Submit your abstract now for the upcoming Australasian Tunnelling Conference

With a theme of Trends and Transitions in Tunnelling – the 18th Australasian Tunnelling Conference in New Zealand is already shaping up to be the most anticipated event on the 2023 calendar

The New Zealand Tunnelling Society (NZTS) has now released the details of the 18th Australasian Tunnelling Conference (ATC) and invites professionals from the tunnelling industry to prepare and submit their abstracts.

The ATC will be hosted by the NZTS in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand between the 5th and 8th November 2023.

Convenor and Chair of the ATC23 Organising Committee Bill Newns is delighted to host the conference in Auckland as a repeat of the highly successful 2011 ATC conference and can’t wait to welcome his national and international colleagues to the event.

“We are confident we can appeal to more international attendees and contributors to the conference and build on the reputation the Australasian Tunnelling Conference has for quality, value and relevance to all tunnelling professionals,” he says.

“It will be an intense few days of making new connections, catching up with old mates, sharing knowledge and experience, all within a program we hope will inspire and contribute to our vitally important area of infrastructure.”

The ATC is now a biennial event and has played a significant role in the development of the tunnelling industry regionally for over 50 years. The conference, which is run ‘by practitioners for practitioners’ is an opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues, peers, practitioners and decision makers alike.

“We aim to maintain and build the reputation for technical excellence as well as offer many interesting social and networking opportunities that only an ‘in-person’ conference provides,” continues Newns. “All set against the backdrop of our stunning city of Auckland.”

In keeping with previous conferences, young members are encouraged to submit their papers so the conference can provide a specific young members technical session.

“Although it’s still a year away, detailed planning is well underway for pre and post conference activities and an engaging social agenda,” says Newns.

“We are also pleased to say we are keeping our registration fees in line with the Melbourne ATC event in 2021, so, pop the event in your calendar now and, particularly if you’ve never visited New Zealand before, make sure you book extra time to come early or stay longer to enjoy Aotearoa’s hospitality and natural beauty outside of the conference.”

With an overarching focus on Trends and Transitions in Tunnelling, the main themes of the conference (in English and Māori – a huge part of New Zealand’s national identity), include:

Resilience: Manawaroa; wellbeing, infrastructure, economics.
Relationships: Hononga; industry, stakeholders and future generations.
Guardianship: Tiaki; sustainability and legacy. Re-purposing and enhancing existing infrastructure, decarbonisation.
Future (s): Anamata; what kind of infrastructure is needed.

The conference committee are specifically looking for abstracts on the following topics, but all abstracts relevant to tunnelling are welcomed: