Healesville resident and Yarra Valley Water’s Major Projects Manager Ash Hamer is leading the charge for new trenchless technology which is helping to deliver much needed infrastructure work while preserving cultural heritage and environment sites.
The Trenchless Technology advocate has developed an in-depth knowledge into all spectrums of trenchless technology, including horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and micro-tunnelling, something that lead his team to the successful delivery of the $80 million Lockerbie Main Sewer Project.
It was one of Yarra Valley Water’s largest capital works projects, which used the innovative techniques to minimise disruption to sensitive cultural heritage and environmental sites along the construction route.
The sewer project ran over 9km between Donnybrook and Wallan and it was fundamental that sites above ground were maintained.
“It’s fundamentally important that we don’t disturb environmentally sensitive areas and Aboriginal cultural heritage during any construction works,” Mr Hamer said.
“With trenchless technology there’s less digging, which significantly reduces the damage to surrounding areas. Although due to complex ground conditions it is important that we collaborate with our delivery partners for successful outcomes.”
It’s one of his recent achievements that lead to Mr Hamer being recently named as Australasian Society Trenchless Technology’s (ASTT) young person of the year.
Mr Hamer was recently recongnised as the award recipient at the No-Dig Down Under Conference and Convention 2022 awards in Sydney.
Known as an innovator and successful manager, Ash was honoured for his leading of the major projects team to deliver over $200 million worth of trenchless work over the past few years.
He was truly humbled to receive such a prestigious award.
“I’m really humbled and proud to win this accolade, because the trenchless industry is an essential part of delivering infrastructure for our customers that will support health and wellbeing for current and future generations,” Mr Hamer said.
“Our sewer mains have been getting larger and more complex over the last 10 years due to population growth and because we’re often working through sensitive areas, we’ve had to rely heavily on trenchless construction methods,” he said.
Trenchless technology is subsurface construction work which uses techniques that were developed for the purpose of ‘no dig’. The technology is used for conduit installation, replacement or renovation which minimises excavation from the surface.
Traditional open-cut excavation methods for installing, renovating or maintaining services are often disruptive and uneconomical, and the true social costs and environmental impact of such disruption is not considered.
“The industry continues to develop and grow so there are exciting times ahead for trenchless technology in Australia, as utilities it is important that we continue to engage with the trenchless industry,” Mr Hamer said.
The judges were impressed by his ‘meritorious commitment” to the industry’s development in Australia and his empowerment to his team.
“Above all, Ash has the rare combination of high professionalism delivered with honesty and compassion, which makes him the perfect candidate for Young Person of the Year,” the judges said.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, Pat McCafferty, said it’s an amazing achievement and one everyone’s very proud of Ash for.
“As a leader, he’s an innovative thinker who is dedicated to making improvements for the whole industry,” Mr McCafferty said.
“As well as promoting new technologies, Ash has been instrumental in developing and using Glass Reinforced Polymer Maintenance Structures at Yarra Valley Water. He regularly keeps up to date with the latest technology and he’s constantly looking for areas to improve. Ash is the perfect example of what a good leader should be.”
