken off-site, resulting in wasted time and resources. Unicard offers a range of [...]
With unexpected challenges disrupting construction, Decon’s resilience and adaptability was integral in delivering a major Brisbane urban renewal venture. As a leading specialist in mechanical electrical and installation of building automation systems, Decon Corporation played an instrumental role in the construction of Brisbane’s iconic Queen’s Wharf development. Over a demanding four-year period, Decon maintained a consistent on-site presence of between [...]
Upgrading pipeline infrastructure is a never-ending task, and with hundreds of assets to consider, how can utilities determine where to prioritise their resources? Well-maintained assets are integral to delivering essential services. However, with competing priorities, budget restraints and workforce limitations, utilities will always be faced with the question, when is the right time to repair or replace ageing pipelines? According to [...]
Utilities need to have a deep understanding of the communities they service and their needs in order to project them – and this same customised approach goes a long way for their suppliers, too. In order to face unexpected challenges, organisations need to be able to adapt. VEGA Australia Managing Director, John Leadbetter, said that there is no one instrument [...]
As extreme weather events put an increasing strain on the network, water utilities can bolster their flood resilience to protect public health, homes and the environment. The past decade has seen Australia experience record-breaking extreme weather events, which have in turn had severe impacts on communities. These events are expected to become even more frequent in the next ten years, [...]
In a digital world, fast and reliable internet is more important than ever – but providing this service in built-up areas without disturbing local communities can be a challenge. The rollout of the national broadband network (nbn) continues to bring phone and internet infrastructure up to speed with the needs of modern Australia. Conducting these works in established areas with [...]
Uncoordinated street works can compromise asset integrity and create additional challenges for underground utility renewals. Asset management is a never-ending commitment. Every day, utilities across Australia need to dig up roads to construct or replace critical infrastructure that delivers the essential services we all depend on. At the same time, councils and other road authorities are conducting vital re-sheeting, re-paving and [...]
Toowoomba Regional Council set out on a digital metering journey to identify leaks early and improve water security for the region. Providing a secure water supply, maintaining network assets, driving operational efficiencies and improving outcomes for customers are the foundational challenges faced by every water authority. Toowoomba Regional Council is certainly no exception to this rule, but the geographical conditions [...]
Tough, mixed-ground conditions pose huge challenges for microtunnelling equipment, but Australian innovation can help deliver these tricky projects on time. Mixed terrains, hard rock, and water-saturated soil are some of the most difficult conditions that microtunnelling contractors face, with many projects often deemed too challenging to complete. To tackle these impossible projects, Edge Underground – a leader in microtunnelling and [...]
Interflow has partnered with GO Foundation in its goal to improve lives with action and engage in meaningful reconciliation. Leading provider of pipeline infrastructure solutions, Interflow, has entered a partnership with the Goodes O’Loughlin Foundation (GO) to provide young Indigenous people with vital funding towards the foundation’s scholarship and cultural support program. Interflow Executive Manager of People and Capability, Tracy Keevers, [...]
Cranes serve a vital role in delivering utility assets, but without properly trained operators, these machines can pose a risk to budgets, timelines and safety. Safety is paramount on any worksite, particularly in construction, where powered equipment, heavy materials and other hazards are commonplace. Quinlan Cranes Founder and Director, Tom Quinlan, explained that one of the biggest safety concerns on a [...]
As technology advances and consumers’ needs evolve, it’s important that new systems are adaptable to lay a strong foundation for the future. Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are digital systems that automate the operational equipment for industrial processes. Decreasing the manual input of a process reduces safety risks and increases efficiency, which results in better operations and improved environmental outcomes. NHP Product [...]
In May 2024, the Federal Government released its Future Gas Strategy, providing utilities with greater clarity on how it will approach the unfolding energy transition. Australia’s renewable transition is well underway, with solar, wind and hydro accounting for an increasing share of the nation’s energy grid. Coal-fired power stations are retiring faster than expected. Since Munmorah ceased operations in 2012, [...]
Australia possesses abundant solar resources due to its geographic location and climatic conditions. However, in order to harness theses resources, generation technology needs to be able to withstand the unique environmental challenges our climate presents. Utility looks at how innovative cable solutions tackled termite damage and ensured longevity at the 245MW Avonlie Solar Farm. Situated close to the equator, the [...]
The Essential Services Commission has formed a partnership with key experts to develop better practice guides for energy and water utilities to support consumers who are experiencing family violence. Utility spoke with social entrepreneur and Adjunct Associate Professor, University of New South Wales School of Social Sciences, Catherine Fitzpatrick, about her role in this partnership and how utilities can help [...]
In the utility industry, ensuring the integrity of security seals is paramount, and when a legal issue arises, proving that a seal’s number is unique and exclusively issued to your company is crucial. But how do you ensure your supplier can provide the necessary documentation? As Australia’s first dedicated security seal supplier, Harcor understands just how important a well-managed and [...]
By Dr. Melita Jazbec, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS The energy, water and waste sectors are all striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. A recent study from researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) found that urban organic waste has a significant role to play in meeting this goal. Recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [...]
EJ’s innovative composite access covers are engineered and tested to Australian Standards, for harsh, challenging conditions. High-quality composite access covers are lightweight and anti-corrosive, which provides new advantages and a fresh level of choice for project managers of utilities and municipalities, engineers and designers. Why use composite access covers? High-performance composite access covers are a relatively new arrival in the [...]
Gippsland Water has renewed its Climate Change Strategy, building on the knowledge it has gained since the strategy was originally launched in 2017. This renewal sets ambitious new targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 – two decades earlier than first planned. Gippsland Water’s Managing Director, Sarah Cumming, said that as an essential services provider delivering drinking water and [...]
In addition to reliability and experience, adaptability is a key characteristic that can help companies stand out from the crowd. Companies that embrace innovation not only prove that they can keep up with the times but can also ensure they don’t get left in the dust. Technological innovations have seen the construction industry in particular progress in leaps and bounds. [...]
From humble beginnings in Germany, VEGA is now a world-leading innovator in pressure sensor technology. John Leadbetter, Managing Director at VEGA Australia, shares how the company has served diverse industries across the globe with its reliable solutions and commitment to customer service. VEGA, a family-owned company, was established in 1959 in Germany’s Black Forest, with an initial focus on the [...]
With the growing focus on improving long-term water security and availability across Queensland, the delivery of quality infrastructure projects has never been more important. Ensuring that these projects are implemented to the highest standard requires a coordinated approach, with technical specialists and mature industry experience essential to achieve desired outcomes. Regional Queensland’s biggest bulk water supplier, Sunwater, is actively expanding [...]
FMT Group – providers of one of the most complete product lines available to OEM equipment manufacturers, maintenance providers, field service companies, power stations, petrochemical plants and related industries – has been announced as the representative Australian distributor for Specialised Fabrication Equipment (SFE) Group. The partnership is set to drastically increase FMT’s product range with specialised tools and equipment. SFE [...]
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Sponsored Content
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Supporting the culvert relining process October 15, 2024
Corrugated pipes, typically favoured for use in culvert installations, come in a...
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Keeping FRP assets fit for service October 14, 2024
FRP composites could increase the lifespan of utility infrastructure. But clear ...
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Optimising a remote workforce October 14, 2024
How can utilities navigate onboarding and identity challenges remotely without c...
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The electrical backbone of an icon October 14, 2024
With unexpected challenges disrupting construction, Decon’s resilience and ada...
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Knowing the right time to repair October 14, 2024
Upgrading pipeline infrastructure is a never-ending task, and with hundreds of a...
