The ATS’s annual Quarry Day at Brisbane’s Mount Coot-tha Quarry in late November provided a dynamic platform for tunnelling professionals to engage with cutting-edge technologies, live demonstrations and industry networking. With 44 attendees and 21 exhibitors, the sold-out event highlighted the tunnelling industry’s breadth and innovation, drawing participants from across Australia and Papua New Guinea.
For Lazaro Hemetsberger, Vice President of the PNG Tunnelling Society, the event offered a fresh perspective: “This was my first time visiting a quarry operation in Australia, and it was fascinating to see the differences. In PNG, quarries are often on the sides of mountains, whereas this was an open-pit style, more like those used in mining. The shotcrete demonstration and the fire safety bus were definite highlights, especially the smoke simulation for tunnel safety—it was truly eye-opening.”
Lazaro emphasised the importance of the event for the PNG tunnelling industry and the role ATS could play in supporting their growth. “Members of the PNG Tunnelling Society have been asking for technical talks and training like this. Events like Quarry Day show us what’s possible and help us build a vision for the future. At the moment, tunnelling isn’t widely seen as a solution for challenges like drainage or road construction in PNG because of a lack of understanding. Having access to ATS training and mentorship would be a game-changer for us. This visit has opened our eyes to the possibilities, and having ATS as mentors would truly help us achieve our goals.”
Junior structural engineer Chi Nguyen from Delve Underground in Melbourne reflected on the hands-on learning experience: “As a young engineer, having the chance to be on-site and see construction works in person is invaluable. Watching the machines operate and understanding the scale of structures helps build a real connection to the work.”
Exhibitors also found the day rewarding. Brent Dawson, Product Manager – Monitoring, Mining & Tunnelling at Ultimate Positioning Group, explained, “As the Trimble and Worldsensing dealer, we provide monitoring and survey solutions for major tunnel and infrastructure projects across Australia. ATS Quarry Day offers an excellent opportunity to expand our network and gather valuable feedback from the industry.”
Senior Lecturer Mehdi Serati from The University of Queensland shared insights on the groundbreaking glass shotcrete demonstration, which was trialled at Quarry Day for the first time worldwide: “Using crushed glass as a synthetic aggregate has incredible potential. It offers a sustainable alternative without compromising on performance, making it a win for both the environment and modern construction practices,” he says.
Organiser Annalena Chapman highlighted the day’s importance: “This event not only showcases innovative and standard practices but also introduces younger engineers to what the industry has to offer. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with suppliers and network in a unique setting.”
The ATS extends its gratitude to the event sponsors, whose support made the day possible. Special thanks go to Stacey Agnew for the morning tea in the quarry, as well as Desoi, UPG, Rix Group, the University of Queensland, and Rob Bell from Brisbane City Council for their invaluable contributions.
